Get ready to fall in love with Soft Christmas Peppermints! These charming, melt-in-your-mouth treats are the very essence of holiday cheer: cool and creamy with a gentle peppermint tingle, an irresistible pillow-soft texture, and a festive pop of color. With just a handful of simple ingredients—no oven required—these little candies are perfect for cookie trays, gifting, after-dinner treats, or a sweet bite any time you want a bit of Christmas magic.

Soft Christmas Peppermints Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

It’s amazing how a few pantry staples come together to create such a dreamy holiday treat! Each ingredient in Soft Christmas Peppermints plays a crucial role in making them creamy, colorful, and unmistakably festive.

Powdered sugar: The key to that smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture—don’t skimp, and have extra for dusting!
Cream cheese (softened): Adds creaminess and a subtle tang that perfectly balances the sweet peppermint flavor.
Unsalted butter (softened): Rounds out the richness, making the candies extra soft and luscious.
Peppermint extract: Infuses each bite with the classic, cool freshness you expect from Christmas mints.
Food coloring (red and green): Turn these candies into a true holiday showstopper—choose vibrant shades for the full Christmas effect!
Sanding sugar or extra powdered sugar for coating: Gives a sparkly, sweet finish and helps keep the mints from sticking together in the tin.

How to Make Soft Christmas Peppermints

Step 1: Cream the Dairy Base

Start by beating together the cream cheese and butter until they’re completely smooth and creamy—no lumps allowed! This creates the velvety foundation for your Soft Christmas Peppermints, so let them come to room temperature first; it’ll make mixing a breeze.

Step 2: Add Peppermint Magic

Pour in the peppermint extract and beat to combine. You’ll smell that instantly-festive aroma that brings back memories of peppermint sticks and holiday parties. Be careful—peppermint is potent, so measure with a steady hand for that perfect cool kick.

Step 3: Sweeten and Thicken

Gradually add your powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. The mixture will get thick and start to resemble a pliable dough. Don’t worry if it feels sticky in the beginning—it will firm up as you continue to add sugar.

Step 4: Color and Divide

Divide the dough into two or three portions, and tint each batch with food coloring. Classic red and green are a must for Christmas, but you could also add a third batch in white for extra contrast. Use a light hand when mixing in the color so you don’t overwork the dough.

Step 5: Shape Your Mints

Roll small pieces of dough—about 1/2-inch in diameter—between your hands to form balls, then place them onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Gently flatten each one with a fork or the bottom of a glass to make that signature peppermint look.

Step 6: Dry and Coat

Let your mints air-dry at room temperature for at least 4 hours, or overnight if you can wait! They’ll set up to be firm on the outside while staying wonderfully soft in the center. Once dry, toss them in sanding sugar or extra powdered sugar for a sparkling, non-sticky finish.

How to Serve Soft Christmas Peppermints

Garnishes

A simple roll in sparkling sanding sugar makes these Soft Christmas Peppermints look extra festive and gives a satisfying little crunch. Feeling fancy? Try mixing a hint of edible glitter with the sugar, or set the mints atop a mini sprig of holly for an elegant presentation worthy of any holiday buffet.

Side Dishes

Serve these mints alongside mugs of hot cocoa, strong coffee, or rich hot chocolate—the cool peppermint contrasts beautifully with warm, cozy beverages. They’re also perfect as a palate cleanser between heavier desserts, or as a little bite at the end of a cheese platter.

Creative Ways to Present

Pile your Soft Christmas Peppermints into clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon for instant, heartfelt gifts. For parties, set out on vintage platters mixed with other seasonal candies or tuck a few mints into cupcake liners on a cookie tray. They’re a showstopper in mason jars, layered by color, or scattered around a centerpiece.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

The best part about Soft Christmas Peppermints is how well they keep! Store them in an airtight container at room temperature, layered with parchment or wax paper, and they’ll stay fresh and soft for up to two weeks. Perfect for making ahead before the holiday rush.

Freezing

If you need to prep even further in advance, these mints freeze beautifully. Lay them in a single layer in a freezer-safe container (with parchment between layers) and freeze for up to a month. Thaw at room temperature for an hour before serving—they’ll be just as soft and snappy as the day you made them.

Reheating

No reheating needed! These are truly no-fuss: just let them come to room temp if frozen. If you want to serve them a little softer, you can pop a single mint in your hand for a minute—the warmth will make it extra melty.

FAQs

Can I use low-fat cream cheese for this recipe?

While you can use low-fat cream cheese in a pinch, full-fat delivers the softest, creamiest texture. Reduced fat can make the mints a little firmer and less rich, so splurge on the full-fat version for best results.

How long do Soft Christmas Peppermints need to dry?

Plan on at least 4 hours drying time at room temperature, but overnight is ideal for that perfectly set yet still-soft texture. Humid conditions may require a bit more time, so check for a lightly firm exterior before packaging.

Can I make these in other colors or flavors?

Absolutely! While red and green are Christmas classics, you can tint your mints any color for any occasion—pastels for Easter, orange and black for Halloween. Swap the peppermint extract for lemon, almond, or vanilla for a custom twist.

Do I have to use sanding sugar or is powdered sugar enough?

Sanding sugar creates that gorgeous sparkling finish and adds a tiny bit of crunch, but extra powdered sugar works just fine to prevent sticking. You can also skip the coating altogether—your Soft Christmas Peppermints will still be delicious!

How can I prevent the dough from sticking to my hands?

If the dough feels sticky when rolling, dust your hands lightly with powdered sugar or chill the dough portions for 10 minutes before shaping. This keeps things neat and makes forming those perfect little balls a breeze.

Final Thoughts

I hope you’re as smitten with Soft Christmas Peppermints as I am. With their old-fashioned charm, vibrant color, and oh-so-soft bite, nothing says “happy holidays” louder than a platter of these beauties. Go ahead, whip up a batch—you might just start a new family tradition!

Soft Christmas Peppermints Recipe

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4.7 from 9 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Yield: 80–100 mints 1x
Diet: Vegetarian, Gluten-Free

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Description

These Soft Christmas Peppermints are delightful no-bake treats perfect for the holiday season. Creamy and minty, they make a festive addition to any cookie tray or a lovely homemade gift. Easy to make and customizable with different food colors, they are sure to be a hit with family and friends.

Ingredients

Scale

Powdered Sugar Mixture:

4 cups powdered sugar (plus more for dusting)

Cream Cheese Mixture:

4 oz cream cheese (softened)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter (softened)
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

Additional:

Food coloring (red and green)
Sanding sugar or extra powdered sugar for coating

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Instructions

Mix Cream Cheese and Butter: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
Add Peppermint Extract: Mix in the peppermint extract.
Incorporate Powdered Sugar: Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until a smooth dough forms.
Tint and Shape: Divide the dough, tint each portion with food coloring, roll into balls, flatten, and place on a baking sheet.
Dry: Allow the mints to air-dry for at least 4 hours or overnight until firm but soft.
Coat: Roll the mints in sanding sugar or powdered sugar if desired.