Description
Homemade Butter Mints are delicate, melt-in-your-mouth candies with a creamy interior and a crisp outer shell. Flavored with peppermint and vanilla, these classic treats are easy to make and perfect for holidays, special occasions, or anytime you want a refreshing sweet bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Butter Mint Dough
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons half and half, or heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 2 – 3 drops food coloring, optional
Instructions
- Prepare baking sheet and sugar: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside. Sift the powdered sugar into a large mixing bowl and set aside to remove lumps for a smooth dough.
- Beat the butter: In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the room temperature butter until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. This aerates the butter, helping the candy texture.
- Add powdered sugar: Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar on low speed in batches until fully incorporated, forming a gritty dough base.
- Mix in liquids and extracts: Add the half and half, peppermint extract, vanilla extract, and pinch of salt. Beat on low speed until the dough comes together in a cohesive ball. If the mixture feels dry, add an additional teaspoon of half and half to bring it together.
- Add color (optional): If desired, divide the dough into 3 equal portions. Add a few drops of different food coloring to each portion and mix well until fully incorporated to create colorful mints.
- Keep dough pliable: Wrap two of the dough portions in plastic wrap to prevent drying. Leave one portion unwrapped to shape the mints immediately as the dough hardens quickly when exposed to air.
- Shape the mints: On a nonstick surface, take a piece of unwrapped dough and roll it into a rope about ¾ inch in diameter. Slice the rope into small ½ to ¾ inch pieces.
- Arrange and repeat: Transfer the cut pieces to the parchment-lined baking sheet. Continue rolling, slicing, and transferring until all dough is used.
- Dry mints overnight: Leave the butter mints at room temperature overnight to dry and harden on the outside while remaining creamy on the inside, forming the signature texture.
Notes
- Store butter mints in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month to maintain freshness.
- If dough becomes too hard to work with, allow it to soften slightly at room temperature before shaping.
- Experiment with different food coloring combinations for festive themes or occasions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mint
- Calories: 35
- Sugar: 7.5g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 1.5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0.1g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
