There’s something undeniably magical about homemade holiday treats, and this Festive Peppermint Patties Recipe really hits that sweet spot. These little beauties are refreshing, colorful, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious—perfect for gifting, snacking, or that festive party you’ve got coming up.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I genuinely look forward to making these every holiday season—they’re a tradition in my kitchen now. The balance of creamy peppermint filling coated with a light sugar crunch makes for a bite that just sparkles with festive vibes.
- Bright, Fun Colors: The red, green, and white dough balls let you craft patties that look like little winter ornaments, adding a pop of festive color to your dessert table.
- Simple Ingredients: You don’t need anything complicated—just pantry staples and peppermint extract to whip these up with ease.
- Perfect Party Treat: These candies are bite-sized, easy to serve, and super sharable, making them a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
- Great Make-Ahead Recipe: You can prepare them in advance, with fantastic storage options that keep them fresh through the holidays.
Ingredients & Why They Work
All the ingredients here blend beautifully to create that iconic peppermint patty texture—smooth, creamy, yet firm enough to hold shape once set. Here’s what each does and a few tips to get you the best results.
- Granulated sugar: Used to coat the patties, this adds a delightful sparkle and slight crunch—don’t skip this step!
- Cream cheese (room temperature): Makes the patties creamy and gives them that soft, chewy center you’ll adore.
- Unsalted butter (room temperature): Adds richness and helps with that smooth consistency.
- Light/clear corn syrup: Keeps the mixture pliable and prevents crystallization, which is key for a silky texture.
- Peppermint extract: The star flavor—fresh, bold, and unmistakably festive. Taste as you go, since quality varies!
- Powdered sugar: Provides sweetness without grit and thickens the dough to the perfect consistency.
- Green & red liquid food coloring: These add that classic Christmas cheer to your patties; gel colors work well too, in case you want a more vibrant look without extra moisture.
Make It Your Way
One of my favorite things about this Festive Peppermint Patties Recipe is how easy it is to tweak. Over the years, I’ve tried a few variations and find that these small shifts keep things feeling fresh and fun around the holidays.
- Variation: Last year, I swapped half the cream cheese with mascarpone for an extra silky texture—highly recommend if you want a creamier bite.
- Dietary tweak: For those avoiding corn syrup, using golden syrup or a mild honey can work, though you’ll want to adjust powdered sugar a bit as these alter dough moisture.
- Seasonal changes: On occasion, I swap peppermint extract for a bit of vanilla and add orange zest—delicious spin for a winter mint-orange fusion.
- Color fun: Using gel food coloring lets you play with deeper or pastel shades; just remember not to add too much or it affects the dough's consistency.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Peppermint Patties Recipe
Step 1: Whip Up the Creamy Base
Start by combining room temperature cream cheese, unsalted butter, light corn syrup, and peppermint extract in a large bowl. I use a handheld mixer on low speed for about a minute until everything is luxuriously smooth—no lumps here. It’s tempting to speed this up, but trust me, go slow to keep the texture silky.
Step 2: Incorporate the Sugar Slowly
This part takes patience but yields that perfect dough. Add powdered sugar in small batches—you’ll start to feel the dough stiffen as you reach the last additions. When it gets too thick for the mixer, switch to a spatula or wooden spoon to finish mixing by hand. Extra powdered sugar may be necessary, especially after adding colors.
Step 3: Divide and Color Your Dough
Pour a bit of powdered sugar onto parchment paper, then turn out your dough. Divide it into three equal parts. Add red food coloring to one, green to another, and keep the last one white. Knead each carefully, sprinkling a little more powdered sugar if it gets sticky. I can’t stress enough: add sugar gradually—too much and the dough gets dry.
Step 4: Roll and Slice
Roll each colored dough ball into an 18-inch rope about 1 inch thick. Slice into ½-inch pieces, then roll those pieces into little balls with your palms. This hands-on step is fun and really helps you connect to the process—plus, you can sneak a taste along the way!
Step 5: Coat and Shape Your Patties
Toss 2-3 balls at a time into the granulated sugar bowl to coat them evenly. Arrange on a parchment-lined tray, then gently press each candy into a disc using a fork's tines—the delicate striped pattern looks so charming and screams holiday cheer. Let them sit at room temperature for up to 24 hours to firm up before serving.
Top Tip
From my experience making these peppermint patties for years, a few simple tips make all the difference in turning out perfect treats you’ll be proud to share.
- Add Food Coloring Slowly: Start with a few drops and knead thoroughly before adding more to avoid an overly wet dough that’s hard to handle.
- Don’t Skip Resting Time: Letting the patties set up for 24 hours at room temperature ensures they hold their shape and develop the right texture.
- Powdered Sugar Precautions: Dust your hands and workspace to prevent sticking, and remember that it’s easier to add more sugar than to fix a dry dough.
- Use Fresh Peppermint Extract: The flavor depends heavily on your peppermint extract’s quality—fresh, natural extracts elevate this recipe tremendously.
How to Serve Festive Peppermint Patties Recipe
Garnishes
I usually keep it simple and let the patties shine on their own, but for a festive touch, try sprinkling a tiny bit of edible glitter or crushed candy canes on top. It adds a lovely sparkle and an extra burst of minty goodness.
Side Dishes
These peppermint patties pair beautifully alongside hot cocoa, spiced cider, or a rich chocolate cake—perfect for those holiday dessert spreads. I’ve also enjoyed serving them with a platter of assorted nuts and dried fruits for a nice contrast.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I like arranging these in small, festive paper cups on a multi-tiered serving tray—it makes for an eye-catching display. Gift them in decorative tins layered with parchment paper for a thoughtful, homemade present that delights every time.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store your peppermint patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator; they keep fresh for up to two weeks. I find this method preserves their texture and flavor perfectly, so you can enjoy them throughout the holiday season without worry.
Freezing
If you want to make these way ahead of time, freezing works like a charm. I pop them in a freezer-safe container and they last up to three months. When you’re ready to serve, just let them thaw overnight in the fridge and they’ll be ready to sparkle again.
Reheating
These treats don’t require reheating, but if you want them just a little softer, let them sit out at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving. That gentle time softens them just slightly without melting their defining texture.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Gel food coloring works wonderfully because it won’t add extra moisture to the dough and gives you deeper, more vibrant colors. Just use it sparingly and knead well.
The dough should be firm enough to hold its shape but still soft and pliable—not crumbly or sticky. If it’s sticky, add more powdered sugar a little at a time. If it feels dry or cracks, you might need a tiny bit more butter or syrup.
Cream cheese provides that creamy texture so it’s pretty important for this recipe. If you need a substitute, mascarpone cheese is a good option, but skipping the cheese entirely will change the texture drastically.
Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, they last up to two weeks. Freezing them extends their shelf life to about three months.
Final Thoughts
This Festive Peppermint Patties Recipe has been a joyful part of my holiday celebrations for years, and it’s one I’m genuinely excited to share. With simple ingredients, beautiful colors, and that classic minty flavor, these candies bring a little sparkle to every occasion. I can’t wait for you to make them your own and see the smiles they bring at your table!
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Festive Peppermint Patties Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 100 candies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Christmas Mints are festive peppermint candies made with cream cheese, butter, corn syrup, and peppermint extract, colored in red, green, and white for a holiday touch. They are easy to make, requiring no baking, and set at room temperature to form delicious, minty treats perfect for the holiday season.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- 2 tablespoons light/clear corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 4¼ cups powdered sugar divided
- 6 drops green liquid food coloring
- 6 drops red liquid food coloring
Instructions
- Prepare Work Surface: Line a large rimmed baking tray with parchment paper and place the granulated sugar into a small bowl for coating later. Set aside.
- Mix Base Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, unsalted butter, light corn syrup, and peppermint extract with a handheld mixer on low speed for 1 minute until smooth.
- Add Powdered Sugar: Slowly add 4¼ cups powdered sugar, about ½ cup at a time, mixing with the handheld mixer on low speed. When the dough becomes thick, switch to a spatula or wooden spoon and mix by hand until incorporated.
- Prepare Dough for Coloring: Lay a piece of parchment paper on a clean counter, sprinkle ¼ cup powdered sugar on it, then turn the dough out onto the powdered sugar.
- Divide and Color Dough: Divide the dough into three equal parts. Make a shallow well in the center of two dough balls; add red food coloring to the first, green food coloring to the second, and leave the third white.
- Knead Colored Dough: Knead each colored dough ball carefully to distribute color evenly. Add up to ¼ cup additional powdered sugar as needed while kneading to reduce stickiness. Adjust the white dough as well with 1-2 tablespoons powdered sugar if sticky.
- Roll Dough Into Ropes: Roll each dough ball into an 18-inch long rope about 1 inch thick.
- Slice Dough: Cut each rope into ½-inch pieces starting at one end until fully sliced.
- Shape Balls: Roll each piece between your palms to form small balls and set aside.
- Coat in Sugar: Drop 2-3 dough balls into the granulated sugar bowl and toss to coat completely. Place coated mints onto the prepared baking tray. Repeat with all dough balls.
- Flatten and Pattern: Using the tip of a fork, gently press each peppermint ball into a disc shape, creating a striped pattern from the fork tines.
- Set and Dry: Allow peppermint patties to sit uncovered at room temperature on the tray for up to 24 hours to dry and set before serving or packaging.
Notes
- Yields approximately 100 peppermint candies.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks to maintain freshness.
- For longer storage, freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months; thaw in the fridge before serving.
- To achieve deeper colors, add up to ½ teaspoon liquid food coloring.
- Adjust powdered sugar during kneading to get the right consistency: not too stiff and not sticky.
- Gel food coloring is preferred as it produces vibrant colors without adding moisture and is safe for nut allergies.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 candy
- Calories: 20 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0.3 g
- Cholesterol: 3 mg
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