Description
These Irresistible Valentines Cream Cheese Mints are a delightful, melt-in-your-mouth treat perfect for the holiday or any special occasion. Cream cheese and butter are melted together, then combined with confectioners’ sugar and flavor extracts to create a soft dough that’s shaped into charming mints. These candies are easy to make, customizable with flavors and colors, and coated with granulated sugar for a lightly crisp exterior. Store them in the refrigerator for freshness and enjoy a sweet, creamy, and festive mint.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Mixture
- 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
Flavoring and Coloring
- 1 teaspoon preferred flavor extract (peppermint, vanilla, lemon, cherry, raspberry, or strawberry)
- Food coloring (optional, to achieve desired pastel shades)
For Shaping and Coating
- Granulated sugar (for coating)
- Non-stick spray or melted butter (optional, for cookie cutters)
Instructions
- Melt Butter and Cream Cheese: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 1/4 cup of unsalted butter until liquefied. Add the softened 8 oz cream cheese and stir continuously until the cream cheese softens fully and blends with the melted butter into a smooth mixture. Note that cream cheese will not completely melt but should become very soft.
- Mix in Powdered Sugar: Remove the saucepan from heat. Gradually add 4 cups of confectioners’ sugar into the butter and cream cheese mixture, stirring thoroughly to combine. If the dough remains sticky, add more powdered sugar a little at a time until the mixture becomes like soft, non-sticky playdough.
- Flavor and Color the Dough: Divide the dough into portions according to the number of flavors or colors desired. 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 uniform throughout.
- Shape the Candies: For classic butter mint circles, scoop about 1/2 teaspoon portions of dough, roll into balls, and flatten slightly with the back of a fork to create a scored pattern. Alternatively, roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. To prevent sticking, lightly spray cutters with non-stick spray or dip them in melted butter and granulated sugar between cuts.
- Coat and Set the Mints: Roll the shaped candies in granulated sugar for a light coating if desired. Arrange the mints in a single layer on waxed paper and let them sit at room temperature for a few hours until firm on the outside and no longer sticky. Store the finished mints in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Softening the cream cheese to room temperature makes mixing easier and smoother.
- Add powdered sugar gradually to achieve the perfect soft dough consistency without stickiness.
- Flavor extracts and food coloring can be combined creatively for festive, multi-colored mints.
- Use waxed paper to prevent sticking while mints set.
- Refrigeration helps keep the mints fresh longer and maintains their texture.
- If cookie cutters stick, dipping them in melted butter and granulated sugar can help achieve clean cuts.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 mints (approximately 20g)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 40mg
- Fat: 3.5g
- Saturated Fat: 2.3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
