There’s something truly magical about minty, cool treats during the festive season, and this Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties Recipe is just that kind of joy. Soft, creamy centers dusted with sugar make these patties a holiday classic that brings back memories and creates new ones with every bite.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This recipe feels like a little holiday hug. It’s simple enough to make with kids or friends, and the end result is this perfect melt-in-your-mouth peppermint candy that’s fresher and more satisfying than store-bought. I love how making these patties fills my kitchen with that signature minty aroma – it instantly puts me in the Christmas spirit!
- Fresh Flavor: Unlike commercial candies, this recipe uses cream cheese for a wonderfully creamy texture that’s just perfect.
- Festive Colors: With green, red, and white doughs, these patties look cheerful and add a pop of holiday spirit to any dessert tray.
- Customizable Sweetness: You control the sugar and peppermint intensity, so you can make them just how you like.
- Great for Gifting: These patties store well and make lovely homemade gifts that friends always appreciate.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in this Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties Recipe plays a crucial role, balancing flavor and texture flawlessly. Here’s why these elements come together so well, plus my best shopping tips to source the freshest.
- Granulated sugar: Used for coating patties, it adds a nice crunch and classic candy feel.
- Cream cheese: This gives a lush creaminess and a subtle tang that elevates the mint flavor beautifully.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness without overpowering sweetness, plus softness.
- Light/clear corn syrup: Helps bind the dough and keeps patties smooth, preventing graininess.
- Peppermint extract: The star flavor here, so choose a quality pure extract for the best fragrance.
- Powdered sugar: Provides sweetness and structure, making the dough workable and soft.
- Green and red liquid food coloring: For that traditional holiday look—use vibrant colors sparingly to avoid sticky dough.
Make It Your Way
I like to tweak the vibrancy of the colors depending on the mood — sometimes deeper reds for a rustic feel, other times pastel greens for a softer look. You honestly can’t go wrong with this Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties Recipe if you follow the basics and then add your flair.
- Variation: One year, I added a hint of vanilla extract alongside peppermint—it gave a subtle warmth that balanced the coolness. Try experimenting with a drop or two for a unique twist.
- Dietary tip: For those avoiding dairy, swapping cream cheese with a vegan cream cheese works, but expect a slightly different texture.
- Color play: Use gel food coloring for more intense shades without adding extra moisture that might mess with dough consistency.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties Recipe
Step 1: Mix the Creamy Base
Start by beating together the cream cheese, butter, corn syrup, and peppermint extract until smooth and silky. I use a handheld mixer on low for about a minute, just until everything blends perfectly. This mix is your flavor heartbeat, so get it nice and smooth.
Step 2: Build Your Dough
Slowly add powdered sugar, about half a cup at a time, while mixing on low. As the dough thickens, switch to a spatula or your hands to finish kneading. Don’t rush this part—it’s key to get the right texture: firm enough to shape but not dry.
Step 3: Color and Knead the Dough
Divide the dough into three parts and add red food coloring to one, green to another, leaving the last plain for classic white patties. Knead each ball gently, dusting with powdered sugar as needed—liquid color can make dough sticky, so add sugar gradually.
Step 4: Shape Your Patties
Roll each dough ball into an 18-inch rope about 1 inch thick. Slice into half-inch pieces, then roll them into small balls in the palm of your hand. Toss these balls in granulated sugar to coat, which adds a lovely sparkle and helps keep patties from sticking.
Step 5: Flatten and Dry
Place coated dough balls on parchment-lined trays. Using a fork, gently press each ball into a little disc, creating those charming striped patterns with the fork’s tines. Let them sit at room temperature for up to 24 hours to dry and set before serving or gifting.
Top Tip
I’ve learned through trial and error that patience is everything with this recipe. Rushing the drying step or adding too much powdered sugar can change texture dramatically. Here are a few tips from my kitchen to yours.
- Gradual Sugar Addition: Always add powdered sugar slowly to avoid a dough that’s too stiff or dry, especially when kneading colored doughs.
- Color Control: Add liquid food coloring in small increments to avoid sticky dough, and switch to gel coloring if you want vibrant colors without altering dough consistency.
- Fork Impressions: Press gently when flattening—you want the distinctive stripes without squashing the patties completely flat.
- Drying Time: Don’t skip the resting period at room temperature; it lets the patties set and develop the perfect chewy texture.
How to Serve Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties Recipe
Garnishes
I keep it simple, letting the patties shine on their own. Sometimes, I sprinkle a few crushed candy canes over the platter for extra crunch and color. Edible gold stars or a dusting of edible glitter also add magic when serving guests.
Side Dishes
These peppermint patties pair beautifully as a sweet finish to a holiday dessert board. I like serving them alongside dark chocolate squares, spiced nuts, and fresh cranberries for a festive spread.
Creative Ways to Present
One year, I layered patties in a clear glass jar with pine sprigs and tied a ribbon around the neck – it instantly became a show-stopping gift and centerpiece. You could also create a colorful candy wreath by arranging patties on a round plate or tray.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your peppermint patties in an airtight container in the fridge, where they’ll stay fresh and chewy for up to two weeks. I've found that refrigeration actually enhances their texture, making them just right when you’re ready to munch later.
Freezing
They freeze wonderfully! Simply layer patties between parchment paper in a freezer-safe container, and they’ll last up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw them gently in the fridge overnight to retain that perfect softness.
Reheating
No traditional reheating needed here. If you want them a bit softer after chilling, just leave the patties out at room temperature for 10–15 minutes. They quickly come back to that lovely, tender texture.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes! Gel food coloring actually works great because it adds vibrant color without making the dough sticky. Just add a small amount at a time and knead thoroughly.
Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, these patties will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks. For longer storage, freezing them in a sealed container will keep them good for up to 3 months.
Cream cheese is integral to the creamy texture of these peppermint patties. However, you can experiment with vegan cream cheese alternatives if you prefer a dairy-free version, but the texture and flavor might vary slightly.
Allowing the patties to dry helps them set properly, forming a lovely chewy texture instead of being sticky or too soft. This resting time makes a big difference in the final bite.
Final Thoughts
Making these Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties Recipe brings me so much holiday joy every year. It’s not just about eating candy—it’s about the process, the colors, the smells, and sharing the results with loved ones. Trust me, once you try this recipe, you’ll wonder why you ever bought peppermint patties from a store. Give it a go—you'll enjoy every minty, sweet bite as much as I do!
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Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 100 pieces
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Christmas Mints are festive, colorful peppermint candies with a smooth, creamy texture made from cream cheese and butter. Perfect for holiday celebrations, they are easy to make and set beautifully at room temperature.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter at 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 Baking Tray: Line a large rimmed baking tray with parchment paper. Place the granulated sugar into a small bowl and set aside.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, unsalted butter, light corn syrup, and peppermint extract on low speed with a handheld mixer for 1 minute until smooth.
- Add Powdered Sugar: Slowly add 4¼ cups powdered sugar, about ½ cup at a time, mixing on low speed. When the dough thickens, switch to a spatula or wooden spoon and mix by hand to fully incorporate.
- Prepare Dough Surface: Lay a piece of parchment paper on a clean counter and sprinkle ¼ cup of powdered sugar on it. Turn out the dough onto the powdered surface.
- Divide and Color Dough: Divide dough into three equal parts. Make a shallow well in two parts. Add red food coloring to one, green to the other, leaving the last dough plain white.
- Knead Colored Doughs: Knead each colored dough ball to evenly distribute color, adding up to ¼ cup powdered sugar as needed to prevent stickiness. Slightly knead the white dough with a tablespoon or two of powdered sugar if sticky.
- Roll Dough into Ropes: Roll each dough ball into an 18-inch long rope, about 1 inch thick.
- Slice Dough Ropes: Slice each rope into ½-inch thick pieces completely.
- Shape Peppermint Mints: Roll each piece into a small ball using your palm. Set aside.
- Coat in Granulated Sugar: Drop 2-3 dough balls into the bowl of granulated sugar, toss to coat, then place on the prepared baking tray. Repeat until all are coated.
- Flatten and Pattern Mints: Use the tines of a fork to lightly press the coated dough balls into discs with a striped pattern.
- Allow to Set: Let the Christmas peppermint patties sit at room temperature on the tray for up to 24 hours to dry and set before serving.
Notes
- Yields approximately 100 peppermint candies.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months; thaw in the fridge before serving.
- Add up to ½ teaspoon of liquid food coloring for more vibrant colors.
- Adjust powdered sugar amount to get the right dough consistency—should be pliable but not sticky.
- Gel food coloring is recommended for more intense color without adding moisture and is safe for nut allergy sufferers.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 peppermint candy
- Calories: 25 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 15 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0.2 g
- Cholesterol: 3 mg
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