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.
Susie Rettig says
Yummy
Phyllis Breese says
mint or peppermint extract?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
It’s your choice. You can pick any flavor you like. I personally prefer mint.
Saundra Parry says
I know my comments are way past the timeline of others but I just saw this. I have made these and have used several different flavors. They don’t have to be just peppermint. I have made (and with the corresponding colors) lemon, orange, raspberry, and the peppermint. I then dipped them in chocolate and gave them an assortment as Christmas gifts. They were a huge hit. They all turned out extremely well and seemed to be very much appreciated. I was a happy camper.:)
Katydid says
These look yummy
Ecfinn says
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I made these vegan, us TJ’s brand vegan cream cheese and Miyoko’s vegan butter. Delicious…non-vegans were clueless. I added a little green food coloring for St. Patrick’s Day. I think I’ll add more peppermint extract next time and I did need more sugar than the recipe called for, just to get it to a workable dough. Great recipe.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Wow! I’m impressed! Great substitutions!
Bob says
I made these, but splitting the mixture before adding the flavor. Why? I didn’t want all mint. Each color was a different flavor: pink (strawberry), blue (raspberry or blueberry), green (mint or wintergreen), yellow (lemon or butterscotch), white (vanilla), and lavender (anise). I mix up the flavors. Of course, I have made all mint and they are delicious – I just like to shake things up when people come to a party. My granddaughter wanted pink ones with root beer flavors – I convinced her strawberry might be a better choice, but now I wonder how that would have tasted. LOL.
Debbie Salmen says
How long can you freeze the mints? I’d like to make these for my daughter’s wedding in December.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Yes, absolutely. Chill them first so they are really firm, then do single layers with wax or parchment paper in between.
Melinda Smith says
http://www.123imaginationalive.com thought these looked really YUMMY! I shared them with my followers!
Thanks for posting them Trish! Following you now!
Debbie says
Can I use margarine instead of butter?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I don’t think they will turn out as well Debbie but I haven’t actually tried it that way so I can’t say for sure. Sorry I couldn’t be more help!
Elaine says
Never use margarine. It is not a food and is bad for you!
Mark Carter says
SALTED OR UNSALTED BUTTER?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I used salted but unsalted will work as well, just add a pinch of salt and you’ll be fine.
Rachel Mitchel says
Can these be placed in a candy mold for a design like hearts?
Madonna says
Yes! Many years ago I used to make these for Baby Showers. I used diaper molds and baby rattles. They were a big hit!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
That is such a cute idea! Love it!
Vickie Gibb says
I’ve had trouble getting them out of the molds. Do you have any tips?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I don’t use molds for this very reason!
Melinda K says
Yours is the best recipe, the closest to what I remember my mom making. I am making them for Christmas. I have snowflake and tree molds. What I do is crush up candy canes and put them in the bottom of the mold first.
Cathy says
Could you use this in a cookie shooter like the kind you make Spritz cookies with?
MoodyDose says
OMG… the color of little balls of cream cheese. Yummy..
Jacqulyne says
PS- SORRY for the typos!!!!!!!!! UGH – a migraine headache and a computer screen – – bad combo 🙁
Jacqulyne says
I plan on making these for my daughter’s baby shower in March 2018. How long can these be kept in the fridge? To make enough for 50+ guests, I will have to make them a few days in advance. Also, does keeping htme in the fridge change theri consistancy? Too they get “‘goopey” as they come to room temperatuer?
Thank you in advance for your response