Craving a sweet and nostalgic treat that embodies the spirit of the season? Look no further than these Soft Christmas Peppermints, a delightful homemade candy recipe that’s surprisingly easy to make and utterly irresistible. These melt-in-your-mouth mints are a classic holiday confection, perfect for gifting, cookie exchanges, or simply enjoying by the handful.
With their vibrant holiday colors, refreshing peppermint flavor, and wonderfully soft texture, these peppermints are a staple for any festive gathering, offering a simple yet elegant touch to your Christmas celebrations. This recipe is a fantastic way to bring the joy of homemade treats into your home this holiday season.
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Key Ingredients for Soft Christmas Peppermints
To create these delightful Soft Christmas Peppermints, gather the following ingredients. Precision in measurements is key for the perfect soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- 1 pound (about 4 cups) powdered sugar, sifted (important for a smooth texture)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (a good quality butter makes a difference)
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract (or more, to taste – start with ½ tsp and adjust)
- 1 tablespoon milk (whole milk or 2% works best)
- Pinch of salt (enhances the peppermint flavor)
- Gel food coloring (red and green, for festive colors)
- Extra powdered sugar for dusting and rolling
How to Make Soft Christmas Peppermints
Making these Soft Christmas Peppermints is an incredibly rewarding experience, offering a simple yet elegant treat that’s perfect for the holidays. What makes this recipe so exceptional is its straightforward approach and the sheer joy of creating a classic confection from scratch.
The process is surprisingly easy, requiring just a few common ingredients and a bit of hands-on fun. You’ll love the rich, buttery flavor perfectly balanced with a refreshing peppermint kick, resulting in a soft, dreamy texture that simply melts in your mouth. This recipe is not just delicious but also incredibly satisfying to make, taking approximately 30 minutes of active prep time, plus a brief chilling period.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Prepare Your Workspace: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and dust it lightly with powdered sugar. This will prevent your peppermints from sticking.
- Cream the Butter: In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened unsalted butter until light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes on medium speed. Ensure the butter is truly softened, not melted, for the best consistency.
- Add Flavor and Moisture: Beat in the peppermint extract, milk, and a pinch of salt until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure all ingredients are incorporated.
- Gradually Incorporate Powdered Sugar: With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until a thick, pliable dough forms. It’s crucial to add it slowly to avoid a sugar cloud! Continue mixing until the dough comes together and is no longer crumbly. If the mixture seems too dry, add an additional teaspoon of milk, but be careful not to make it too sticky.
- Divide and Color the Dough: Divide the dough into three equal portions. Leave one portion white. To the second portion, add a few drops of red gel food coloring and knead until the color is evenly distributed. Repeat with the third portion using green gel food coloring. Gel food coloring provides more vibrant colors without adding excess moisture to the dough.
- Roll and Cut: Lightly dust your clean work surface and a rolling pin with powdered sugar. Take one colored portion of dough and roll it out to about ¼-inch thickness. Using small cookie cutters (such as stars, circles, or candy canes) or a sharp knife, cut out your peppermint shapes. Repeat with the remaining colored doughs.
- Arrange and Chill: Carefully transfer the cut peppermints to your prepared baking sheet. Once all the peppermints are cut and arranged, place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to an hour. This chilling step helps the peppermints firm up and hold their shape.
- Dust and Serve: After chilling, remove the peppermints from the refrigerator. You can lightly dust them with a bit more powdered sugar before serving, if desired, for an extra touch of sweetness and a velvety finish.
Why You’ll Love These Soft Christmas Peppermints
You are absolutely going to adore these Soft Christmas Peppermints for so many reasons! The main highlight is their incredibly delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture paired with a burst of cool, refreshing peppermint – it’s a truly blissful festive treat. Making these at home also offers fantastic cost-saving benefits compared to store-bought candies, allowing you to whip up a large batch for a fraction of the price.
The vibrant red, green, and white colors, achieved with just a few drops of food coloring, make them not only delicious but visually stunning, perfect for a holiday spread or as edible gifts. If you enjoy the simplicity and nostalgia of homemade treats like our classic sugar cookies, you’ll find these peppermints equally charming and satisfying. So, why wait? Give this recipe a try and infuse your holiday season with homemade sweetness!
What to Serve Soft Christmas Peppermints With
Soft Christmas Peppermints are delightful on their own, but they also pair beautifully with several holiday beverages and desserts.
- Hot Chocolate: The cool, refreshing peppermint is a perfect counterpoint to a rich, warm mug of hot cocoa, especially one topped with whipped cream.
- Coffee or Tea: Serve them alongside your afternoon coffee or a warm cup of herbal tea for a sophisticated treat.
- Holiday Dessert Platters: They add a lovely burst of color and flavor to any Christmas cookie or dessert platter, complementing shortbread, gingerbread, and chocolate bark.
- Mulled Wine or Cider: The spices in mulled wine or cider can be beautifully enhanced by the fresh minty notes of the peppermints.
Top Tips for Perfecting Soft Christmas Peppermints
Achieving the perfect Soft Christmas Peppermints is simpler than you think with these expert tips:
- Sift Your Powdered Sugar: This is non-negotiable for a smooth, lump-free peppermint. Don’t skip this step! Lumps will lead to a gritty texture.
- Soften Butter, Don’t Melt: Your butter should be soft enough to indent with a finger, but not greasy or melted. Cold butter won’t cream properly, and melted butter will make the dough too sticky.
- Go Easy on Extracts: Peppermint extract is potent. Start with the recommended ½ teaspoon and taste a tiny bit of the plain dough before adding more. You can always add a drop or two, but you can’t remove it.
- Use Gel Food Coloring: Liquid food coloring can add too much moisture to your dough, making it sticky. Gel food coloring provides vibrant colors without altering the dough consistency.
- Dust, Don’t Flour: When rolling out the dough, use extra powdered sugar instead of flour. Flour will make the peppermints taste starchy and change the texture.
- Avoid Over-kneading: Once the dough comes together, avoid excessive kneading, especially after adding color. Over-kneading can make the peppermints tough. Just knead enough to distribute the color evenly.
- Be Patient with the Chill: The chilling step is crucial. It firms up the peppermints, making them easier to handle and preventing them from becoming too soft once at room temperature. Don’t rush this step.
- Experiment with Shapes: While classic circles are great, feel free to use small holiday-themed cookie cutters like stars, snowflakes, or tiny candy canes for an extra festive touch.
Storing and Reheating Tips
Proper storage is key to maintaining the delicious softness of your Soft Christmas Peppermints.
- Airtight Container: Once the peppermints have fully set (after chilling), store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Layer them between sheets of parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Shelf Life: When stored correctly, these peppermints will stay fresh and soft for up to 2-3 weeks.
- Refrigeration/Freezing: It is generally not recommended to refrigerate these peppermints, as the cold can cause them to become very hard and lose their signature soft texture. Freezing is also not ideal for the same reason. The texture will change significantly upon thawing.
- Optimal Freshness: For the best experience, enjoy them within the first week of making them. If they do harden slightly over time due to exposure to air, you can try placing a slice of fresh bread in the airtight container with them for a day or two. The moisture from the bread can sometimes help soften them slightly, similar to softening cookies.
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Soft Christmas Peppermints Faqs
1. Can I use a different extract instead of peppermint?
Absolutely! While Soft Christmas Peppermints traditionally feature peppermint, you can experiment with other extracts like spearmint, almond, or even vanilla for different flavor profiles. Adjust quantities as needed, starting small and tasting as you go.
2. Why are my peppermints crumbly?
If your peppermint dough is crumbly, it likely needs more moisture. Add milk, a teaspoon at a time, until the dough comes together and is soft and pliable. Be careful not to add too much, or it will become sticky.
3. Why are my peppermints sticky?
Sticky dough usually means too much liquid (milk or extract) or not enough powdered sugar. You can remedy this by gradually mixing in more sifted powdered sugar until the dough reaches the desired consistency. Ensure your butter wasn’t melted, as this also adds too much liquid.
4. How can I get vibrant colors without making the dough too wet?
Always use gel food coloring. Liquid food coloring can significantly alter the consistency of the dough, making it sticky. Gel colors are concentrated and provide rich hues with just a few drops.
5. Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the dough up to a day in advance. Wrap each colored portion tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. Before rolling and cutting, let the dough sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes to soften slightly, making it easier to work with.
6. Do these peppermints make good gifts?
These Soft Christmas Peppermints make absolutely wonderful homemade gifts! Package them in festive tins, cellophane bags tied with ribbon, or small gift boxes. They’re a thoughtful and delicious present that everyone will appreciate during the holidays.
7. How do I prevent the peppermints from sticking to the parchment paper?
Ensure you lightly dust the parchment paper with extra powdered sugar before placing the cut peppermints on it. This creates a barrier that prevents sticking.