These Cream Cheese Mints are a delicious old fashioned homemade candy recipe. They practically melt in your mouth, and are a perfect addition to Baby Showers, Bridal Showers, Christmas Parties, or lots of other occasions too.
I love making homemade candies around the holidays, and actually all year long. From old fashioned hard tack candy, to cashew peanut brittle, and cracker toffee. These cream cheese mints are such a good one to add to the mix, with only 6 ingredients, and they take less than 30 minutes to make!
Why make this Recipe
- Quick and Easy – With just 6 ingredients, this recipe only takes 30 minutes to make. The longest process is rolling and pressing the mints, but pop on your favorite show and roll them out, then let them dry and enjoy.
- Versatile Candy – These are a great candy to make for so many different events, Baby Showers, Bridal Showers, Easter, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, you name it!
- Make Ahead Option – The mints store well for a couple months, so they’re a great option for preparing in advanced when you have the time, for your events.
Ingredients Needed
This is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this Cream Cheese Mint Recipe. Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
- Cream Cheese – Make sure to use brick style cream cheese, not the kind in tubs.
- Unsalted Butter – Just a little to add extra creaminess to the texture of the mints
- Powdered Sugar –
- Peppermint Extract – I prefer peppermint extract over mint, or spearmint extract which I think taste a little bit like toothpaste. Start with a little, and add a little more based on your preferences.
- Salt – Just a pinch to balance the flavors of the sweet candy.
- Food Coloring – I recommend using gel food coloring because you only need a couple drops, and it won’t alter the consistency of the dough.
How to make Cream Cheese Mints
Step 1: Combine the cream cheese and butter. Add the softened cream cheese and butter to a bowl and mix them together until they are totally smooth.
Step 2: Add in some powdered sugar. Add in 2 cups of the powdered sugar, and mix until totally incorporated. Add in the peppermint extract, and salt and mix until combined. About 1/2 cup at a time, add in the additional powdered sugar, while the mixer is going until the mixture is smooth and pliable.
Step 3: Color the dough. Separate the candy into 3 or 4 bowls and add a drop or two of food coloring, mixing the coloring into the dough until you have your desired color.
Step 4: Form the mints. Working with one color of the dough, roll the dough into 1 teaspoon portions. A small cookie scoop comes in handy for this. Set them on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Press the tops of the mints down with a fork dipped in powdered sugar.
Step 5: Let the mints dry. Let the mints dry at room temperature for at least 4 hours, but overnight is even better. They should be hard enough that they don’t squish at all. Then transfer them to an airtight container and store in the fridge until ready to serve.
Tips and Tricks
- Dough Consistency – If the dough is too sticky, add more powdered sugar as needed. Add it 1 TBS at a time, until its a good moldable texture.
- Flavor Variations – If you’re not a fan of mint, you can add different extracts instead to make different flavored candies.
- Double the Recipe – The recipe as is makes about 80 small mints, if you want more for a big crowd, or for gifting the recipe can be doubled for more.
Storage Instructions
Once dried, the mints can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month. They can also be frozen for up to 6 months. Flash freeze them in a single layer, then once frozen they can be stored in a freezer safe container.
If you’re gifting the mints they can be stored in cellophane bags, tied with a ribbon or ties, and stored at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
These homemade cream cheese mints are such an easy, all be it time consuming, homemade candy that are so good for so many occasions, especially for sharing at events!
More Candy Recipes
- Rice Crispy Peanut Butter Balls
- Chocolate Nut Clusters
- Mint Chocolate Fudge
- Chocolate Covered Pretzels
- Hard Tack Candy Recipe
- Grinch Fudge // LMLD
- 30 Great Fudge Recipes // LMLD
If you try these Cream Cheese Mints, please leave a 🌟 rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Cream Cheese Mints
Ingredients
- 4 oz cream cheese (1/2 block, softened)
- 2 TBS unsalted butter
- 4 cups powdered sugar (+ 1/2 cup or more for pressing mints)
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract (to taste)
- 1/8 tsp salt
- food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl, or bowl of a stand mixer, and beat until creamy and combined. 4 oz cream cheese, 2 TBS unsalted butter
- Slowly add in 2 cups of the powdered sugar, mixing until combined. 4 cups powdered sugar
- Add in the peppermint extract, and salt, and stir until combined into the mixture. 1/2 tsp peppermint extract, 1/8 tsp salt
- With the mixer running on low/slow, gradually add in the remaining powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl as needed. Add more until the dough is a playdough like consistency. 4 cups powdered sugar
- Separate the dough into 3 to 4 sections, and divide into bowls. Add in a couple drops of food coloring to each bowl, as desired. food coloring
- Take one colored portion of the dough. and cover the other portions with plastic wrap so they don't dry out.
- Spoon out a few teaspoon sized portions of the dough, and set them on parchment paper. Roll them into balls, until the seems disappear to keep them from cracking when pressed.
- Dip a fork into into powered sugar, and press the tops of each of the mints to flatten them.
- Repeat with additional dough.
- Let the candies sit at room temperature to dry for at least 4 to several hours, or overnight until hardened. You want them dry enough so they don't squish at all when pressed.
- Transfer them into an airtight container and store them in the fridge until needed.
Notes
- Dough Consistency – If the dough is too sticky, add more powdered sugar as needed. Add it 1 TBS at a time, until its a good moldable texture.
- Flavor Variations – If you’re not a fan of mint, you can add different extracts instead to make different flavored candies.
- Double the Recipe – The recipe as is makes about 50 small mints, if you want more for a big crowd, or for gifting the recipe can be doubled for more.
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