Description
These Irresistible Valentines Cream Cheese Mints are a delightful homemade candy featuring a smooth, creamy texture and customizable pastel colors and flavors. Perfect for a charming gift or festive treat, they combine cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar with your favorite flavor extracts to create soft, melt-in-your-mouth mints.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 4 to 5 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tsp preferred flavor extract (peppermint, vanilla, lemon, cherry, raspberry, strawberry, etc.)
- Food coloring (optional, for pastel shades)
- Granulated sugar (optional, for coating)
Instructions
- Melt Butter and Cream Cheese: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the 1/4 cup of unsalted butter until fully liquefied. Add the softened cream cheese and stir continuously until it becomes very soft and smooth, though not fully melted, blending thoroughly with the butter.
- Mix in Powdered Sugar: Remove the saucepan from heat. Gradually add 4 cups of confectioners’ sugar to the butter and cream cheese mixture, stirring well with a spoon as you add it. If the mixture remains sticky, add powdered sugar gradually until you achieve a soft dough that doesn’t stick to your fingers, similar to playdough consistency.
- Flavor and Color the Dough: Divide the dough into portions based on how many flavors or shades you want. Add about 1/3 teaspoon of your chosen flavor extract to each portion and mix thoroughly. Add a few drops of food coloring if desired, kneading until the color is evenly distributed.
- Shape the Candies: For classic butter mint circles, scoop about 1/2 teaspoon of dough, roll into balls, then flatten slightly with the back of a fork to create a scored pattern. Alternatively, roll out dough to about 1/4 inch thickness and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Use non-stick spray or dip cutters in melted butter and sugar to prevent sticking.
- Coat and Set the Mints: Optionally roll shaped candies in granulated sugar to coat them lightly. Arrange on waxed paper in a single layer. Let the mints sit for a few hours until set and no longer sticky on the outside but still soft inside. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Let cream cheese soften to room temperature for easier mixing and smoother texture.
- Add powdered sugar gradually to avoid overly dry or too sticky dough.
- You can customize flavors and colors to suit your preferences or holiday themes.
- Rolling cutters in butter then sugar helps prevent dough from sticking.
- Store finished mints refrigerated to keep them fresh longer.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 mints (about 21 grams)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 55mg
- Fat: 3.5g
- Saturated Fat: 2.2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
