Christmas Cream Cheese Mints Recipe

Dreamy Christmas Cream Cheese Mints Recipe for Holiday Magic

Crafting delightful christmas cream cheese mints brings pure holiday magic right to your kitchen countertop.

Sweet memories of festive gatherings dance through every delicate, pastel-colored treat.

Powdered sugar and cream cheese create a perfect partnership that melts smoothly on eager tongues.

Soft and creamy, these petite confections sparkle with peppermint’s cool embrace.

Festive gatherings deserve something special that looks stunning and tastes incredible.

Guests will marvel at these elegant, homemade delicacies that seem like they emerged from a professional bakery.

Whip up these mouthwatering morsels and watch smiles bloom around your celebration table.

Why Christmas Cream Cheese Mints Are A Festive Favorite

  • Craft Colorful Creations: Design festive, vibrant mints with red and green holiday colors that make your dessert table pop and delight guests.
  • Master Simple Technique: Learn an easy cream cheese mint recipe that requires minimal baking skills, perfect for beginners wanting to impress family and friends.
  • Customize Your Flavor: Personalize these mints by adjusting peppermint extract intensity or experimenting with different food coloring combinations to match any celebration theme.
  • Prepare Ahead with Ease: Make these mints in advance and store in the refrigerator, reducing last-minute party stress and ensuring a delicious treat is always ready.

What You’ll Need For Christmas Cream Cheese Mints

For the Base:
  • Cream Cheese: The creamy foundation that provides a smooth texture and rich flavor to the holiday mints.
  • Powdered Sugar: Helps create a pliable dough and adds sweetness to the mint recipe.
For the Flavor and Color:
  • Peppermint Extract: Delivers the classic cool and refreshing mint taste.
  • Red Food Coloring, Green Food Coloring: Creates festive holiday colors for the Christmas cream cheese mints.
For the Coating and Finishing:
  • Granulated Sugar, Parchment Paper: Sugar provides a sparkling exterior, while parchment paper ensures easy placement and storage of the mints.

How To Make Christmas Cream Cheese Mints Step By Step

Step 1: Prepare Workspace

Set up a clean, spacious area and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy mint handling and storage.

Step 2: Whip Cream Cheese

In a large mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese until completely smooth and creamy, eliminating any potential lumps.

Step 3: Blend Sugar

Slowly add powdered sugar to the cream cheese, mixing at low speed until a consistent, malleable dough develops.

Step 4: Infuse Peppermint Flavor

Incorporate peppermint extract into the mixture, stirring thoroughly to ensure even flavor distribution.

Step 5: Create Color Sections

Divide the mint dough into three equal portions for white, red, and green holiday-inspired colors.

Step 6: Add Vibrant Colors

Knead red food coloring into one portion and green food coloring into another, blending until colors are completely uniform.

Step 7: Prepare Sugar Coating

Spread granulated sugar on a flat plate for rolling and coating the mints.

Step 8: Shape Mint Balls

Pinch small amounts of each colored dough and roll into bite-sized spheres, approximately 3/4 inch in diameter.

Step 9: Sugar Coating

Gently roll each mint ball in granulated sugar, creating a sparkling and delicate exterior.

Step 10: Arrange on Baking Sheet

Carefully place coated mints on the prepared parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving slight spacing between each mint.

Step 11: Chill and Set

Refrigerate the mints for a minimum of 1 hour to firm up and allow flavors to meld together completely.

Step 12: Store Properly

Transfer completed Christmas cream cheese mints to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Helpful Tips For Christmas Cream Cheese Mints

  • Soften Cream Cheese Perfectly: Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature for smooth, lump-free mixing and easier dough formation.
  • Control Color Intensity: Add food coloring gradually to achieve desired holiday hue without oversaturating the mint dough.
  • Roll Mints with Precision: Use consistent pressure when forming bite-sized balls to create uniform, professional-looking candies.
  • Sugar Coating Technique: Gently roll mints in granulated sugar, tapping off excess for a delicate, sparkling finish that prevents clumping.
  • Chill for Maximum Flavor: Refrigerate mints for at least an hour to enhance texture and allow peppermint extract to develop a rich, balanced taste.

Festive Flavors To Try In Christmas Cream Cheese Mints

  • Dairy-Free Mint Delight: Replace cream cheese with coconut cream or cashew cream for a vegan-friendly version that maintains the creamy texture.
  • Keto-Friendly Mint Bites: Swap powdered sugar with powdered erythritol or stevia, using almond flour to reduce carbohydrate content while preserving the mint's signature flavor.
  • Sugar-Free Mint Gems: Utilize sugar substitutes like monk fruit sweetener and skip the granulated sugar coating, creating a low-sugar alternative for health-conscious individuals.
  • Chocolate Mint Fusion: Incorporate cocoa powder into the white portion of the dough, creating a chocolate-mint variation that adds depth to the classic recipe.

Sweet Pairings For Christmas Cream Cheese Mints

  • Brew Rich Hot Cocoa: Warm, velvety hot chocolate balances the cool mint flavor, creating a luxurious winter dessert experience with creamy undertones.
  • Serve Sparkling White Wine: Crisp champagne or prosecco cuts through the sweetness, offering a refreshing contrast that elevates the mint's bright peppermint notes.
  • Match with Espresso: Strong, bold Italian coffee provides a robust counterpoint to the delicate cream cheese mint, enhancing the dessert's subtle complexity.
  • Complement with Herbal Tea: Gentle chamomile or peppermint tea harmonizes with the mint's cooling essence, creating a soothing after-dinner treat.

How To Store Christmas Cream Cheese Mints Without Melting

  • Place mints in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking, keeping them fresh for up to 7 days at 40°F or below.
  • Arrange mints in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe container with wax paper separating each layer, storing up to 2 months.
  • Remove frozen mints from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving, allowing them to soften gently without losing texture.
  • Avoid microwaving these delicate cream cheese mints, as they can quickly become mushy; instead, let them naturally come to room temperature for the best taste and consistency.

Christmas Cream Cheese Mints FAQ Cheat Sheet

  • Are these mints difficult to make?

These mints are surprisingly simple and require minimal baking skills. With just a few basic ingredients and straightforward steps, even beginner bakers can successfully create these festive treats.

  • Can I adjust the peppermint flavor intensity?

Yes, you can easily customize the peppermint extract amount to suit your taste preferences. Start with a small quantity and gradually add more until you achieve your desired mint strength.

  • Do I need any special equipment to make these mints?

No special equipment is needed. Basic kitchen tools like a mixing bowl, food coloring, and a baking sheet are sufficient to create these delightful Christmas cream cheese mints.

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Christmas Cream Cheese Mints Recipe

Christmas Cream Cheese Mints Recipe


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4.6 from 36 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x

Description

Festive Christmas cream cheese mints dance with delightful peppermint sweetness, offering a melt-in-your-mouth holiday treat. Holiday guests will savor these simple, elegant confections that bring cheer to seasonal celebrations.


Ingredients

Scale

Cream Cheese Base:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp peppermint extract

Coloring and Shaping:

  • 34 drops red food coloring
  • 34 drops green food coloring

Coating and Dusting:

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (for rolling)

Instructions

  1. Prepare a clean, spacious work surface and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy mint placement and storage.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly blend softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy, ensuring no lumps remain.
  3. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar into the cream cheese, mixing at low speed until a consistent, pliable dough forms.
  4. Add peppermint extract to the mixture, stirring until the flavor is evenly distributed throughout the dough.
  5. Divide the mint dough into three equal portions: one for white, one for red, and one for green holiday colors.
  6. For colored mints, add red food coloring to one portion and green food coloring to another, kneading gently until the color is uniform.
  7. Spread granulated sugar on a flat plate for coating the mints.
  8. Pinch small amounts of each colored dough, rolling them into bite-sized balls approximately 3/4 inch in diameter.
  9. Gently roll each mint ball in granulated sugar, creating a delicate, sparkling exterior.
  10. Place coated mints on the prepared parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart.
  11. Refrigerate the mints for at least 1 hour to firm up and allow flavors to meld.
  12. Store completed Christmas cream cheese mints in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Notes

  • Soften cream cheese completely at room temperature to ensure a smooth, lump-free texture that blends seamlessly with powdered sugar.
  • Use gel food coloring for more vibrant, even colors without altering the mint dough’s consistency or adding extra moisture.
  • Chill mints before serving to enhance their firm texture and allow the flavors to develop a more intense peppermint profile.
  • Consider using powdered food coloring as an alternative for a more subtle color effect that won’t change the mint’s delicate texture.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Snacks, Desserts
  • Method: Rolling
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 24
  • Calories: 72
  • Sugar: 6.5 g
  • Sodium: 24 mg
  • Fat: 2.1 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.3 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0.8 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 12.6 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 0.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 10 mg
Olivia Brooks

Olivia Brooks

Contributing Writer

Expertise

  • Healthy recipe development
  • Plant-based cooking
  • Nutritional analysis
  • Food writing and content creation

Education

Culinary Institute of America
Accelerated Culinary Arts Certificate Program
Focus: Culinary fundamentals, nutrition, and healthy cooking technique


Olivia believes good food should feed both the body and the soul. She earned her Accelerated Culinary Arts Certificate from the Culinary Institute of America, where she focused on nutrition and practical cooking techniques that make healthy eating easy.
At 10 Below Ice Cream, Olivia shares single-serving recipes that are fresh, plant-forward, and full of heart. She loves helping people eat better, without stress, strict rules, or sacrificing flavor.
Beyond the kitchen, Olivia spends her time tending her backyard garden, practicing yoga, and discovering hidden gems in Portland’s food scene.

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