Description
Delightfully soft and creamy Christmas Peppermints made with a blend of cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar, flavored with peppermint and vanilla extracts. These no-bake festive treats are easy to prepare and perfect for holiday celebrations, offering a smooth texture and classic minty flavor with a beautiful, colorful appearance when tinted.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Food coloring (optional, gel food coloring recommended)
Instructions
- Prepare the Base: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until the mixture is smooth and creamy, ensuring no lumps remain.
- Add Flavoring: Stir in the peppermint extract, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Mix well to incorporate all flavors evenly into the mixture.
- Incorporate Sugar: Gradually add the powdered sugar to the bowl while mixing continuously to form a soft, pliable dough that holds together without being sticky.
- Divide and Color: If using food coloring, divide the dough into portions and tint each portion with your desired gel colors, kneading the color evenly throughout each piece.
- Shape Peppermints: Roll small pieces of dough into balls, then gently flatten each ball with a fork to create the signature ridged peppermint look.
- Set to Dry: Arrange the shaped mints on a parchment-lined baking sheet and allow them to dry at room temperature for several hours or overnight until they are firm to the touch.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of peppermint extract to achieve your preferred intensity of mint flavor.
- Gel food coloring is recommended for vibrant, bright holiday colors without altering the texture.
- Store the finished mints in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain softness for up to two weeks.
