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
Scale
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
