Candy Cane Cream Cheese Mints Recipe | Perfect for Holidays (2024)

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As a kid, I distinctly remember helping my mom and Aunt Kim prepare one of my favorite treats -- Cream Cheese Mints. They're visually satisfying with the perfect level of sweetness -- each one just melts in your mouth.

Since I will be using this recipe around Christmas, I've chosen to make mine red and white, like a candy cane. With different food colors, they can be done up for just about any celebration. Specifically, I remember having these at weddings, baby showers and birthday parties!

Candy Cane Cream Cheese Mints Recipe | Perfect for Holidays (1)

The original cream cheese mints recipe calls for cups of powdered and granulated sugar. With a few low carb modifications, my new recipe is totally suitable for a Keto diet.

For an extra special dessert, use a candy mold with your favorite shapes. Hearts and bells were common during weddings when growing up.

Candy Cane Cream Cheese Mints Recipe | Perfect for Holidays (2)

For this recipe, I went the traditional route and just used the tines of a fork to flatten and mark them. If you decide to try this method, I find that using a fork dipped in erythritol works great.

Candy Cane Cream Cheese Mints Recipe | Perfect for Holidays (3)

Candy Cane Cream Cheese Mints

My Cream Cheese Mints recipe is the perfect mixture of sweet and satisfying -- no one will ever know they're low carb!

5 from 8 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 16 oz cream cheese (room temperature)
  • ½ cup butter (room temperature)
  • cups powdered erythritol
  • ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 3-5 drops food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  • With a hand mixer, beat together cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl until smooth.

  • Gradually add in 1 cup of powdered erythritol and mix until combined (be sure to reserve½ cup for later step).

  • Add peppermint extract and food coloring. Beat until color is evenly distributed.

  • Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for a minimum of one hour. This will help firm up the mints.

  • After cooling in the refrigerator, use a spoon or cookie scoop to form individual servings. Place them in a bowl with the remainder of the powdered erythritol and swirl to coat. This will make them much easier to roll with minimal sticking.

  • With clean hands, roll the cream cheese to form small balls. Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet, about 1-2 inches apart.

  • When all balls are rolled, take a fork dipped in erythritol and apply a crosshatch design on top. Use the tines of the fork (jagged edges) to make your design.

  • Refrigerate until completely cooled.

  • Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cream cheese mintCalories: 80kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 1g

Tried this recipe?Tag @nobunplease or #nobunplease on Instagram!

Tips for Delicious Cream Cheese Mints

  • Make sure that you are using peppermint extract. I find that most other mint flavorings taste a little too much like toothpaste.
  • Want to make it easy? Do everythingin a food processor.
  • Don't have powdered sweetener? Blitz the granular version in your food processor or blender. It mimics the texture of powdered sugar.
  • When you add the powdered sugar replacement to the cream cheese & butter mixture, do it gradually. If you add it all at once, you may be left with a kitchen covered in a layer of erythrtiol.
  • Another sweetener can be used, but the cooling effect of the erythritol works extremely well when paired with the peppermint extract.
  • When cooling these in the refrigerator, a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or waxed paper works great!
  • Planning on using candy molds? Instead of small balls, you may need to roll them at a different size. Make sure you have enough mixture to fill them.
  • Keep the carb count low by using certain brands of cream cheese. They can vary from 0g to 2g carbs per serving. I usually go with the Philadelphia brand based on the flavor and 1g carb count.
  • Make sure you have enough room in your refrigerator to cool -- especially if you're doing a big batch on sheet pans.
  • Have you peeped the nutrition info? These are great as a fat bomb!

When all is said and done, what's more impressive than homemade mints? No one has to know how simple it was!

What's your favorite Keto dessert? Comment below!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Dom Geracia

      Yep, these will need to be stored in the refrigerator.

      Reply

  1. Liz

    Going to make these as gifts for my kiddos teachers!

    Reply

    • Dom Geracia

      Great idea! I imagine the kiddos would love to help make them, too.

      Reply

    • Sandy

      Thank you for this recipe! I can't wait to make these. How do you store them?

      Reply

  2. Shane

    This is a yummy desert! So easy to make and guilt-free at that! I tried it and even the kids loved it. Thanks for sharing this yummy recipe!

    Reply

  3. Denmark

    Candy Cane Cream Cheese Mints Recipe | Perfect for Holidays (4)
    Thanks for sharing this candy cane cream cheese mints recipe! I'm sure my kids and niece will love these!

    Reply

  4. Kim~madeinaday

    Candy Cane Cream Cheese Mints Recipe | Perfect for Holidays (5)
    These sound yummy! totally sharing and pinning for when my Keto diet starts back, lol. By the way, you should join our linky party each week on Monday and share your recipes. Click the latest round up post on my blog to join. This week is the holiday village post.
    Best,
    Kim

    Reply

    • Maren

      Do you have to keep them in the refrigerator all the time? Or just when they are cooking? Do they freeze well?

      Reply

      • Dom Geracia

        They can be set out for a couple hours, but I prefer them cold straight from the refrigerator.

        Reply

  5. bc mining

    great thank you

    Reply

  6. Amy

    Thank you! These look great and I can't wait to make them!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Candy Cane Cream Cheese Mints Recipe | Perfect for Holidays (2024)

FAQs

How to make mints without gum paste? ›

All you need are butter, powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla and mint extracts. The mixture is blended together, tinted with food coloring, if you like, and shaped into pillows, little balls, or cut out with small cookie cutters to make fun shapes.

How to get mints out of mold? ›

To do so, roll a bit of the dough into a ball, roll that thoroughly through granulated (not powdered) sugar, and press it firmly into your mold. Invert the mold and pop out your adorably shaped cream cheese mint!

Why are candy canes peppermint flavored? ›

Peppermint was often added to these sugar mixtures because its cooling taste helped to mask the flavour of awful-tasting drugs. The peppermint Altoids was invented in 1781 by the London confectioner Smith & Company, which also made medicinal lozenges.

How do I make my own DIY breath mints? ›

Instructions:
  1. Put the water in a double boiler. ...
  2. Sprinkle the gelatin powder over the water. ...
  3. Stir in the corn syrup, and warm on the stove over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture turns clear.
  4. Stir in 1 1/2 cups (170 g) powdered sugar. ...
  5. Once the texture is soft and stretchy, your gum paste is ready.

Can you mold cream cheese? ›

Use Silicone Molds with Soft Cheese, Chocolate, Cream Cheese or Real Butter To Make your Holiday Table Festive!! I made the leaf mold and filled one each of cream cheese (strawberry) REAL Butter and Soft Cheese. I then froze them! They popped out of the mold and looked so pretty!

Why are my cream cheese mints sticking to the mold? ›

I recommend rolling your cream cheese balls in powdered sugar before pressing them into the molds. This will help keep them from sticking to the molds. I also recommend using flexible silicone candy molds because you can pop the candies out easier.

Can mints go bad? ›

Like food, mints also have an expiration date. If mints are not stored properly, they will eventually go bad. Mints past their expiration date show signs of discoloration and stop giving off their fresh peppermint aroma. If there are changes to the way mints look and smell, they may be unsafe (and unpleasant) to eat.

What is the number one Christmas candy? ›

To absolutely no one's surprise, candy canes - red and white, or red, green, and white, striped candy traditionally flavored with peppermint - are one of the signature Christmas candies, with most countries firmly associating them with the holidays. Candy canes are supposedly a German invention.

What is the most popular candy cane flavor? ›

The candy cane is now a traditional symbol of the Christmas holiday. Today, candy canes are available in different shapes, colors, and flavors, but the red and white peppermint candy remains the classic favorite. They've become so popular that Dec. 26 became National Candy Cane Day in the United States.

What is the religious meaning of the candy cane? ›

Cane: Is like the staff used by the shepherds in caring for sheep. Jesus is our “Good Shepherd.” The Color Red: Is for God's love that sent Jesus to give his life for us on the cross. The Stripes: Remind us of Jesus' suffering-his crown of thorns, the wounds in his hands and feet; and the cross on which he died.

What is the biblical story of the candy cane? ›

One legend suggests that an Indiana-based candymaker shaped the peppermint stick into a “J” shape to represent Jesus, with the white stripe symbolizing the purity of his birth and the red stripe later added to acknowledge the blood he shed on the cross.

What do the colors of a candy cane mean? ›

In 1847, he made a candy to symbolize Christ. The cane's "J" shape stands for Jesus; when turned upside-down, it becomes a shepherd's staff. The white color signifies purity; the red represents Christ's blood, shed for the world's sins, and three red stripes symbolize the trinity.

Do candy canes expire? ›

"Things like candy canes or ribbon candy are good for well over a year, up to five years possibly. The sugar creates a matrix that holds it all together," said Allured. This is as long as you store it in a cool, dry place: "Humidity is the enemy."

Why is gum paste not edible? ›

Gum paste dries out very quickly, too, so you'll want to keep it covered while working with it to keep it from drying out. Though it is edible, we don't suggest eating decorations made from gum paste or using it to cover your cakes, as it does dry quite hard and can be difficult to eat.

Are mints or gum better for teeth? ›

While mints are long-lasting and easy on the jaw, sugar-free gum can remove food particles. This may be the winning smack! Sugar-free gum emerges victorious from a close matchup with breath mints. The dentist judges agree.

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