If you love that fresh, minty burst of flavor paired with a smooth, creamy texture, then this Peppermint Creams Recipe is absolute magic. I absolutely love how these little treats melt in your mouth with a perfect hint of peppermint and a delicate sweetness you’ll want to make again and again. Whether it’s for the holidays, a crowd-pleasing gift, or just a cozy treat with your favorite hot drink, this recipe is surprisingly easy and wonderfully rewarding. Stick around, because I’m going to share all the tips that ensure your peppermint creams turn out perfectly every time.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: Only a handful of pantry staples come together to make these irresistible creams.
- Customizable Flavors: You can easily adjust peppermint intensity or add a chocolate dip for extra indulgence.
- Perfect Texture: Smooth, creamy, and melt-in-your-mouth with just the right firmness.
- Great for Gifting: They look so cute and festive—your friends will think you bought them.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The ingredients here work together beautifully for that classic peppermint cream texture and flavor. A little lemon juice balances sweetness and helps bind the sugar, while peppermint extract delivers that signature freshness. If you want to take it up a notch, dark chocolate is basically a game-changer as a dip or drizzle.
- Icing sugar: Make sure it’s sifted for a lump-free, silky dough.
- Lemon juice: Adds subtle tanginess and moisture to bring everything together.
- Peppermint extract: Use pure extract for the best flavor punch.
- Dark chocolate (optional): For dipping or drizzling, it perfectly complements the mint.
- Edible glitter or icing shapes (optional): Adds a festive, fun look — perfect for gifts or holiday tables.
Variations
I love experimenting with peppermint creams because they’re so versatile. You can make them subtle or bold in flavor and even turn them into gorgeous themed gifts. Don’t hesitate to tweak it to match your tastes or the occasion.
- Chocolate-Dipped Creams: I discovered this trick when I dipped half my creams in melted dark chocolate — my family goes crazy for the combo!
- Different Extracts: For a twist, try adding a drop of vanilla or almond extract along with peppermint for a richer flavor.
- Gluten-Free Version: This recipe is naturally gluten-free since it uses just sugar and liquids — perfect if you’re avoiding gluten.
- Festive Shapes: Use cookie cutters in holiday shapes — stars, snowflakes, or hearts — for a party-ready treat.
How to Make Peppermint Creams Recipe
Step 1: Sift and Mix Your Base
Start by sieving your icing sugar into a large bowl to make sure everything’s lump-free—that’s key for a smooth dough. Slowly add your lemon juice, mixing as you go. You want to reach a crumbly, slightly dry consistency, but don’t make it sticky. This part took me a few tries to perfect; too much juice turns it sticky, too little and it crumbles apart.
Step 2: Add Peppermint and Knead Away
Add several drops of peppermint extract and start combining everything with your hands. Knead gently until the mixture points form a smooth, pliable ball. If your dough still feels crumbly, add a tiny bit more lemon juice carefully — but if it’s sticky, dust your hands and workspace with icing sugar and keep kneading. You definitely don’t want a sticky mess here, trust me!
Step 3: Roll and Cut Your Creams
Lightly dust your work surface and rolling pin with icing sugar to keep everything from sticking. Roll out your dough until it’s about 5mm thick — the perfect balance between delicate and sturdy. Then, use your favorite cookie cutters to make shapes. I like hearts, snowflakes, and stars because they feel festive and fun to share.
Step 4: Let Them Dry
Once cut, place your shapes on baking parchment and let them dry for at least 30 minutes. This drying step helps firm them up nicely without baking, which keeps their creamy texture. You’ll notice they become just firm enough to handle and decorate.
Pro Tips for Making Peppermint Creams Recipe
- Precise Lemon Juice Addition: Add lemon juice gradually; it controls texture perfectly without turning sticky.
- Sifting Sugar Is Non-Negotiable: I learned the hard way that skipping this step leads to gritty creams.
- Use Pure Peppermint Extract: Artificial flavors just don’t cut it — this tip really elevates your creams.
- Don’t Over-Knead: Too much kneading warms the dough and makes it sticky; short, gentle folds work best.
How to Serve Peppermint Creams Recipe
Garnishes
I love sprinkling edible glitter or tiny icing shapes on top of the creams before they fully dry — it adds such a cheerful sparkle! Another favorite is dusting them lightly with gold or silver sanding sugar for festive occasions. These little touches make them feel extra special and gift-worthy.
Side Dishes
These peppermint creams pair so well alongside hot beverages — think rich hot chocolate, peppermint tea, or even a creamy latte. They also make a delightful companion to a cheese board, especially with sharper cheeses like aged cheddar, for a surprising contrast of flavors.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I like arranging the peppermint creams in decorative tins lined with parchment paper or clear cellophane bags tied with festive ribbons. Another idea is layering them between pieces of parchment paper inside a jar, which makes a gorgeous and thoughtful handmade gift. Presentation really ups the wow factor!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have any leftovers — which is rare in my house! — store your peppermint creams in an airtight container at room temperature. They keep well for up to two weeks if kept away from humidity. I once forgot a batch for a week, and they were still fantastic — just a little drier on the edges.
Freezing
Freezing peppermint creams isn’t something I’ve done often because they’re usually eaten quickly, but you can! Just wrap each cream individually in parchment to prevent sticking, then place in a sealed freezer-safe container. Thaw gently at room temperature before serving for the best texture.
Reheating
No reheating needed here! Peppermint creams are meant to be enjoyed at room temperature. If chilled too long, just leave them out for about 15 minutes — their texture softens beautifully, and the flavor really shines.
FAQs
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Can I use fresh peppermint leaves instead of extract?
Fresh peppermint leaves won’t deliver the same concentrated flavor as peppermint extract because extracts are very concentrated and designed specifically for candies. If you want a natural option, you can infuse lemon juice with fresh leaves beforehand, but the flavor will be milder.
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Why does my peppermint cream mixture get sticky?
Sticky dough usually means too much lemon juice or over-kneading. To fix it, dust with extra icing sugar and knead lightly until the stickiness reduces. It’s a balance, so add lemon juice slowly and avoid working the dough too long.
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Do peppermint creams need refrigeration?
Not necessarily. Peppermint creams store well at room temperature in an airtight container. Refrigeration can sometimes dry them out faster, so only refrigerate if your kitchen is really warm or humid.
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How long do peppermint creams last?
If stored properly, they last up to two weeks at room temperature. Over time, they may dry out a bit but remain tasty. For longer storage, consider freezing as mentioned above.
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Can I skip the chocolate option?
Absolutely! While dark chocolate adds a lovely contrast, these peppermint creams are delicious on their own — sweet, minty, and fresh. Chocolate just kicks up the indulgence factor.
Final Thoughts
I used to struggle with finding peppermint candies that weren’t too hard or artificial-tasting, so discovering this peppermint creams recipe felt like a little holiday miracle. It’s easy, fun, and you get to control exactly how minty or sweet they are. Plus, the look on my loved ones’ faces when I gifted these handmade beauties? Priceless. I genuinely hope you enjoy making and sharing these as much as I do. Give it a go, and let me know how your peppermint creams turn out — I’d love to hear your stories!
Print
Peppermint Creams Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 20 servings
- Category: Confectionery
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: British
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Easy Peppermint Creams are delightful, melt-in-your-mouth treats made from simple ingredients like icing sugar, lemon juice, and peppermint extract. These no-bake candies are perfect for the holiday season, customizable with festive shapes and optional chocolate and decorative toppings for an added touch of elegance and flavor.
Ingredients
Base Ingredients
- 425 g icing sugar
- 50 ml lemon juice
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
Optional Ingredients
- 50 g dark chocolate (for coating)
- Edible glitter, icing shapes, or golden sugar (for decoration)
Instructions
- Sieve the icing sugar: Carefully sift the icing sugar to remove any lumps, ensuring a smooth mixture for the creams.
- Add lemon juice gradually: Pour lemon juice a little at a time into the icing sugar, stirring continuously until the mixture becomes crumbly but not sticky.
- Add peppermint extract: Add a few drops of peppermint extract and mix thoroughly to evenly distribute the flavor.
- Knead the mixture: Using your hands, knead the mixture until it becomes smooth and forms a cohesive ball. Adjust the texture by adding a little more lemon juice if too crumbly or more icing sugar if it becomes sticky, avoiding over-adjustment.
- Roll out the dough: Lightly dust your work surface and rolling pin with icing sugar, then roll the dough to about 5mm thickness, ensuring evenness for uniform drying.
- Cut into shapes: Use cookie cutters to cut the dough into festive shapes such as hearts, snowflakes, or stars.
- Dry the shapes: Place the cut shapes on baking parchment and allow them to dry for at least 30 minutes until they firm up.
Notes
- Nutritional information provided is an approximate guideline and can vary based on ingredient brands and preparation methods.
- For best results, follow tips and tricks shared in the related post to avoid texture issues.
- Optional dark chocolate can be melted and used to coat the peppermint creams for extra flavor and visual appeal.
- Decorate with edible glitter, icing shapes, or golden sugar to enhance festive presentation.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (approx. 20 g)
- Calories: 75 kcal
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 2 mg
- Fat: 0.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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