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

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.

Are candy canes and peppermints the same thing? ›

See, peppermint comes from a little plant called the same thing but they cook it in a distilled to extract the pure oil from it. But yes, peppermint and candy canes are one and the same. The cane is made from syrup and sugar with oil added in to it for flavoring.

What are the mints called that melt in your mouth? ›

Buttermints also known as Wedding Mints are creamy, melt in your mouth deliciousness. With just 5 ingredients they are a fun and easy Christmas candy to make. Buttermints are incredible, lovely, and fantastic!

Is mold on cream cheese harmful? ›

Answer From Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. Soft cheeses, such as cottage cheese, cream cheese and ricotta, with mold should be discarded. The same goes for any kind of cheese that's shredded, crumbled or sliced. With these cheeses, the mold can send threads throughout the cheese — contaminating more than you see.

Why is there red stuff in my cream cheese? ›

Cross-contamination: Cream cheese can be cross-contaminated by other pink or red foods, which can result in the pink discoloration.

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 do Brits call candy canes? ›

We say "candy cane" only because we don't have this tradition in the UK and so the word is a direct import with no competing word to worry about.

What did candy canes used to be called? ›

A record of the 1837 exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, where confections were judged competitively, mentions "stick candy". A recipe for straight peppermint candy sticks, white with colored stripes, was published in The Complete Confectioner, Pastry-Cook, and Baker, in 1844.

Why do hotels put mints on pillows? ›

The chocolate or mint on a pillow has long been common practice in hotels, particularly among luxury properties. It's a nice tradition: A special treat right before you rest your head on your vacation for some sweeter dreams.

What is Stoner mints? ›

Stoner mints leaf shaped mints in a collectible tin! *** hinged tin filled with 1. 5 ounces of leaf-shaped* peppermint candy. *does not contain thc or cbd compounds.

What mints make you salivate the most? ›

Flintts stimulate the salivary glands in the mouth, which increases saliva production and helps to moisten the dry mouth.

What does peppermint candy do for the brain? ›

But it isn't just a tasty treat. Mint also boasts some impressive health benefits, from digestive and oral support to cognitive health, and it can help sharpen your mental game. If your attention is waning, peppermint may be just what you need to perk up your mind and boost your focus and concentration.

What is a fun fact about peppermint candy? ›

Peppermint is the No. 1 flavor for hard candy, regardless of season. It's the first flavoring ever added to chewing gum. It's a fan favorite when it comes to ice cream — looking at you, mint chocolate chip — and the de facto flavor for anything designed to make our mouths feel fresher, from toothpaste to mouthwash.

Why is peppermint a Christmas candy? ›

This peppermint flavored treat was first made to be a part of the Christmas experience. It is believed that in 1670, a choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral handed this candy out to children at their living Nativity, to keep the kids occupied. The candy was shaped to look like a shepherd's staff.

How do you keep cream cheese from molding? ›

Unopened cream cheese can be kept in its original package, while opened cream cheese should be placed in an airtight container, states Healthline. This will reduce the risk of moisture getting in.

How do you keep cream cheese from molding after opening? ›

How do you keep cream cheese from molding? By eating it or using it once open opened. If that can't be done then you need to wrap it tightly and put in an air right container.

How do I store cream cheese so it doesn't mold? ›

If the original package isn't resealable, consider putting it in a freezer bag for additional protection against microbial contamination. Or transfer the leftovers into an airtight container. "If you don't have either on hand, take plastic or aluminium wrap and a rubber band and turn them into a makeshift seal."

What kind of mold grows on cream cheese? ›

Molds most common on cheese and fermented dairy products are Penicillium species. Mycotoxins produced by these organisms are penicillic acid, patulin, ochratoxin A, and citrinin. Percentages of molds in cheese capable of producing some commonly studied mycotoxins ranged from 1.8% to 12.4%.

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