Description
These festive Christmas Peppermint Patties are creamy, minty, and colorful confections perfect for holiday celebrations. Made with a smooth cream cheese and butter base, sweetened with confectioners’ sugar, and infused with refreshing peppermint extract, these no-bake treats are easy to make and fun to decorate with red and green gel food coloring. Rolled in sugar and shaped for a delightful holiday presentation, they are perfect for gifting or serving at holiday parties.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 4 tbsp salted butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons peppermint extract
- 2 pounds confectioners’ sugar, plus additional for rolling
Coloring and Coating
- Red gel food coloring
- Green gel food coloring
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
- Cream the Base: Using an electric mixer, blend together the softened cream cheese, butter, and peppermint extract until smooth and creamy to create the flavorful minty base.
- Add Sugar: Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar to the mixture, mixing on low speed just until combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Prepare Surface: Dust a non-stick surface generously with additional powdered sugar to prevent the patties from sticking during shaping.
- Divide and Color: Divide the mixture evenly into four portions. Add a few drops of red gel food coloring to two portions and green gel food coloring to the other two, kneading each until the colors are well incorporated.
- Shape Patties: Roll each colored portion into a 20-inch long rope, then cut each rope into 20 even pieces. Dust with powdered sugar between batches to prevent sticking. Roll each piece into a ball, then roll in granulated sugar if desired. Press the center of each ball lightly with a fork dipped in powdered sugar to create an attractive indentation similar to a peanut butter cookie.
- Dry and Store: Place the finished patties on a wax paper-lined baking sheet and let them dry for about 2 hours until firm. Store chilled, layering with wax paper to prevent sticking.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese and butter are sufficiently softened to achieve a smooth, workable dough.
- Adjust the peppermint extract to taste for a milder or stronger mint flavor.
- If the mixture is too sticky, add a bit more powdered sugar to reach the desired consistency.
- Allow the patties to dry completely before storage to maintain their shape and prevent sticking.
- These patties keep well refrigerated for up to 2 weeks when stored properly in an airtight container.
