Easy Buttermints Recipe

These nostalgic Cream Cheese Mints combine a creamy blend of cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar with a burst of peppermint flavor and crunchy candy bits. The refreshing treat offers a delightful, melt-in-your-mouth texture that captures the spirit of the holidays and the warm charm of homemade sweets.

Hey everyone, I’m really excited to share my Easy Buttermints recipe that has quickly become a family favorite. I first tried making these homemade soft mints when I was a kid and their cream cheese candy taste has stuck with me ever since.

The recipe uses only 5 simple ingredients like 8 oz of softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 4 cups sifted powdered sugar, 1 tsp peppermint extract, and 1 cup crushed peppermint candies. This peppermint mints treat is a neat DIY candy melts recipe that brings together a creamy texture with a burst of minty flavor.

I appreciate how the mix offers a balance of sweetness and light nutritional value from the dairy and mint extract. It is a neat homemade mints recipe that doesn’t require any stovetop work, just combining ingredients until smooth and letting your creativity shine with this ragtag candy recipe everyone will enjoy.

Why I Like this Recipe

I love this recipe for a few reasons. First, it’s super easy to make even if I’m not the best cook and I don’t have to use the stove at all. Second, the mix of smooth cream cheese and crunchy peppermint candies always gives me a fun texture contrast. Third, the peppermint flavor is just the right amount of festive without being overpowering—it’s exactly what I crave during the holidays. Lastly, making these mints brings back sweet memories of family get-togethers and special treats, so every bite feels nostalgic.

These Cream Cheese Mints are totally one of my fave holiday treats. I love how it only takes 5 ingredients and a few simple steps to turn out amazing candy that melts in your mouth. I mean, first you beat together the cream cheese and butter until they’re super smooth, then you slowly mix in the powdered sugar so you dont get any lumps. After that, you stir in the peppermint extract until everything gets well blended, and gently fold in the crushed peppermint candies to spread out that cool crunchy vibe. You then scoop the mix onto a tray lined with parchment paper, press it down evenly, and chill it in the fridge for at least an hour. Once it’s firm, you cut it into small squares or rectangles and if you want to get a little extra fancy, you can roll each piece in extra powdered sugar. I usually let them sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving so they’re not too hard. This whole process just reminds me of the fun of making and sharing treats with family.

Ingredients

• Key Ingredients Overview: Each plays an important role to create a luscious, minty treat with balanced textures and flavors.
• Cream Cheese: Adds rich protein and creaminess while contributing fats; offers a smooth texture.
• Unsalted Butter: Lends moist richness and flavor with healthy fats; low in carbs and fibre.
• Powdered Sugar: Major source of carbohydrates making the treat sweet; negligible in fiber, protein, or fat.
• Peppermint Extract: Provides a fresh minty zing that lifts the dish; just a drop boosts aroma.
• Crushed Peppermint Candies: Imparts crunchy texture and bursts of sweetness; full of sugars and flavor.
• Note: While not a health food, these ingredients mix comforting richness with a sweet, minty kick.

Ingredient Quantities

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 tsp peppermint extract
• 1 cup crushed peppermint candies

How to Make this

1. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and softened butter together until they’re really smooth.

2. Slowly add in the sifted powdered sugar about a cup at a time while you keep mixing to avoid any lumps.

3. Stir in the peppermint extract until it’s well blended with the creamy mixture.

4. Gently fold in the crushed peppermint candies making sure they’re evenly distributed.

5. Scoop the mixture onto a parchment lined tray and press it down into an even layer.

6. Place the tray in the refrigerator and chill for at least one hour so it firms up nicely.

7. Once it’s firm, remove from the fridge and cut the candy into small squares or rectangles with a sharp knife.

8. If you like, you can roll each piece lightly in extra powdered sugar for an extra festive touch.

9. Let the pieces sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving to let them soften just a bit.

Equipment Needed

1. Large mixing bowl
2. Electric mixer or hand whisk
3. Measuring cups and spoons
4. Fine sifter for powdered sugar
5. Rubber spatula
6. Parchment paper lined tray
7. Refrigerator
8. Sharp knife
9. Optional extra bowl for tossing pieces in more powdered sugar

FAQ

Easy Buttermints Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• You can swap out the cream cheese for Neufchatel cheese which is a bit lighter but still works great.
• If you dont have unsalted butter on hand, try using salted butter but lower the extra salt in the recipe.
• Instead of powdered sugar, you could blend regular granulated sugar until it’s super fine. Just be sure its sifted well.
• If you’re out of peppermint extract, a couple drops of peppermint oil mixed with a splash of vanilla extract can do the trick (but use the oil sparingly cause its strong).
• Crushed peppermint candies can be replaced with crushed candy canes. It adds a similar refreshingly minty crunch.

Pro Tips

1. Make sure your cream cheese and butter are really soft before you start mixing otherwise you’ll end up with lumps that are hard to get completely smooth.
2. Add the powdered sugar slowly and really beat it in – if you rush it, you’ll get annoying clumps that ruin the texture.
3. When folding in the crushed candies, go gentle so they keep a bit of crunch instead of breaking down into the mixture.
4. Once you chill the candy, let it sit out for a few minutes before cutting so it doesn’t crumble or feel rock hard.