Please tell me you’ve had cream cheese mints? They’re so good! Not only are they delicious, they also make adorable gifts during the holidays. Super easy to whip up (only 4 ingredients!). This recipe makes hundreds, so you can have plenty to give and some to keep, or serve them at your next holiday party. We made pink and green mints, but you really can do any color and any shape too. We used a piping bag and frosting tip for these, but they also make so many cute mint molds for different shapes and designs, so you can really get creative.
We made a quick video so you can see just how easy it is to make these yummy mints.
One of my favorite things are precut parchment sheets. I love how they fit perfectly into a big sheet pan. Parchment is a must for these mints. They make it so they don’t stick at all.
MY LATEST VIDEOSTo go with these yummy mints, we have these adorable holiday gift tags that fit perfect on top of small mason jars. These gift tags are a free printable we shared a few years ago.
- 1 (8oz) brick of cream cheese; room temperature
- 1 tsp peppermint extract
- 5½ – 6 cups powdered sugar
- food coloring
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Using a stand mixer or a hand mixer, start to mix the cream cheese
- Add in the peppermint extract.
- Slowly add the powdered sugar until thick. The mixture should be stiff enough to hold a peak.
- If you plan to make a few different colors of mints, divide the cream cheese into two separate bowls before adding the food coloring.
- Green mints need about 3 drops of green food coloring, and pink mints need about 1 drop of red food coloring.
- Add the food coloring to the cream cheese mixture and mix until the desired color is reached.
- Put the cream cheese mixture into a piping bag fitted with a medium star tip and make about nickel sized amounts on the parchment lined sheet pans.
- To make this style shape, hold the frosting tip ½-inch above the baking sheet, squeeze the bag until about a nickel size is on the pan, and then pull up quickly.
- Place sheet pan in the freezer for 2 hours to allow the mints to firm up. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and enjoy!
Super easy, and a great make ahead holiday treat your friends and family will love!
MORE Christmas gift ideas:
–25+ Edible Christmas Gifts
–25+ Neighbor Gifts
–Have a Cup of Cheer gift idea with printable
*Amazon affiliate links in this post. Only sharing things we truly love and hope you will too.
Nice ideal but could you flavor then peppermint and mint flavored
Hi Tammy! I’m confused as to what you are asking. They are flavored with peppermint extract.
Can you make them ahead and freeze them? If so, how long will they last in the freezer?
Yes! If stored in an air tight container, they can last a month for sure.
Just to clarify…LOL…I did read your post and the directions 😉 Just wanting to know if I can store them for an extended period of time in the freezer. Possibly a month…
Yes! If stored in an air tight container, they can last a month for sure.
Perfect! Thanks a bunch 🙂
These sound very easy to make. Could these be shaped using a cookie press instead of a pastry bag? RA makes piping nearly impossible
Yes! A cookie press would be fun!
Can these hold up at room temp if given as.gifts and for about how long is recommende
yes! They should be fine at room temp for a few hours.
So cute! Do the mints need to be refrigerated?
The last line in the recipe says to refrigerate.
Can vanilla extract be used in place of the mint extract for a different flavor?
Hi Sandy! Sure! Although I think it will just taste like cream cheese frosting without the mint extract.
Do they have to stay cold stored or can you leave out at room temp
Hi Angela! They can sit out for a few hours at room temp. They are fine. They will dry out a little. Not sure about humid places.
Do these need to be served cold or can they sit out?
Hi Nancy! They can sit out for a few hours. They tend to dry out at room temp. It’s best to store in an air tight container chilled in the fridge until ready to serve or deliver.
I guess I missed seeing the previous question asking the same thing I just asked. 🙂
Where Can I purchase the tops and string for the top of the jars?
Hi Kim! You can buy the red and white striped bakers twine everywhere! I like the thick one at Target. The toppers or the tags are a printable we designed. See the link above for the free download to print it at home.
My mints didn’t firm up. Do you know why?
Hi Cathy!
You probably need to add more powdered sugar. I live in a dry climate (no humidity) not sure if that might be an issue for you?
Hi. How many ounces is your jar? Four, six or eight?
Hi Jessica! The jars are all different sizes, but the small one up front in the video is only 4 ounces.
Thank you! You are super fast! Merry Christmas!
Because I don’t like peppermint, Can I use lemon instead?
Yes absolutely, also try almond … careful, both are strong flavors
Would these hold up in jars for shipping? I’m sending out a Christmas package that will have several types of baked goods.
Hi Delilah! It depends on the temperature when being shipped. Because they are dairy based they might not hold up it’s too warm.
How much does this make? I need to make for about 40 people and I guess about 5 person. (So I would need to make about 200 of these.) Thank you
Hi Rachel! This recipe should easily make 200 mints!
Should they be kept refrigerated afterwards? Also, how long do they keep?
yes! They ca keep for a few weeks in the fridge.
Can I use peppermint oil instead of extract?
Hi Meagan! Yes!! You totally can!
If you do not use more than 4 cups of the powder sugar, will the mints not harden? I followed the recipe, only needed 4 cups of powdered sugar and it was plenty thick. However, I’ve left it in the freezer longer than required because they will not harden. I’m not sure why, but I froze them for almost 6 hours and left them out a few minutes and the are still soft and squishy…
Hi Mike! I’m wondering if you live in a humid climate? The only solution I can think is to add more powdered sugar. Sorry they didn’t turn out for you this time!