There is just something magical about those minty little treats that pop into your mouth and instantly remind you of holiday cheer. This Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties Recipe captures that festive spirit perfectly—it blends creamy texture with refreshing peppermint flavor in a way that you can customize with traditional Christmas colors. These patties are delightfully simple to make at home, no specialty equipment needed, and every bite feels like a sweet little celebration. Whether you’re gifting them or keeping them all to yourself, this recipe brings holiday joy right into your kitchen.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of these ingredients—each one plays an important role in delivering the perfect creamy, slightly chewy texture and bright peppermint taste. With no complicated components, you’ll likely have these staples in your pantry, which makes whipping up this festive treat a breeze!
- Granulated sugar: Used to coat the finished patties, giving them a delightful crunch and sparkle.
- Cream cheese (4 ounces, room temperature): Provides a smooth, rich base that adds a touch of tanginess and velvet texture.
- Unsalted butter (2 tablespoons, room temperature): Contributes to the creamy consistency and richness of the dough.
- Light/clear corn syrup (2 tablespoons): Adds just the right amount of stickiness to bind the mixture without making it tough.
- Peppermint extract (1 teaspoon): The star flavor that gives these patties their signature refreshing bite.
- Powdered sugar (4¼ to 5 cups, divided): Sweetens and thickens the dough—plus helps keep the patties from sticking.
- Liquid food coloring (6 drops each of green and red): For that charming Christmas touch, allowing you to color two batches of dough while keeping one classic white.
How to Make Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Baking Tray
Start by lining a large rimmed baking tray with parchment paper. This is where your little peppermint creations will chill and set after coating. Also, pour some granulated sugar into a small bowl—it’s going to be your magical coating agent later.
Step 2: Mix the Dough Base
In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, unsalted butter, corn syrup, and peppermint extract using a handheld mixer on low until smooth and well combined—this should take about one minute. The mixture will be soft and creamy at this stage, setting the tone for your patties’ luscious texture.
Step 3: Incorporate Powdered Sugar
Gradually add powdered sugar a half cup at a time, mixing on low as you go. As the dough thickens and the mixer struggles, switch to mixing with a spatula or wooden spoon to fully combine your dough. This slow addition ensures a perfect balance between softness and firmness.
Step 4: Prepare Dough for Coloring
Sprinkle the remaining quarter cup of powdered sugar over a clean sheet of parchment paper and turn your dough out onto this surface. This prevents sticking as you move on to portioning and coloring the dough.
Step 5: Divide and Color the Dough
Split the dough into three equal parts. Make a shallow well in two portions: add red food coloring to one and green to the other, leaving one portion white. This traditional Christmas palette will make your peppermint patties truly festive.
Step 6: Knead the Colored Dough
Knead each ball thoroughly to distribute the color evenly. Add more powdered sugar if the dough gets sticky, but add it slowly—too much can dry out your dough. Knead the white dough gently as needed to maintain softness and prevent stickiness.
Step 7: Roll the Dough into Ropes
Roll each colored dough ball into a long rope about 18 inches in length and approximately 1 inch thick. Doing this gives you a manageable shape for slicing uniform patties.
Step 8: Slice into Pieces
Cut each rope into half-inch thick slices. These slices will become the individual peppermint patties you’ll shape and coat shortly.
Step 9: Shape into Balls
Gently roll each slice between your palms to form smooth little balls. This helps them achieve the classic peppermint patty shape before the sugar coating.
Step 10: Coat with Granulated Sugar
Toss 2 to 3 balls at a time in granulated sugar until well coated, then place them on the prepared baking tray. Coating in sugar ensures a delightful chewy-crisp exterior that contrasts the creamy inside perfectly.
Step 11: Flatten and Decorate
Lightly press each sugar-coated ball with the tip of a fork to flatten into a disc. Those fork tines create an iconic striped pattern, adding a subtle and charming decorative touch that’s unmistakably festive.
Step 12: Allow to Set
Let the patties sit at room temperature, uncovered, for up to 24 hours. This resting time is key for them to dry and set to the ideal texture—soft but firm enough to hold their shape and melt slowly in your mouth.
How to Serve Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties Recipe
Garnishes
While these patties are stunning on their own, a light dusting of extra powdered sugar or a sprinkle of crushed peppermint candy can turn them into an even more festive treat. You can also decorate the serving platter with fresh mint leaves or small candy canes to add a burst of holiday color and aroma.
Side Dishes
These minty delights pair beautifully with hot cocoa, spiced tea, or freshly brewed coffee, making them a perfect accompaniment for cozy winter gatherings. They’re also wonderful alongside holiday cookies, creating a varied platter of seasonal sweets that will delight everyone.
Creative Ways to Present
Wrap these peppermint patties in festive cellophane tied with a red or green ribbon for lovely homemade gifts. You could also layer them in a glass jar with alternating colors for a beautiful visual effect that friends and family will adore. For parties, arrange them on a decorative holiday platter and add small handwritten tags with fun peppermint facts or personalized messages.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have any leftovers (which might be unlikely!), store the peppermint patties in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Keeping them covered prevents the sugar coating from absorbing moisture and losing its crispness.
Freezing
These patties freeze wonderfully. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. They can keep well for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw at room temperature, which takes about an hour, to preserve their fresh flavor and texture.
Reheating
Reheating isn’t necessary for peppermint patties, but if you prefer a softer texture, you can let them sit in a warm room for a few minutes. Avoid microwaving as it may melt the butter and cream cheese in the dough, altering their texture.
FAQs
Can I use different extracts instead of peppermint?
Absolutely! While peppermint is classic for this recipe, feel free to experiment with other flavors like spearmint, vanilla, or even a hint of almond extract to create your own unique twist on holiday patties.
Is it necessary to chill the patties before serving?
No chilling is required, but letting them sit out to set at room temperature for about 24 hours really enhances their texture. This drying time firm ups the outer layer while keeping the inside creamy and soft.
Can these peppermint patties be made vegan?
You could try substituting the cream cheese and butter with vegan alternatives, but the texture might vary slightly. The powdered sugar and corn syrup are typically vegan, so with the right substitutes, you can enjoy a dairy-free version.
How do I prevent the dough from becoming too sticky when adding food coloring?
Add the liquid food coloring slowly and knead the dough with powdered sugar gradually to absorb any extra moisture. This keeps the dough manageable without making it dry and crumbly.
Why does the recipe use three colors for the dough?
The red, green, and white dough portions not only evoke traditional Christmas colors but also make the patties look extra festive and fun! You can enjoy the visual appeal as well as the peppermint flavor, creating a delightful holiday presentation.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing quite like handing someone a sweet, homemade peppermint patty that you crafted with love. This Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties Recipe is easy to make, wonderfully festive, and a real crowd-pleaser for any holiday occasion. I promise once you try it, you’ll want to keep this tradition alive year after year—so grab those ingredients and get ready to fill your home with the delightful scent and taste of Christmas!
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Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes (plus up to 24 hours to set)
- Yield: Approximately 100 peppermint patties
- Category: Candy
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties are festive, colorful, and delightfully minty candies perfect for holiday celebrations. Made with cream cheese, butter, corn syrup, peppermint extract, and powdered sugar, these easy no-bake treats are shaped into colorful discs and coated with sugar for a sweet, refreshing bite.
Ingredients
Base Ingredients
- â…“ cup granulated sugar (for coating)
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons light/clear corn syrup (e.g., Karo brand)
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 4¼ – 5 cups powdered sugar, divided
- 6 drops green liquid food coloring
- 6 drops red liquid food coloring
Instructions
- Prepare the baking tray: Line a large rimmed baking tray with parchment paper. Place the â…“ cup granulated sugar in a small bowl and set aside for coating the peppermint patties later.
- Mix the dough base: In a large mixing bowl, use a handheld mixer on low speed to beat together the cream cheese, unsalted butter, light corn syrup, and peppermint extract for about 1 minute until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Incorporate powdered sugar: Gradually add 4¼ cups of powdered sugar, half a cup at a time, into the bowl while mixing on low. As the dough thickens and becomes difficult to mix, switch to a spatula or wooden spoon and finish mixing by hand to fully combine the dough.
- Prepare dough for coloring: Lay a piece of parchment paper on a clean surface and sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of powdered sugar over it. Turn the dough out onto this parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Divide and color the dough: Divide the dough into three equal portions. Make a shallow well in the center of two portions. Add red food coloring to one portion and green food coloring to the other; leave the third portion white.
- Knead the colored dough: Knead each colored dough ball to evenly distribute the food coloring. Add up to an additional ¼ cup powdered sugar as needed while kneading to prevent stickiness caused by the liquid coloring. Knead the white dough lightly if sticky, adding small amounts of powdered sugar as necessary. Be cautious to add powdered sugar gradually to avoid making the dough too dry.
- Roll the dough into ropes: Roll each dough ball into an approximately 18-inch-long rope about 1 inch thick on a clean, flat surface.
- Slice into pieces: Slice each rope into ½-inch thick pieces by cutting from one end to the other, resulting in small individual pieces for the peppermint patties.
- Shape into balls: Roll each slice gently between your palms to form little balls and set them aside.
- Coat with granulated sugar: Drop 2-3 dough balls at a time into the bowl of granulated sugar and toss to coat evenly. Then place the sugar-coated balls onto the prepared baking tray. Repeat this process until all dough balls are coated and arranged on the tray.
- Flatten and decorate: Using the tip of a fork, lightly press each sugar-coated ball to flatten it into a small disc. The fork tines will create a decorative striped pattern on top of each peppermint patty.
- Allow to set: Let the Christmas peppermint patties sit at room temperature on the tray for up to 24 hours before serving. This resting period helps the mints dry and set properly for the best texture.
Notes
- Be sure to use room temperature cream cheese and butter for easier mixing and a smoother dough.
- Gradually add powdered sugar to avoid making the dough too dry or crumbly.
- Work quickly when coloring and kneading the dough to prevent it from sticking too much due to the liquid food coloring.
- Letting the patties rest for up to 24 hours helps them dry and firm up for optimal texture and handling.
- Store finished peppermint patties in an airtight container at room temperature or refrigerated to maintain freshness.
