Soft Christmas Peppermints Recipe

These soft Christmas peppermints are melt-in-your-mouth butter mints made with just butter, sweetened condensed milk, powdered sugar and peppermint extract. The dough is tinted in pale pink, white and green, pressed into little flower shapes, and left to firm up on the counter. Some get a pinch of red sprinkles for a festive finish. They are a no-bake candy that fits right onto a holiday cookie tray.

Why You’ll Like These Soft Christmas Peppermints

Unlike hard peppermint candies, these mints are tender and creamy, with a cool minty flavor that fades into buttery sweetness. The dough mixes in one bowl, needs no candy thermometer and handles a lot like play dough, so shaping the flowers is easy. Pastel colors make a plate of them look cheerful without much effort.

• No baking or cooking: mix, tint, shape and let them set.
• Four main ingredients: butter, condensed milk, powdered sugar and peppermint extract.
• Great for gifting: they pack neatly into tins and small boxes.

Ingredients for Soft Christmas Peppermints

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 4 cups powdered sugar, plus a little extra for dusting
• 1 tsp peppermint extract
• Optional: pink and green gel food coloring
• Optional: red sanding sugar or red sprinkles

You will need a large mixing bowl, a hand mixer or stand mixer, parchment paper, and a small flower-shaped candy mold, cookie stamp or the tines of a fork for pressing. Makes about 60 to 80 small mints, depending on size.

Ingredient Notes

The butter: Softened butter should press easily with a finger but not look greasy or melted. Melted butter makes a sticky dough that will not hold its shape.

The condensed milk: Use sweetened condensed milk, not evaporated milk. It binds the sugar and gives the mints their soft, creamy bite.

The powdered sugar: Add it gradually. The exact amount can vary a little with humidity, so stop when the dough is smooth and no longer sticky.

The peppermint extract: Peppermint extract is strong. Start with 1 teaspoon, taste a tiny piece of dough, and add only a drop or two more if you want a stronger cool finish.

The coloring: Gel food coloring tints the dough without adding extra liquid. A toothpick-tip of color is enough for soft pastels.

How to Make Soft Christmas Peppermints

Step by Step

1. Cream the butter. Beat the softened butter in a large bowl for about 1 minute, until smooth and creamy.
2. Add condensed milk and peppermint. Beat in the sweetened condensed milk and peppermint extract until combined.
3. Add the powdered sugar. Mix in the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time on low speed. After the last cup, the dough will look crumbly at first, then come together. Finish by kneading it briefly with your hands until smooth, soft and no longer sticky. If it sticks to your fingers, knead in a spoonful more powdered sugar.
4. Tint the dough. Divide the dough into three portions. Leave one white. Knead a tiny amount of pink gel coloring into the second and green into the third until the color is even. Wear gloves if you want to keep your hands clean.
5. Roll into balls. Pinch off small pieces and roll them into balls about 1/2 inch across. Set them on a parchment-lined tray.
6. Press into flowers. Lightly dust a flower mold or cookie stamp with powdered sugar. Press each ball into the mold and pop it out, or press the top of each ball with the stamp to flatten it into a flower shape. A fork also works for a simple striped pattern.
7. Add sprinkles. If using, press a pinch of red sanding sugar or sprinkles onto some of the mints while the surface is still soft.
8. Let them set. Leave the mints uncovered on the parchment at room temperature for several hours or overnight, until the outside feels dry and firm while the inside stays soft.

Tips for the Best Soft Christmas Peppermints

Keep the Dough Covered While You Work

The dough dries as it sits. Wrap the portions you are not shaping in plastic so they stay soft and easy to press.

Dust the Mold Lightly

A small amount of powdered sugar in the mold helps each flower release cleanly. Tap out the excess so the details stay sharp.

Go Easy on Color

Gel color is concentrated. Add it with a toothpick and knead well before deciding to add more; pastel shades look best on these mints.

Adjust With Sugar, Not Liquid

If the dough feels soft or sticky, add powdered sugar a spoonful at a time. If it cracks when pressed, knead it a bit longer with warm hands, or work in a tiny bit more softened butter.

Give Them Time to Dry

Do not stack or pack the mints until the outsides are dry. Rushing this step can leave them stuck together.

Variations

• Other shapes: use small heart, star or snowflake molds for different holidays.
• Single color: tint the whole batch pale green or pink for a uniform look.
• Swirled mints: twist small ropes of two colors together before rolling into balls.
• Vanilla butter mints: swap the peppermint extract for vanilla or almond extract.
• Chocolate dipped: dip the bottoms of set mints in melted chocolate and let them firm on parchment.
• Crushed candy topping: press finely crushed peppermint candy on top instead of sprinkles.

Storage

Room temperature: Once set, store the mints in an airtight container with parchment between layers for up to 1 week in a cool spot.

Refrigerator: For longer keeping, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks. Let them sit out a few minutes before serving.

Freezer: Freeze set mints in a single layer, then move them to a freezer container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the container so condensation does not form on the mints.

Make-ahead: These are an easy candy to make a week or more before the holidays and keep chilled until you assemble trays or gift boxes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my peppermint dough sticky?

It usually needs a little more powdered sugar, or the butter was too warm. Knead in extra sugar a spoonful at a time and chill the dough for 10 to 15 minutes if your kitchen is warm.

Do I need a candy mold?

No. A small cookie stamp, the bottom of a textured glass or a fork pressed into each ball works fine. Plain round mints are just as tasty.

Can I use liquid food coloring?

You can, but use only a drop or two, since extra liquid makes the dough sticky. Gel coloring gives brighter pastels with less moisture.

How long do soft peppermints take to set?

Most batches firm up on the outside in about 4 to 8 hours at room temperature. Leaving them overnight is the easiest way to be sure they are ready to store.