Description
Soft Christmas Peppermints, also known as Easy Butter Mints, are a delightful holiday treat featuring a creamy buttery texture with a refreshing peppermint flavor. These homemade candies are easy to make and are perfect for gifting or sharing during the festive season. The candy dough is colored in traditional Christmas red and white, twisted into ropes, and cut into bite-sized pieces that soften to a melt-in-your-mouth consistency after drying.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract (adjust to taste)
- Red coloring gel or food coloring
Instructions
- Prepare Work Surface: Lay out parchment paper, waxed paper, or a baking mat on your workspace. Keep extra powdered sugar nearby for easy handling when rolling.
- Cream Butter: Place room temperature butter into a large mixing bowl and beat it until it becomes light and fluffy, which helps the candy achieve a smooth texture.
- Mix Ingredients: Add the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and peppermint extract to the creamed butter. Mix thoroughly until the dough has a firm consistency suitable for shaping.
- Divide and Color Dough: Split the dough into two portions. Color about 1/4 of the dough red using the red coloring gel, leaving the remaining 3/4 white. Shape both portions into balls and set aside.
- Form Candy Ropes: Roll out small ropes from both the red and white doughs. Combine a thinner red rope with a thicker white rope and twist them together gently to create a candy cane effect.
- Shape Individual Pieces: Pinch or cut the twisted ropes into smaller sections and roll each between your palms to smooth and round them out.
- Dry Candy: Place the twisted ropes or shaped pieces onto wax paper and allow them to dry. After 1 to 2 hours, when the candy is less sticky, use a pizza cutter to cut the ropes into bite-sized pieces.
- Complete Drying: Leave the candy pieces out for 24 hours at room temperature to fully dry and develop the perfect texture.
- Store Properly: Once fully dried, store the mints in an airtight container at room temperature. Refrigeration is optional but not necessary.
Notes
- Butter mints keep well for 2–3 weeks in an airtight container at room temperature after drying.
- After several weeks, the texture may soften but remains safe to eat.
- If the dough feels too sticky during shaping, dust your hands or work surface with powdered sugar to make handling easier.
- Adjust peppermint extract to personal taste for milder or stronger flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (approx. 2 grams)
- Calories: 20
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 2 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0.05 g
- Cholesterol: 3 mg
