The BEST Cream Cheese Mints recipe you’ll ever try! This incredibly easy recipe makes the most delicious, luscious, melt-in-your-mouth cream cheese mints around! Make them in any color you like! Perfect for Easter, baby showers, weddings and more!
Looking for more treats for Easter? Make sure to try my Bunny Bait Easter Snack Mix, Coconut Cream Pie and my Nana’s Carrot Cake!
Cream Cheese Mints Recipe
These Cream Cheese Mints are a classic, nostalgic treat that never go out of style! Smooth, creamy, and perfectly sweet with just the right touch of mint (or peppermint!), these little candies practically melt in your mouth. They’re a staple at weddings, baby showers, and holiday gatherings – and once you try them, you’ll see why!
Many of you have called these cream cheese butter mints, wedding mints, baby shower mints, and it’s true, they go by many names. I have always called them cream cheese mints because in my recipe, cream cheese is the prominent ingredient.
There are lots of recipes out there for these mints that call for only 3 or 4 ounces of cream cheese. I use an entire brick. The reason? These candies will literally melt in your mouth they’re so creamy and delicious. That’s what makes them the BEST Cream Cheese Mints around!
Made with just a handful of ingredients, this recipe for cream cheese mints is surprisingly easy to make and totally customizable with colors and shapes to match any occasion!
Why You’ll Love These Cream Cheese Mints
We love making these cream cheese mints for Easter and Christmas, but also they are fantastic for baby showers, weddings, and just parties in general. They’re so easy to make and since you can make them ahead of time… well, let’s just say that’s awesome.
- Simple Ingredients: Simple pantry staples come together in minutes to make these mouth-watering ,delicious cream cheese wedding mints.
- Perfect For Any Occasion: Great for showers, parties, holidays, or even gifting, these cream cheese mints are so well received and appreciated for their flavor and nostalgic qualities.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: These mints store beautifully and freeze well too! You can make these mints ahead of time in store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for several months making them idea for the busy holiday season.
- Super Customizable: Not only can these mints be made in any color you like, they can be made in any flavor too! Simply swap in you favorite extract! We’ve tried lemon, cherry, peppermint and mint – all are delicious!
Ingredient Breakdown
Let’s take a closer look at what makes these mints so delicious:
- Cream Cheese: The base of the recipe, cream cheese gives these mints their signature creamy texture and tangy richness.
- Butter: Adds smoothness and helps the mixture hold its shape. Make sure it’s softened for easy mixing! I used salted butter in this recipe.
- Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the mints and gives them structure. It’s also used for rolling to prevent sticking.
- Mint or Peppermint Extract: Just a small amount gives that fresh, cool flavor. Peppermint or spearmint both work great.
- Gel Food Coloring: Totally optional, but fun! Add festive colors to match your event or holiday. I used this gel food coloring set.
How To Make Cream Cheese Mints
These easy Cream Cheese Mints are smooth, sweet, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious! Made with just a handful of ingredients, they’re perfect for weddings, baby showers, holidays, or anytime you need a sweet little bite.
Let’s take quick look at how to make this recipe and, as always, you can find the full printable recipe card at the end of this post.
- Combine cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl. Mix until smooth.
- Add 1 cup of powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Stir in the mint extract.
- Gradually add the remaining powdered sugar.
- Separate into four separate bowls, or however many different colors you want.
- Add a small amount of food color to each bowl.
- Stir until the color is uniform.
- Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm enough to handle.
- Pinch off small amounts of the dough and form into a 1-inch balls. Roll in powdered sugar and place on prepared sheet pans.
- Press the tines of a fork into the top of each ball.
- Sit out for at least 4 hours or until the mints are firm.
Storage Information
Cream Cheese Mints are perfect for making ahead of time!
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Layer with waxed or parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Freezer: Freeze in a single layer first, then transfer to an airtight container. Use parchment between layers. Freeze for up to 2 months. Let mints come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
Variations To Try
These mints are incredibly delicious! Here are some fun ways to customize this recipe:
- Swap in a different flavored extract. Try vanilla, almond, or lemon extract instead of mint. Virtually any flavor extract will work!
- Use small candy molds or cookie cutters for fun shapes. You can also roll into a log and cut into squares – like butter mints.
- Have fun with the colors OR omit the food coloring entirely. Red and green for Christmas, pastels for Easter, pink and blue for baby showers and fun and festive!
Can I make these cream cheese mints in advance?
The candies need to dry to harden. So you’ll want to make at least 1 day in advance. The powdered sugar that they are rolled in will absorb into the mint – so don’t worry about the white. The cream cheese mints can be frozen or refrigerated if you’d like to make well in advance.
How did you get those pretty pastel colors?
Easy! I used these Wilton gel food colors – they’re my favorite! Use any colors you like though – these mints are so pretty in a variety of colors.
Should I use peppermint extract or mint extract in the recipe?
I used mint – as in spearmint. Many of you prefer peppermint and trust me, they’re good that way too. In fact, last month when I shared the Chocolate Mint Cream Cheese Buttons, so many of you made it with peppermint extract instead of mint and said it was the best thing you’d ever had! So, bottom line, use whichever you prefer.
And while we’re on that subject… you can use any flavor of extract you want. Cherry, root beer, lemon, orange – any flavor you want!
Can I use a candy mold with this recipe?
Absolutely! Simple pinch off a small amount of the dough, roll into a ball and then roll in granulated sugar and press into your mold. Pop out the mold and repeat! I do love that you can achieve really adorable and beautiful mints with just a simple fork though!
Can I dip these mints into chocolate?
Absolutely! These are delicious dipped in chocolate. You can dip them completely like we did with this chocolate covered mint patties or just dip halfway.
More Easy Candy Recipes
- Divinity Candy
- Penuche Recipe
- Buckeyes
- Martha Washington Candy
- Saltine Cracker Toffee
- Better Than Anything Toffee Recipe
- Raspberry Truffles
The BEST Cream Cheese Mints
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, full fat, softened
- 4 tablespoons salted butter softened
- 2 pounds powdered sugar
- ½ to 1½ teaspoons mint extract or peppermint extract
- gel food coloring optional
- ½ cup powdered sugar for rolling mints
Instructions
- Combine cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl and mix until smooth.8 ounces cream cheese,, 4 tablespoons salted butter
- Add 1 cup of powdered sugar and mix until smooth.2 pounds powdered sugar
- Add the mint extract and mix until combined.½ to 1½ teaspoons mint extract
- Gradually, add the remaining powdered sugar until smooth and consistent. You can do this with a stand mixer, hand mixer, food processor or by hand. The dough will get quite stiff towards the end.
- Separate the mixture into four separate bowls, or however many different colors you want.
- Add a small amount of food color to each bowl and stir in until the color is uniform.gel food coloring
- Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm enough to handle. You don’t want it sticking to your hands.
- Line two quarter sheet pans with parchment paper and liberally dust with powdered sugar. Set aside.
- Pinch off small amounts of the dough and form into a 1-inch balls.
- Roll each ball in powdered sugar and place on prepared sheet pans.½ cup powdered sugar
- Gently press the tines of a fork into the top of each ball. (You can also use the bottom of a shot glass if you don't want the lines. Just dip the bottom of the glass into powdered sugar to keep it from sticking.)
- Let stand, uncovered, for at least 4 hours or until the mints are firm. If the bottoms have any moisture, flip over and let stand again until the bottoms of the mints are also firm.
Video
Notes
Tools and Equipment (affiliate links): Glass Mixing Bowls | Quarter Sheet Pans | Parchment Sheets | Electric Mixer (Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer)
Please see post above for more information, recipe tips and frequently asked questions.
Nutrition
Originally published March 25, 2017.
Barrie M says
Thanks for sharing this! I’ve been looking for this recipe for ages! (Also your “Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties” recipe ! I remember these from when I was a child. Love them both, and so easy to make❤️ Printed both so I can have them for easy access.
Carolyn says
Made up 2 batches, still have about half left of second batch, and we have already made 27 dozen mints. We are using the 🍃, 🌹 and ❤️ molds.
cindy says
I have found a recipe that my gram made it is just 4oz cream cheese, mix until smooth blend in 1 1/2 cups confections sugar and 1/2 tsp peppermint, once blended mix in another 1 1/2 cups confections sugar. Form into balls on parchment paper, press with fork. Let sit for 2 hours.