Description
These Irresistible Valentines Cream Cheese Mints are soft, flavorful, and perfect for sharing with loved ones. Made with cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar, these pastel-colored, flavored mints offer a delicate melt-in-your-mouth texture with classic butter mint flavors and charming decorative shapes.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 1 package cream cheese (8 oz, softened to room temperature)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (softened at room temperature)
- 4 to 5 cups confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar)
Flavor and Color
- 1 tsp preferred flavor extract (peppermint, vanilla, lemon, cherry, raspberry, or strawberry)
- Food coloring (optional, to achieve desired pastel shades)
For Coating (Optional)
- Granulated sugar (for rolling to coat candies)
Instructions
- Melt Butter and Cream Cheese: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 1/4 cup butter until fully liquefied. Add the 8 oz of softened cream cheese and stir continuously until the cream cheese softens completely and fully combines with the melted butter, forming a smooth and soft mixture.
- Mix in Powdered Sugar: Remove the saucepan from the heat. Gradually add 4 cups of powdered sugar to the butter and cream cheese mixture, stirring thoroughly with a spoon as you add. If the dough is sticky, add more powdered sugar a little at a time until the dough feels like very soft playdough that doesn’t stick to your fingers.
- Flavor and Color the Dough: Divide the dough into portions for different flavors or colors. Add about 1/3 teaspoon of your chosen flavor extract to each portion and mix well. Add a few drops of food coloring if desired and knead until the color is consistent throughout.
- Shape the Candies: For classic butter mint circles, scoop about 1/2 teaspoon portions of dough, roll into balls, then flatten slightly with the back of a fork to create a scored pattern. Alternatively, roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness and use cookie cutters for different shapes. Lightly spray cutters with non-stick spray or dip in melted butter and granulated sugar if dough sticks.
- Coat and Set the Mints: Optionally roll the shaped candies in granulated sugar to coat all sides lightly. Arrange the mints on waxed paper in a single layer and let them set for a few hours until they are no longer sticky. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep fresh.
Notes
- Softened cream cheese and butter at room temperature will mix more smoothly and quickly.
- Adjust the powdered sugar amount based on dough texture to avoid overly sticky or too dry dough.
- Different flavors and colors can be combined for a festive presentation.
- If cookie cutters stick, lightly coat them with non-stick spray or melted butter and sugar between cuts.
- Store mints in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 mints (about 18 g)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 35mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
