If you’re on the hunt for a homemade holiday treat that’s as festive as it is delicious, you’re in for a real treat with this Easy Christmas Mint Cream Cheese Mints Recipe. These little mints are refreshingly cool, melt-in-your-mouth creamy, and decked out with just the right amount of holiday sparkle. I promise once you make them, they’ll become your go-to sweet gift or party favor every Christmas season — plus, they’re surprisingly simple to whip up!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simplicity at Its Best: Only a handful of ingredients and steps deliver amazing flavor and texture.
- Customizable Festivity: Add sprinkles or adjust mint to suit your holiday vibe perfectly.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: These mints keep beautifully, so you can prepare early for stress-free holidays.
- Kid and Crowd Pleaser: My family goes crazy for these, and guests always ask for the recipe!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Easy Christmas Mint Cream Cheese Mints Recipe relies on just the right balance of creamy, sweet, and minty ingredients to get that perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture. When shopping, choose high-quality cream cheese and fresh powdered sugar for best results — the sprinkles add that fun holiday pop!
- Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese is essential for creamy texture; leave it out to thaw at room temp before starting.
- Powdered Sugar: You’ll divide it; use pure powdered sugar for smoothness without grittiness.
- Mint Extract: A little goes a long way — start with a half teaspoon, and you can add more if you want a stronger mint punch.
- Milk: Helps bind and smooth the dough; a tablespoon is just right to keep it from being too sticky.
- Holiday Sprinkles: Choose festive colors to make these even more cheerful and fun.
- Granulated or Powdered Sugar (for rolling): Keeps the outside crunchy and adds sweetness—powdered sugar dusts better, but granulated works too.
Variations
I love that this Easy Christmas Mint Cream Cheese Mints Recipe lends itself to personalization — you can easily switch things up without losing that classic holiday spirit. You’ll have fun experimenting to match your taste or holiday theme!
- Flavor Twist: I sometimes add a tiny bit of vanilla extract or use peppermint oil instead of mint extract for a stronger mint flavor.
- Colorful Creativity: Swap holiday sprinkles for crushed peppermint candies or colored sugar crystals to customize the look.
- Dairy-Free Version: I’ve tried using dairy-free cream cheese and almond milk with decent success, but expect a slightly different texture.
- Smaller or Larger Mints: Forming mini balls makes these mints last longer, while larger ones satisfy bigger sweet cravings.
How to Make Easy Christmas Mint Cream Cheese Mints Recipe
Step 1: Mix cream cheese and mint extract gently
Start by softening your cream cheese so it blends easily. Using a hand mixer on low speed, combine cream cheese and mint extract in a medium mixing bowl. Mixing slowly keeps the texture smooth and prevents it from getting too fluffy — you want a dense, creamy base here.
Step 2: Add powdered sugar and milk carefully
Next, blend in two cups of powdered sugar and the tablespoon of milk. Don’t overmix this part – the goal is creamy but not too soft. Watch the texture and stop as soon as it’s smooth to avoid a sticky mess.
Step 3: Incorporate sprinkles and remaining sugar
Stir in one cup of powdered sugar and two tablespoons of holiday sprinkles on low speed. Then, dump the final cup of powdered sugar onto a clean surface and knead it in by hand. The dough should turn smooth and consistent, like play dough. If it feels sticky, sprinkle in a bit more powdered sugar — keep adding until it’s just right for rolling.
Step 4: Shape and coat the mints
In a small bowl, mix the remaining two tablespoons of sprinkles with sugar for coating. Roll the dough into ¾-inch balls, then roll each ball in the sugar-sprinkle mixture for that sparkling finish. Placing them on a lined baking sheet helps keep them neat.
Step 5: Chill and flatten
Pop the tray in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes — chilling firms them up, making the final step easier. After chilling, gently press each ball with a fork to flatten slightly (this also adds a pretty pattern!). Let them dry on the counter just a bit before transferring to an airtight container.
Pro Tips for Making Easy Christmas Mint Cream Cheese Mints Recipe
- Keep Cream Cheese at Room Temperature: Too cold and it won’t blend smoothly, too warm and it might get watery—aim for soft but still firm.
- Avoid Overmixing Your Batter: Overmixing adds air and changes the texture; a low, gentle mix works best.
- Use Your Hands to Knead: Hands give the best control for consistency, especially when adding the last cup of powdered sugar.
- Don’t Skip the Chill Time: It helps firm up the mints for easier handling and perfect texture — patience here pays off!
How to Serve Easy Christmas Mint Cream Cheese Mints Recipe
Garnishes
I love topping these with festive sprinkles for holiday charm, but crushed peppermint or edible glitter can make them feel extra special. For a grown-up twist, sometimes I dust with cocoa powder or finely chopped nuts before serving — so good!
Side Dishes
These mints pair wonderfully with a hot cup of peppermint tea or a rich hot chocolate. At parties, I like serving them alongside cookies or a cheese platter for a little palate refresher between bites.
Creative Ways to Present
One year, I arranged these mints in a clear jar layered with alternating red and green sprinkles, tied a ribbon around it, and gave them as gifts. You can also place them on a pretty holiday plate or use cupcake liners in festive colors to make individual servings — instant charm!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftover mints in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and firmness. They stay great for up to two weeks — perfect if you want to make a batch ahead of your holiday events.
Freezing
I’ve frozen these mints wrapped tightly in parchment and sealed in freezer bags. When you’re ready, thaw in the fridge. While texture softens slightly, the flavor remains just as fantastic.
Reheating
Since these mints are no-bake and creamy, reheating isn’t really necessary or recommended. Instead, just bring them to room temperature before serving for the best experience—this brings out the smooth texture beautifully.
FAQs
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Can I make these mints without cream cheese?
While cream cheese is key for that creamy texture in this recipe, you can try substitute spreads like mascarpone or even vegan cream cheese for dairy-free versions. Keep in mind texture and flavor might change slightly.
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How do I prevent mints from getting sticky?
Adding enough powdered sugar and chilling them well helps avoid stickiness. If your dough feels too wet, knead in more powdered sugar gradually until it’s manageable.
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Can I use fresh mint instead of mint extract?
Fresh mint leaves won’t give enough flavor on their own here—mint extract is concentrated and more reliable for these cream cheese mints. However, you can try infusing milk with fresh mint to get a subtle note.
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How long will these mints stay fresh?
Stored properly in an airtight container in the fridge, these mints stay fresh for up to two weeks. For longer storage, freezing is your best bet.
Final Thoughts
When I first tried making this Easy Christmas Mint Cream Cheese Mints Recipe, I wasn’t sure how festive candies could be so simple—yet so addictively delicious! Now they’re a holiday tradition in my home, and I love sharing them with friends because they’re easy to make, endlessly customizable, and just plain fun to eat. You definitely can’t go wrong giving these a try this year — trust me, you’ll be stocked up on a sweet minty treat everyone will be asking for again and again.
Print
Easy Christmas Mint Cream Cheese Mints Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 60–80 mints 1x
- Category: Confectionery
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These festive Christmas Cream Cheese Mints are a delightful holiday treat combining smooth cream cheese, refreshing mint extract, and sweet powdered sugar. Rolled in sparkling holiday sprinkles and sugar, these bite-sized mints are easy to make, perfect for parties or gifting, and store well in the refrigerator.
Ingredients
Base
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 tsp mint extract
- 1 tbsp milk
Sweets & Decoration
- 4 cups powdered sugar, divided
- 1/4 cup holiday sprinkles, divided
- 1/2 cup granulated or powdered sugar
Instructions
- Mix Cream Cheese and Mint: Using a hand mixer on low speed, combine the softened cream cheese and mint extract in a medium mixing bowl until combined.
- Add Powdered Sugar and Milk: Blend in 2 cups of powdered sugar and the tablespoon of milk into the cream cheese mixture until smooth, taking care not to overmix.
- Incorporate More Sugar and Sprinkles: Add 1 cup of powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of holiday sprinkles to the mixture and mix gently on low speed.
- Knead Dough: Using your hands, knead in the remaining 1 cup of powdered sugar until the dough is consistent and smooth. If the dough remains sticky, add more powdered sugar a little at a time until it can be formed into small balls without sticking.
- Prepare Sugar Coating: In a small separate bowl, mix the 1/2 cup granulated or powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons of holiday sprinkles.
- Shape Mints: Roll the dough into approximately 3/4-inch balls and then roll each ball in the sugar and sprinkles mixture to coat evenly.
- Chill Mints: Place the coated balls onto a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set.
- Flatten Mints: Remove the chilled mints from the refrigerator and gently flatten each ball with a fork to create a traditional mint shape.
- Set and Store: Allow mints to harden slightly at room temperature on the counter before transferring them to an airtight container. Store the mints in the refrigerator to keep fresh.
Notes
- The final yield of mints depends on the size you make them, but this recipe yields approximately 60-80 mints.
- If the dough is too sticky to handle, gradually add more powdered sugar during kneading.
- For a stronger mint flavor, you can adjust the amount of mint extract slightly to taste.
- These mints can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks in an airtight container.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mint (about 5g)
- Calories: 35
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 20mg
- Fat: 1.5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
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