Sweet and nostalgic Cream Cheese Mints are a beloved holiday treat in our family. Now you can recreate them at home with just 5 ingredients and without even using your stovetop.
If you enjoy making your own holiday treats, such as Candied Pecans and Lemon Bars, then you’ll definitely love these melt-in-your-mouth cream cheese mints. They are perfect for satisfying your cravings for homemade candy.
Old Fashioned Cream Cheese Mints
If you have fond memories of enjoying these classic, creamy mint candies and letting them slowly melt in your mouth, then get ready to recreate that nostalgic experience. Today, we’ll be making them from scratch using a stand mixer.
Cream cheese mints have a sweet peppermint flavor that immediately brings to mind holiday charcuterie boards and Christmas dessert spreads. They are also suitable for Easter, baby showers, bridal showers, and weddings.
These adorable mint candies also make wonderful homemade gifts. You can wrap them up and give them to teachers, neighbors, and friends. The best part is that this recipe is hassle-free, and even kids can join in the fun. It’s that simple!
What Are Cream Cheese Mints?
Cream cheese mints, also known as wedding mints or buttermints, are creamy, melt-in-your-mouth candies. They are often shaped like little pillows and come in pastel colors. With only 5 ingredients, they are easy to make and perfect for sharing or gifting.
Ingredients
This recipe yields approximately 90-100 mints. However, if you prefer a smaller batch, you can halve the ingredients. Here’s a summary of what you’ll need, with the full measurements provided in the recipe card below:
- Cream Cheese – It’s best to use full-fat cream cheese that comes in blocks, rather than spreadable tubs.
- Butter – I recommend using unsalted butter. Make sure both the butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature before starting.
- Powdered Sugar – Also known as confectioner’s sugar. You’ll need about 2 pounds, plus extra for pressing out the mints.
- Salt – A pinch of fine sea salt helps to balance the sweetness.
- Peppermint Extract – Be sure to use food-grade “pure peppermint extract,” not essential oils.
- Food Coloring – This is optional. Use gel food dye for best results, as a little goes a long way.
Pro Tip: If you prefer to measure your powdered sugar with a kitchen scale, 4 cups of powdered sugar is roughly equal to 1 pound.
How to Soften Cream Cheese Quickly?
We’ve all been in a situation where a recipe calls for room-temperature ingredients, but we forgot to take the cream cheese or butter out of the fridge ahead of time. Don’t worry, here’s a quick method to speed-soften your cream cheese and butter:
Method: Start by cutting the cold blocks of cream cheese and butter into small pieces. Then, cover them with plastic wrap and let them sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes until they become soft.
How to Make Cream Cheese Mints
Making homemade cream cheese mints is a breeze using a stand mixer. However, if you don’t have one, don’t worry. You can still make them with a hand-held mixer, although it may take a bit longer and require some extra effort when the dough becomes thick.
