These Chocolate Mint Cream Cheese Buttons are perfect for all occasions! Lovely mint flavored cream cheese mints filled with a decadent chocolate ganache. Guaranteed to be a hit with your chocolate and mint loving friends and family!
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Every so often I get asked if I have a cream cheese mints recipe. I reply yes, but not on my blog. Super helpful, no? Well, I’m almost there. It’s coming in the next week or two 🙂
To tide you over, and in preparation for St. Patrick’s Day, I thought I’d share this easy candy recipe with you today. It’s a cream cheese mint filled with chocolate ganache. These little mints are a hit at parties and are crazy easy to make. This recipe makes a whopping 6 dozen candies so there’s plenty for a crowd.
I like to make them really small – bite-size really. I usually about a teaspoon of the dough for each mint. Scoop a level teaspoon to ensure the mints are all the same size.
I’ve made these before and just popped a Hershey’s kiss in the center. Fun and easy. Even better, however, is this version where I make a little indention and then fill it with ganache.
I mean, everything is better with ganache, amiright?
You could keep the mints white if you prefer to not use food coloring. I like to make them green so my guests know that they are mint-flavored. I don’t go overboard though. Gel food coloring is best here because it doesn’t add too much moisture to the dough.
Speaking of mint flavored, I do mean MINT, as in spearmint. Not peppermint. I’ve done that before and in those cases, I color the candies pink. I’m a stickler like that.
I’ve made a quick video to show you just how easy they are to make! You can check it out here. Super fun and the kids can help too!
(I had several requests for a link to the measuring spoons I used in this video… Disney, of course 🙂 Here it is: Disney Measuring Spoons )
I am totally in love with all mint and chocolate flavored treats – they’re my favorite! Make sure to check out some more recipes with this awesome flavor combination like these Chocolate Covered Mint Patties or these Chocolate Mint Brownies or perhaps this Mint Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball.
Chocolate Mint Cream Cheese Buttons
Ingredients
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon mint extract
- several drops of green gel food color
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 10 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Combine cream cheese and one cup of powdered sugar in a large bowl and use a stand mixer or hand mixer to combine.
- Add the extract and gel food color and mix until combined.
- Gradually add the rest of the powdered sugar and mix until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Use your hands to combine the ingredients if your mixer is not up to the task. (I usually end up using my hands because it’s faster.)
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Scoop out a teaspoon of the dough and form into a ball using the palm of your hands. Place it on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
- Use the end of a wooden spoon or a small measuring spoon to create indentions in each bowl. Dust the measuring spoon with powdered sugar if it sticks at all.
- Chill the mints until firm, about 1 hour.
- Place chocolate chips in a heat-proof bowl or large measuring cup.
- Bring heaving whipping cream just to a simmer and then pour over the top of the chocolate chips. Stir once or twice and then let sit for 2 minutes.
- Continue stirring until the chocolate is fully melted and incorporated.
- Transfer the ganache to a ziploc bag and let it set for 30 minutes or so until it has thickened up – think yogurt consistency. You can speed up this process by placing it in the refrigerator but keep an eye on it or it will get very firm.
- Cut the corner off of the bag and pipe the ganache into the center of each mint.
- Chill for about an hour, or until the ganache has set up.
- Store in refrigerator.
Video
Amber says
Can the dough be made ahead of time and refrigerated until the next day then rolled out and filled?
Dana says
I also can’t get the ingredients to the consistency of the video. Everything is combined and even when I used my hands it is a wet sticky mess. I added sugar gradually and followed instructions but there is no way this is a doughy texture, can’t form them at all. What else could be done? I used all the sugar.
Missi says
Have you tried with a different flavor? I was thinking about raspberry with a Hershey kiss?
Missi says
Now I see peeps have used different flavors
Lori says
Just made these for Christmas and had no trouble at all with the recipe as is. I used a teaspoon to measure each one and got about 55 pieces. I did have a lot of ganache left over, did, lol. Thank you, these are so cute on my cookie trays.
DAWN says
How long can they be out of refrigerator want to put in tins for gifts
Lynn says
Thank you for the recipe. The kids and I just made these for the holidays and they are so good. We followed the recipe exactly.
It made about 3 dozen and the ganache ingredients could be cut in half. We have a LOT left over.
Karla D. says
I’ve been making the Cream cheese part for almost 50 years with my grandmother. We never measured anything, just kept adding powdered sugar until it was firm, and ALWAYS by hand. She had rubber molds that we put a small amount of regular sugar in to keep them from sticking and pressed the dough in, then popped them out. Can freeze them with no problems, and we would make other flavors like lemon and orange, too.
Sam says
I accidentally mixed in the heavy whipping cream into the dough? how can I fix this without throwing out the whole thing? It’s very creamy and not hard enough to roll into balls!
Annn says
Mine won’t stay together when I make the invention they crumble. Please help me.
Nancy Gross says
Someone else asked this question but I didn’t see an answer – can these be made in advance and frozen? Trying to get a jump on Christmas baking!
Michelle says
I made these today after reading everyone’s comments. I used my hand mixer with the second cup of sugar until it was crumbly, then used my hand to knead it like a dough. I think that’s where a lot of people have had issues, the mixer will over beat the cream cheese and make it too gooey. I gradually continued to add in the rest of the sugar and kneaded the dough like it was pizza dough, and it came out beautifully!!! I wish I could send a picture! They’re currently setting with the ganach in the fridge and I’m so excited to try them soon! WHat a great go-to recipe, and I love they you can play with the flavourings. I think this summer I’ll try out lemon buttons with some type of white chocolate and blueberry ganach!
Pam H says
I made these last night and there was way too much ganache. I would cut those measurements in half
Susan says
How long will these keep in the fridge?
Andrew's mom says
I tried this 3 times. First, I used half of everything to make a smaller portion – the stuff was way to runny. Second time I did it, i had to add sugar to thicken it up. Third time is the charm! Make it as directed, but let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then it works fine. Merry Christmas everyone!
Michelle says
These are no bake correct?