There's something magical about those crisp, refreshing bites that dance on your tongue during the holidays. This Christmas Peppermint Mints Recipe captures that spirit perfectly with its melt-in-your-mouth texture and festive swirls of red, green, and white. Making these from scratch is a joyful way to bring a classic holiday treat right into your kitchen.

The image shows a white bowl filled with round cookies in three colors: red, green, and white. Each cookie has four parallel lines pressed into its top surface and is lightly covered with granulated sugar, giving a sparkling texture. Around the bowl on a white marbled surface, there are several more cookies scattered in the same colors and style. In the background, another white plate holds a few more cookies. To the left of the bowl, there are small decorative Christmas trees in green, white, and gold, adding a festive touch. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Peppermint Mints Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Peppermint Mints Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Peppermint Mints Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I've always adored these peppermint mints because they’re not only delicious but also strikingly beautiful with their holiday colors. Plus, making them at home is surprisingly easy and brings a special touch to gifting or your dessert tray.

Festive Colors: The vibrant red and green hues mixed with white make these mints instantly recognizable and fun to serve during Christmas.
Simple Ingredients: You likely have most of these in your pantry, and the process uses basic tools — no candy thermometer required.
Customizable Sweetness: You control how sweet and strong the peppermint flavor gets, making every batch uniquely yours.
Long Shelf Life: These mints hold up beautifully when stored right, so you can make ahead and enjoy throughout the holiday season.

A white divided dish holds three sections of round, sugar-coated cookies, each with fork-pressed lines on top; the top section has bright red cookies, the middle has white cookies, and the bottom has green cookies, all with a slightly rough sugar texture. Around the dish on a white marbled surface are scattered red, green, and white small jingle bells along with a second white round plate holding green and red cookies. Also, there are decorative glittery pom-poms in gold, silver, white, and green colors placed nearby, and a white cloth with black tree prints is partly visible in the bottom left corner. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Christmas Peppermint Mints Recipe plays a crucial role in creating that iconic texture and flavor. The balance between creamy, sweet, and minty makes these candies delightful with every bite.

Flat lay of a small white ceramic bowl filled with granulated sugar, a wedge of creamy room-temperature cream cheese, a chunk of unsalted butter, a small white bowl containing clear light corn syrup, a tiny white bowl with peppermint extract, three separate dough balls in red, green, and white colors placed evenly apart, a small white bowl holding powdered sugar, all arranged in perfect symmetry, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Granulated Sugar: Adds crunch and a little texture for coating the mints, creating that classic feel when you bite in.
Cream Cheese: Brings a smooth creaminess that keeps the mints tender without being sticky — make sure it's room temperature for easy mixing.
Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and helps bond the dough together with a subtle silkiness.
Light/Clear Corn Syrup: This keeps the mints soft and prevents crystallization, giving that lovely chewiness.
Peppermint Extract: The essential star that delivers that refreshing, wintry zing – fresh and powerful, so don’t skimp on it!
Powdered Sugar: Helps bind everything while keeping the dough manageable and sweet without graininess.
Green & Red Liquid Food Coloring: For those festive swirls — I recommend adding slowly so you control the intensity and texture.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

What I love about this Christmas Peppermint Mints Recipe is how easy it is to tweak them to your personal taste — whether you want a more intense peppermint punch or different colors to match your holiday décor.

Variation: Once, I swapped out a few drops of peppermint for vanilla extract, and it gave a subtle smoothness that some guests adored — feel free to experiment with different extracts like spearmint or even chocolate!

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Peppermint Mints Recipe

Step 1: Creaming the Base

Start by beating your room temperature cream cheese, butter, corn syrup, and peppermint extract together at low speed. This ensures a smooth foundation without lumps. I usually mix about a minute — any longer and you risk incorporating too much air, which can change the texture.

Step 2: Slowly Add the Powdered Sugar

Switch to adding powdered sugar gradually — about half a cup at a time — mixing gently on low speed. Your dough will thicken quickly, so when it gets too stiff for your mixer, grab a spatula and finish mixing by hand. This keeps your dough pliable but workable.

Step 3: Divide and Color Your Dough

On a clean counter with parchment, split the dough into thirds. Press a slight indentation in two and add red food coloring to one, green to the other, and leave the last one white. Carefully knead each until color is evenly dispersed, adding small amounts of powdered sugar if the dough feels sticky — this part depends on room temperature, so go slowly.

Step 4: Roll, Slice, and Shape Your Mints

Roll each colored dough into approximately 18-inch ropes, about 1 inch thick. Slice them into half-inch pieces and roll each piece into a ball with your palms. Getting a consistent size here helps the mints set evenly.

Step 5: Coat and Press

Toss 2-3 dough balls at a time in the granulated sugar until fully coated. Lay them on a parchment-lined tray and lightly press each with a fork to create those classic striped patterns. It’s such a satisfying detail that makes these mints truly festive.

Step 6: Let Them Set

Let your mints rest at room temperature for up to 24 hours before placing them on a serving platter. This drying time helps them firm up without losing that delicate chewiness, ensuring the perfect texture with every bite.

Top Tip

Having made these a few times, I’ve learned that managing the dough’s moisture is key. Too sticky and it’s hard to shape, too dry and it crumbles. Here are my best pointers to keep your Christmas Peppermint Mints just right:

Adding Powdered Sugar Slowly: Add it in increments so you don’t end up with an overly stiff dough — trust me, you can always add more but you can’t take it out.
Coloring Carefully: Use liquid food coloring cautiously; too much adds moisture making the dough sticky.
Kneading Technique: Knead gently and sprinkle powdered sugar as needed; you’ll get a smooth, even coloring without overworking the dough.
Watching the Setting Time: Don’t rush the drying — those 24 hours at room temp make a world of difference in texture and flavor melding.

How to Serve Christmas Peppermint Mints Recipe

Garnishes

I love adding a small sprinkle of extra granulated sugar or even edible glitter to the tops right after pressing with the fork — it gives the mints a gentle sparkle that adds to their charm during holiday parties.

Side Dishes

These mints pair wonderfully with a cup of hot cocoa or alongside slices of rich gingerbread or spiced cookies — they cut through the richness with a refreshing zing that brightens the palate.

Creative Ways to Present

For gifting, try placing the mints in a clear jar with a festive ribbon, or layer the colors in a glass container for a visual treat. I’ve also arranged them on a holiday dessert platter with sprigs of fresh rosemary — it adds a lovely green contrast and a hint of pine aroma.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover peppermint mints in airtight containers in the fridge to keep them fresh and chewy. They hold up well for about two weeks, which means you can make a big batch ahead and enjoy them over time without rushing.

Freezing

Freezing is a great option if you've made extra. Just freeze them in a breathable freezer-safe container to avoid condensation. When you're ready to enjoy, thaw them slowly in the refrigerator to keep their texture intact.

Reheating

Since these are cold-set candies, you don’t actually reheat them — just bring them to room temperature before serving if they've been chilled or frozen. This keeps that perfect balance of chewiness and vibrant peppermint flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use gel food coloring instead of liquid?

Absolutely! Gel food coloring is actually my personal favorite because it adds vibrant colors without making the dough sticky. Just add it a drop at a time and knead until you get the shade you want.

How long will these peppermint mints keep?

Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, these mints stay fresh and tasty for up to two weeks. If you freeze them, they can last up to three months—just thaw in the fridge before serving.

Can I make these mints without cream cheese?

Cream cheese is essential for the texture and flavor in this recipe — without it, the mints won’t hold their shape or have the same melt-in-your-mouth quality. Instead, you might want to try a different candy recipe if avoiding cream cheese.

What if my peppermint dough is too sticky or too dry?

If it's too sticky, add more powdered sugar a tablespoon at a time as you knead. If it’s too dry or crumbly, a small amount of corn syrup or softened butter can help bring it back to the perfect consistency. Patience is key here!

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Peppermint Mints Recipe has become one of my go-to holiday treats because it's both nostalgic and refreshing, with a personal touch that's incredibly rewarding to make. I can’t wait for you to try it and experience how those bright flavors and festive colors light up your celebrations — trust me, once you make these yourself, store-bought just won’t cut it anymore!