Description
These irresistibly smooth and flavorful Valentines Cream Cheese Mints are a delightful handmade treat perfect for gifting or enjoying at home. Made with a creamy blend of cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and your choice of extracts and colors, these melt-in-your-mouth candies come in a variety of pastel shades and shapes. Soft yet firm, they offer a charming combination of sweetness and refreshing flavor that is sure to impress your loved ones.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
- 4 to 5 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tsp preferred flavor extract (such as peppermint, vanilla, lemon, cherry, raspberry, or strawberry)
- Food coloring (optional, to achieve desired pastel shades)
Instructions
- Melt Butter and Cream Cheese: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 1/4 cup unsalted butter until fully liquefied. Add the softened 8 oz cream cheese and stir continuously until the cream cheese softens completely and combines smoothly with the melted butter. The mixture should become very soft and smooth, but not fully melted like butter.
- Mix in Powdered Sugar: Remove the saucepan from heat. Gradually add 4 cups of powdered sugar to the butter and cream cheese mixture, stirring thoroughly as you add it. If the dough remains sticky, continue adding powdered sugar a little at a time until the texture resembles very soft playdough that does not stick to your fingers.
- Flavor and Color the Dough: Divide the dough into portions according to how many flavors or colors you desire. To each portion, add approximately 1/3 teaspoon of your chosen flavor extract and mix well. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring and knead until the color is consistent throughout the dough. For a festive touch, pair colors and flavors such as pink with strawberry and green with peppermint.
- Shape the Candies: To make traditional butter mint circles, scoop about 1/2 teaspoon of dough, roll it into a ball, then flatten slightly with the back of a fork to create a scored pattern. Alternatively, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness and cut out shapes using cookie cutters. If cutters stick, lightly spray with non-stick spray or dip in melted butter and then granulated sugar between cuts.
- Coat and Set the Mints: Optionally, roll the shaped candies in granulated sugar to lightly coat all sides. Arrange the mints in a single layer on waxed paper and allow them to sit for a few hours until they are set and no longer sticky on the outside. Store finished mints in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
Notes
- If the dough is too sticky, add more powdered sugar gradually until manageable.
- Different flavor extracts and food coloring allow you to customize the mints for various occasions.
- Using non-stick spray or butter on cookie cutters prevents sticking and eases cutting shapes.
- The mints will remain soft inside but firm enough on the outside to store together without sticking.
- For best freshness, keep finished mints refrigerated in an airtight container.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 mints (about 15g)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 30mg
- Fat: 4.5g
- Saturated Fat: 2.8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 12mg
