If you’re craving a minty sweet treat that feels fresh, festive, and utterly satisfying, this Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe is going to be your new favorite. I absolutely love how these come out so smooth, flavorful, and that perfect balance of creamy peppermint and a snowy-white center. Whether you’re prepping for holiday guests or just want to enjoy a cool homemade candy any time, stick with me — I’ll walk you through every step so your patties turn out flawless every time!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Super Simple Ingredients: Everything you need is easy to find and probably already in your pantry.
- Quick and No Cooking Required: You’ll love how fast you can whip these up—no stovetop needed.
- Customizable Colors & Flavors: Make them red and green for the holidays or any combo you like by adding food coloring and extracts.
- Perfect Texture: Creamy inside with just enough sugar crunch on the outside from rolling in granulated sugar.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe lies in its simplicity: soft butter, smooth powdered sugar, and that refreshing peppermint extract all come together harmoniously. Keep your extracts and sugars ready, because they play the starring roles here.
- Butter: Use softened unsalted butter to get that creamy base without overpowering your peppermint flavor.
- Light Corn Syrup: It keeps the peppermint filling smooth and prevents crystallization.
- Peppermint Extract: Don’t skimp here! This gives your patties their signature refreshing bite.
- Powdered Sugar: Essential for that silky texture and sweetness, adding in layers for just the right consistency.
- Food Coloring: Gel or paste works best to color the dough without watering it down.
- Granulated Sugar: Rolling the finished patties in this gives a subtle sugar crunch that’s such a nice contrast.
Variations
I love to mix things up with this recipe depending on the season or who I’m gifting to — you can easily tweak flavors and colors to make it your own. Don’t be shy about experimenting!
- Chocolate-dipped Peppermint Patties: I dipped some in melted dark chocolate for a richer take once, and my family goes crazy for that combo.
- Different Extracts: Try substituting peppermint with spearmint, orange, or even almond extract for a fun twist.
- Vegan Variation: Use vegan butter and corn syrup alternatives; the texture will be just as creamy and delightful.
- Festive Colors: Besides classic red and green, I once made gold and silver for a New Year’s party and they were a hit!
How to Make Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe
Step 1: Whip Up the Minty Base
Start by combining the softened butter and light corn syrup in a small bowl. I usually use a sturdy spoon or a hand mixer — whichever you have on hand — to get them blended nicely. Then stir in the peppermint extract. I discovered this trick: adding the extract early helps the flavor really infuse the mixture evenly, so your patties pop with mint taste in every bite.
Step 2: Add Powdered Sugar Gradually
Next, sift in two cups of powdered sugar and mix until it combines well. Then stir in another cup—a little goes a long way here. You’ll want to knead the dough with your hands until it’s smooth and not sticky. If it still feels tacky after the powdered sugar, add more ¼ cup at a time. This part might get a bit messy, but trust me — that kneading is key for that perfect peppermint patty texture.
Step 3: Color and Divide Your Dough
Divide the dough into three portions for color customization. Tint one portion red and one green using gel or paste food colors; I leave one plain for a classic white peppermint patty. If the dough gets sticky while adding color, just knead in a bit more powdered sugar. You’ll find this part really fun, especially if you’re making these with kids!
Step 4: Shape, Coat & Flatten
Roll the colored dough into ¾-inch balls, then roll each ball in granulated sugar for a lightly crunchy coating. Gently flatten with a fork to create that classic peppermint patty shape. You’ll notice how the sugar sparkling outside contrasts beautifully with the smooth peppermint center — it’s a little treat for your eyes as much as your taste buds.
Step 5: Let Them Set
Place the candies on a parchment-lined surface and let them stand uncovered at room temperature for one full day. This drying step is crucial — it firms up the patties just right so they’re not too soft and sticky but perfectly tender when you bite in.
Pro Tips for Making Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe
- Use Gel Food Colors: They blend easily into the dough without watering it down, giving you vibrant hues every time.
- Knead with Powdered Sugar: This keeps the dough workable and prevents stickiness — it took me a few tries to get the balance just right.
- Don’t Skip the Resting Time: Let the patties sit uncovered for a day to develop the ideal texture; impatience here can result in a chewy mess.
- Roll in Granulated Sugar Last: This simple step adds the best subtle crunch that contrasts beautifully with the creamy filling.
How to Serve Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe
Garnishes
I like to serve these patties with a light dusting of extra powdered sugar or a small edible glitter sprinkle for special occasions — it adds such a delightful sparkle, especially around the holidays. Sometimes, a tiny mint leaf or crushed peppermint candy on top makes for a pretty garnish that doubles as an extra flavor boost.
Side Dishes
These peppermint patties are fantastic alongside a hot cup of cocoa or fresh coffee. When I serve them at Christmas parties, I’ll stack them on a dessert platter with a mix of other seasonal sweets — they balance rich desserts perfectly with their cool mint flavor.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday gifting, I love wrapping these patties individually in shiny foil or placing them in small clear boxes tied with ribbons. You can also layer colors in a pretty glass jar for an eye-catching DIY peppermint candy gift. Don’t underestimate how a beautiful presentation can make these taste even better!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store your peppermint patties in an airtight container at room temperature, and they’ll keep well for up to two weeks. I used to worry about them drying out, but keeping them sealed tightly really preserves that nice soft center and prevents the sugar coating from dissolving.
Freezing
If you want to make these ahead of time, they freeze beautifully. Separate the patties with parchment paper to prevent sticking and place them in a freezer-safe bag. When I froze a batch for holiday baking, they maintained their texture once thawed — just make sure to thaw them at room temp before serving.
Reheating
These patties are best enjoyed cold or room temperature, so no need to reheat them. If you want to soften them slightly after refrigeration, just leave them out for 15-20 minutes and they’ll be perfect for biting.
FAQs
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Can I use other extracts besides peppermint in this recipe?
Absolutely! While peppermint is classic, you can swap in other extracts like spearmint, almond, orange, or even vanilla to customize the flavor. Just use the same amount and taste as you go to avoid overpowering the mix.
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Why do my peppermint patties get sticky when shaping?
Sticky dough usually means you need to knead in more powdered sugar. Sometimes humidity plays a role too. Adding a little extra powdered sugar ¼ cup at a time, as you knead, helps keep the dough manageable and prevents sticking.
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Can I make these patties gluten-free or vegan?
This recipe is naturally gluten-free since it only uses sugar, butter, corn syrup, and extract. For a vegan option, replace the butter with a vegan alternative and use corn syrup that doesn’t contain animal products. The texture and flavor remain wonderful!
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How long do homemade peppermint patties last?
Stored in an airtight container at room temp, they keep fresh for about two weeks. Freezing extends their life up to three months without noticeable loss of quality.
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Do I have to let the patties sit for 24 hours?
Yes, I strongly recommend it! That rest time lets the flavors meld and the patties firm up just enough to handle easily without sticking. Skipping this step can make them too soft or messy.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, this Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe has become a holiday staple for me—not just because they taste incredible, but because making them feels like a little joyful project in the kitchen. Sharing these with friends and family always brings smiles, and I hope you’ll find the same joy. Give it a go this season (or any season!), and trust me, you’ll never buy boxed peppermint patties again.
Print
Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 day 10 minutes
- Yield: 60 peppermint patties
- Category: Candy
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties are a festive and delightful holiday treat that’s simple to make with just a few ingredients. Soft, minty, and coated with a sparkling sugar crust, these patties bring classic peppermint flavor and colorful holiday cheer to your candy platter. Perfect for gifting or holiday parties, they require no baking and are ready in just a day.
Ingredients
Peppermint Patty Dough
- ¼ cup butter, softened
- ⅓ cup light corn syrup
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract (or mint extract or any other extract you prefer)
- 4 cups powdered sugar, divided
- Food coloring (preferably gel or paste) – red and green
- ½ cup granulated sugar (for rolling the balls)
Instructions
- Combine butter and corn syrup: In a small bowl, mix the softened butter and light corn syrup together until smooth and well blended, creating the base of the dough.
- Add extract: Stir in ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract (or your choice of mint or other extract) to infuse the mixture with flavor.
- Add powdered sugar gradually: Add 2 cups of powdered sugar to the mixture and stir well to combine.
- Mix in more powdered sugar: Stir in an additional 1 cup of powdered sugar to begin thickening the dough.
- Knead the dough: Using your hands, knead the mixture, adding the remaining powdered sugar as needed until the dough is smooth, soft, and no longer sticky.
- Divide and color dough: Divide the dough into three equal portions. Tint one portion red and another green using gel or paste food coloring, leaving the third portion white. If the dough becomes sticky during coloring, knead in more powdered sugar, about ¼ cup at a time.
- Shape and coat patties: Roll the colored dough portions into ¾ inch balls. Roll each ball in granulated sugar to coat them evenly.
- Flatten patties: Gently flatten each sugar-coated ball with a fork to create the classic peppermint patty shape.
- Let stand: Allow the patties to stand uncovered at room temperature for 1 full day to dry and set.
- Storage: Store the finished peppermint patties in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Use gel or paste food coloring to avoid adding too much liquid, which can affect the dough texture.
- If the dough becomes too sticky at any point, knead in powdered sugar in small increments.
- Allowing the patties to dry uncovered helps them firm up and develop a nice sugar crust.
- You can experiment with different extracts for unique flavor variations.
- Store patties at room temperature in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 peppermint patty (approx. 12 g)
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 1.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg
