Soft Christmas Peppermints (Old-Fashioned Butter Mints) Recipe
These Soft Christmas Peppermints, also known as Old-Fashioned Butter Mints, are a classic holiday treat featuring a smooth, buttery texture infused with refreshing peppermint flavor. They’re easy to make, with a delightful twist of red and white colors that make them perfect for festive gift-giving or holiday parties.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 day 15 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 40 mints 1x
- Category: Confectionery
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp heavy whipping cream
- ¼ tsp peppermint extract (adjust to taste)
- Red gel food coloring
Instructions
- Beat the Butter: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter with an electric mixer until it becomes light and fluffy, which will help create the smooth texture of the mints.
- Add the Rest: Gradually add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and peppermint extract to the beaten butter. Continue beating until the dough becomes firm and smooth, perfect for shaping.
- Divide and Color: Separate the dough into two parts—keep about three-quarters of it white, and color the remaining quarter with red gel food coloring, blending well to get a vibrant red shade.
- Roll and Twist: Roll small portions of each dough color into thin ropes. Twist one white rope with one red rope gently together, then pinch off small sections to form individual peppermint mints.
- Dry and Set: Lay the twisted mints on a parchment-lined tray and let them air dry for 1-2 hours to firm up slightly. Then, cut the twisted ropes into bite-sized pieces. Let the mints dry uncovered for 24 hours to set properly and develop their characteristic soft but solid texture.
Notes
- Adjust peppermint extract according to your flavor preference; a little goes a long way.
- Using gel food coloring helps prevent the dough from becoming too wet or sticky.
- Letting the mints dry thoroughly is key to achieving the ideal texture.
- Store the finished mints in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.
- These mints are naturally gluten-free but contain dairy, so they are not vegan or dairy-free.
Keywords: Christmas mints, butter mints, peppermint candies, holiday treats, old-fashioned mints, soft peppermint mints
