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