If you’re on the hunt for a fun and vibrant treat that melts in your mouth with a refreshing twist, you’re going to want to keep reading. I’m excited to share my tried-and-true Cream Cheese Mint Cookies Recipe that’s perfect for anyone who loves a soft, pillowy mint candy with a burst of color and flavor. These aren’t your typical cookies — they’re easy to make, bright, and have that luscious cream cheese texture I absolutely adore. Trust me, you’ll find yourself coming back to this recipe again and again!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Soft and Creamy Texture: Thanks to cream cheese, these mints have a melt-in-your-mouth feel that’s truly addictive.
- Vibrant Colors: The neon food coloring adds a playful pop, making these perfect for parties or gifts.
- Super Simple to Make: You don’t need fancy equipment—just some simple mixing and hand-rolling.
- Keeps Well for Weeks: Store them in the fridge or freeze for easy grab-and-go treats whenever a minty craving hits.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic in this Cream Cheese Mint Cookies Recipe is really all about balancing rich cream cheese with smooth powdered sugar and that refreshing hint of mint extract. For the colors, I recommend using gel food coloring—it blends beautifully without changing the texture.
- Cream Cheese: Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for smooth mixing—this is key to avoid lumps.
- Butter: Also softened, this adds richness and helps the mints hold together perfectly.
- Powdered Sugar: Gives sweetness and the right sugary texture to mimic mint candies.
- Mint Extract: I love using pure mint extract, not oil, for the best fresh flavor without overpowering.
- Gel Food Coloring (Neon green, neon pink, classic blue): These brighten your mints, making it as much fun to look at as to eat!
Variations
One of my favorite things about the Cream Cheese Mint Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to tweak to your liking. Whether you like them extra colorful, milder mint flavor, or even different shapes, you can personalize the recipe with just a few simple swaps.
- Flavor Swap: If you’re not a huge fan of mint, try swapping the mint extract with vanilla or almond extract – it still tastes fantastic.
- Color Choices: You can use pastel shades instead of neon if you want something more subtle, or even make themed colors for holidays.
- Shape Fun: Instead of rolling into balls and flattening, try cutting the dough with small cookie cutters to make cute mint shapes.
- Dairy-Free Version: I haven’t tried this yet, but swapping cream cheese for a dairy-free alternative might work if you’re adventurous!
How to Make Cream Cheese Mint Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Mix Your Base Ingredients
Start by placing your softened cream cheese, butter, mint extract, and powdered sugar into a large mixing bowl. Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, blend everything together for about 3 to 4 minutes. The mixture will look crumbly at first, which is totally normal—don’t worry, this is just how the texture begins to develop.
Step 2: Knead and Divide
After your mixer has done its job, put the mixture aside and start kneading it by hand. This is where it starts to come together more like playdough—soft but not sticky. If it feels too dry, I’ve found adding one tablespoon of extra cream cheese helps without making it too wet. Once smooth, shape it into a ball and cut it into four equal parts.
Step 3: Add Color
Place each quarter into its own small bowl, except keep one plain for classic white mints. Add 3 to 4 dots of gel food coloring to each colored bowl, then mix by hand or with a fork until you get a solid, vibrant color. Be sure to wash your hands between colors to avoid mixing—this keeps your colors nice and bright!
Step 4: Shape Your Mints
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. From each colored bowl, roll teaspoon-sized balls and arrange them on the sheet. Then, dip a fork lightly in sifted powdered sugar and gently press down on each ball to flatten it about halfway.
Step 5: Let Them Rest
After shaping, allow your mints to sit at room temperature for 4 to 6 hours to firm up. Patience here really pays off—once rested, the texture is soft but holds together perfectly, and the flavors have melded beautifully.
Pro Tips for Making Cream Cheese Mint Cookies Recipe
- Soft but Not Sticky Dough: Make sure your cream cheese and butter are fully softened to room temp; this helps you avoid a dry or crumbly dough that’s hard to work with.
- Hand Kneading Is Key: After mixing with a mixer, kneading by hand gives you the perfect playdough texture – not too sticky, not too dry.
- Use Gel Food Coloring: I’ve tried liquid and gel—gel blends in nicely without watering down the mixture or affecting texture.
- Don’t Rush the Resting Time: Letting the mints rest at room temperature makes all the difference, firming them up and making them taste just right.
How to Serve Cream Cheese Mint Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I like to sprinkle a little extra powdered sugar right before serving, which adds a pretty snowy appearance. For a festive touch, sometimes I dust the edges with crushed peppermint candies or edible glitter to make them sparkle—your guests will be impressed!
Side Dishes
If you want to serve these mints alongside other treats, they pair wonderfully with a hot cup of peppermint tea, coffee, or even a rich chocolate dessert. I’ve served them with fudge brownies before, and the minty freshness really balances the richness.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, I like arranging them in colorful patterns on trays or placing them in small clear boxes with ribbon for darling personalized gifts. Layering different colors in jars also makes a stunning decorative touch for holiday dessert tables.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store my leftover cream cheese mints in an airtight container in the fridge, where they stay fresh and soft for up to two weeks. Just be sure to keep them covered tightly so they don’t absorb other fridge odors.
Freezing
If I want to make them ahead even further, I freeze the mints in freezer-safe containers with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. They freeze beautifully for a few months, making holiday prep so much easier!
Reheating
To enjoy frozen mints, I thaw them overnight in the fridge and bring to room temperature before serving. There’s no need to heat these up since they’re soft candies, but letting them sit out a bit brings back their creamy texture perfectly.
FAQs
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Can I use liquid food coloring instead of gel for this recipe?
While you technically can use liquid food coloring, I recommend gel for the Cream Cheese Mint Cookies Recipe because gel colors blend evenly without adding extra moisture. Liquid colors can make the dough too sticky and affect the texture of the mints.
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How do I know when the dough has been kneaded enough?
The dough should feel like soft playdough—not sticky, but pliable and smooth. If it’s crumbly or falls apart, knead a little more by hand or add a tablespoon of cream cheese to help bring it together.
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Can I make these mints without cream cheese?
Cream cheese is essential for the signature creamy texture of these mints, so I don’t recommend skipping it. If you’re looking for a different texture, you might want to try a completely different mint candy recipe.
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How long do these mint cookies last?
Stored properly in an airtight container in the fridge, these mints last up to two weeks. For longer storage, freezing is your friend and keeps them fresh for several months.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely love how this Cream Cheese Mint Cookies Recipe turned out—the texture is unbelievably soft, and the mint flavor is perfect without being overpowering. When I first tried making these, I stumbled a bit with the dough texture, but once I found the right consistency and resting time, it all clicked. My family goes crazy for these mints, especially when I bring in the colorful varieties that brighten up any occasion. I hope you’ll enjoy making and sharing them just as much as I do—give it a try, and I promise it’ll become your go-to mint treat!
Print
Cream Cheese Mint Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 40 mints
- Category: Confectionery
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Cream Cheese Mints are a delightful and colorful homemade treat, perfect for refreshing your palate after a meal or serving at parties. Made with softened cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and mint extract, they are easy to prepare and come in vibrant neon colors. Soft yet firm, these mints melt in your mouth with a smooth, creamy texture and a refreshing minty flavor.
Ingredients
Base Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 tablespoon butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon mint extract
Coloring
- Neon green gel food coloring
- Neon pink gel food coloring
- Classic blue gel food coloring
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add 4 ounces of softened cream cheese, 1 tablespoon of softened butter, 4 cups of powdered sugar, and ½ teaspoon of mint extract. These are the foundational ingredients to create your mint mixture.
- Mix with Electric Mixer: Using an electric hand or stand mixer, blend the ingredients for 3-4 minutes. Initially, the mixture will be crumbly but will start to come together as you mix thoroughly.
- Knead by Hand: Set the mixer aside. Use your hands to knead the mixture within the bowl until it forms a round ball with a playdough-like consistency. If needed, add an additional tablespoon of cream cheese to achieve the right texture. The mixture should not be sticky.
- Divide Mixture: Cut the dough ball into four equal parts using a sharp knife. Place each portion into separate small mixing bowls, similar in size to cereal bowls.
- Add Food Coloring: Leave one bowl uncolored for white mints. Add 3-4 dots of neon green gel food coloring to one bowl, neon pink to another, and classic blue to the last. Fold in each color by hand or with a fork until the coloring is fully blended and uniform.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and to provide a clean surface to place your mints.
- Form Mints: Roll teaspoon-sized balls from each colored bowl of mixture and place them spaced out on the prepared baking sheet.
- Flatten Mints: Dip a fork into some powdered sugar and gently press each ball about halfway down to flatten it, creating the signature mint shape and texture.
- Rest the Mints: Allow the mints to sit at room temperature for 4 to 6 hours to firm up before enjoying them. This resting period ensures the perfect texture and flavor.
Notes
- Storage: Store the cream cheese mints in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks to maintain freshness.
- Freezing: These mints freeze well for a few months if kept in airtight containers or freezer bags with parchment paper layers to prevent sticking. Thaw them in the refrigerator before serving.
- Coloring Tips: Purchase both neon and traditional food coloring to achieve the vibrant mint colors.
- Mixing Tips: Ensure the butter and cream cheese are fully softened for easier blending. The mixture will be crumbly at first—mix with an electric mixer until it stops changing, then switch to hand-kneading.
- Texture Advice: The dough should feel like playdough, not sticky; add an extra tablespoon of cream cheese if needed.
- Hygiene: Wash your hands thoroughly between kneading different color batches to avoid color bleeding.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mint
- Calories: 45
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 1.3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
