You’re going to love this Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties recipe! Super easy to make, fantastically festive, and always a hit with kids and adults alike. These holiday treats are the perfect addition to cookie trays and make an excellent gift for teachers and friends!
Looking for more quick and easy Christmas treats? Try this Christmas Bark, Christmas Crack and Snow Day Snack Mix!
Can you believe we are 12 DAYS from Christmas? I know this for a fact because the boys like to ask me hourly…. I never forget what day it is during the month of December 🙂 The house is finally all decked out and I’m debating whether to put the boxes up in the garage OR just leave them on the floor in the garage since I’ll be putting everything back up in 13 days.
Yikes! That was depressing 🙁 No, we’ll keep all the decorations up for at least week after Christmas 🙂
Well we are finally getting around to planning this year’s cookie trays and teacher’s gifts and I’m sure you are too. I have the easiest, most delightful recipe to share with you today – Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties.
These patties take no time at all, don’t require any baking, use only a few ingredients and are guaranteed to put a smile on anyone’s face. Yes, guaranteed. Now for those of you who aren’t peppermint-crazy like I am, consider using a different flavored extract. Cherry for the red is always delicious and I actually made the green ones with mint extract which I find to be perfect for Christmas time.
The dough is made up with just a few ingredients that you knead together with your hands. This is where you add in the extract of your choice. Start with just a couple drops to start and add more as necessary until you reach your desired intensity of flavor. If you want to do three different colors like I did just separate the dough into three balls.. Or four. Or two. Your choice 🙂 Add food coloring of your choice. I find the gel and paste work best. If you only have liquid food coloring you will have to add in more coloring and more powdered sugar so that the dough isn’t super sticky.
Roll into small balls and then roll in the sugar. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet and press down with a fork. It’s really that incredibly easy. Keep going…
And going…
Until you are done!
These little candies will be the easiest treats you make all season and your kids will have fun helping AND eating them when they’re ready to go 🙂
More Christmas Treats
- Martha Washington Candies
- Peppermint Fudge
- Buttermilk Pecan Pralines
- Divinity Candy
- Homemade Gumdrops
- M&Ms Marshmallow Dream Bars
How To Make Christmas Peppermint Patties
Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter softened
- ⅓ cup light corn syrup
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract or mint extract or any other extract you want
- 4 cups powdered sugar divided
- food coloring preferably gel or paste
- ½ cup granulated sugar to roll balls in
Instructions
- Combine butter and corn syrup together in a small bowl.
- Stir in your extract of choice.
- Add 2 cups powdered sugar and mix until well combined.
- Stir in an additional cup of powdered sugar.
- Knead the mixture until the powdered sugar is absorbed and the dough is completely smooth, adding additional powdered sugar if needed.
- Divide dough into three portions.
- Tint one portion red with the red food color/gel and one green. Leave one portion white. If the dough gets sticky, knead in more powdered sugar, 1/4 cup at a time.
- Shape into 3/4 inch balls and roll in granulated sugar.
- Flatten gently with a fork.
- Let candies stand, uncovered, at room temperature for 1 day.
- Store in an airtight container.
Mary L says
I had no problem with them being too sticky, they rolled well, however after leaving them at room temperature overnight they were too soft and a little sticky in the morning. Do you know why that may be? They taste really good but too soft.
Kim Etre says
I made these last year for Christmas with Pink coloring and Wintergreen flavoring, and Green coloring with Peppermint flavoring. Put a dip in the center of them and when they dried I filled it with melted chocolate. My famiy went crazy for them. Made them again at Easter in pastel colors with fruit flavoring and drizzled white chocolate on them and they were awesome. Have fun with trying different flavors!
Colleen says
These were so easy to make. I only had to use 3 cups of powdered sugar. If your hands get too sticky dust them with powder sugar and roll your balls until smooth. Keep dusting your hands as needed. Cannot wait to share, I’m making desserts for my sisters holiday party. Thank you for the easy yummy recipe.
That one chick says
It’s quite annoying that in ur video you don’t show any of the hard work. I like to see those parts to see if there is any tips or tricks. And to make sure I’m doing it right. I must say I got kinda pissed off when I realized it was a bit harder than what the video led me to believe. I know this was posted like 4 years ago but seriously if ur going to make a tutorial video include all of the tutorial not just the parts that look pretty.
MEAL5 says
I can’t wait to try these fun little guys out! thanks for recipes!
Carolyn says
Just found this site and decided to make these mints. I thought that they would get hard sitting out all night. But they stayed soft. They tasted good. Will they stay soft or get hard later? Either way will definitely make these again. Maybe for other holidays. Thank you for posting.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
They will get “harder” if left out. If you store them in a container, they will stay soft so it’s really up to you. Happy New Year!
Melissa says
Hi – These look wonderful. I can’t wait to try them. Do you think they would still work if I cut the recipe in half?
Nancy Heab says
I made three batches and none of those yielded 60 patties, even making small ones. Lucky to get 40 out of a batch and they were smaller than a quarter. I wish you would have put a more approximate number down. Had to make three batches instead of two so I could have enough for a cookie party.
BRIKENA DAUTI says
THOSE WHO ESPECIALLY ARE FOND OF MAKING CHRISTMAS THE UNFORGETTABLE DO ALWAYS TRY TO COOK THE BEAUTIES OF THE EXCEPTIONAL TRADITIONS WITH HEAVENLY LOVE#special!
Nosesecret says
This is truly fantastic.
Becky says
These were fantastic!!! I started making them and then realized I had no peppermint extract. UGH! So, I turned to my Doterra essential oils and tossed in a few drops of peppermint essential oil. Oh. Yum. Then I rolled them out and used little 1″ candy making Christmas cut-outs (Christmas trees, angels, mittens, etc) to make them. SO pretty! I think after drying them, I may drizzle some chocolate on them. They taste JUST like a peppermint patty! Thank you for this recipe!!! Merry Christmas!!!
Amy says
I made a double batch of these last night and they turned out GREAT! i definitely used more powdered sugar than it called for since all i had on hand was the liquid food color drops, but they are wonderful! i can’t wait to share with everyone at my cookie swap!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
That’s so awesome Amy! I’m going to be doing a video for these soon – I just love them so much!
Lisa says
I love this recipe. It isn’t costly, difficult and doesn’t require a candy thermometer! These mints are so impressive & make me look like a Christmas chef. Thank you so much, Trish.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I love it too Lisa! Thanks for stopping by!
Treesa says
These taste wonderful! However, I ruined my wooden cutting board with red and green gel food coloring stains. My hands are also bright beet red which although appropriate,will not be attractive for Christmas! I tried soap and water(obvs) and then a vinegar/salt paste rub and it barely took any off. This is embarrassing…I got the cake icing coloring from Michaels craft store because I couldn’t find gel or passé at my grocery store. Did I maybe use the wrong stuff?!
Treesa says
Passé=paste.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I really only every use gel so I’m not sure if it’s the cake icing or what. Also, I never use wood cutting boards for anything that used food coloring. I would definitely try to find the gel – it washes right off!
Tiara says
Don’t know if anyone will ever see this but if you melt your butter first, you shouldn’t have a problem with your mixture being too dry. I have seen that many of you are having an issue getting 60 patties. I got 72. If you divide mixture into 3, make a disk, divide disk into 4 then take a forth, make a rope divide in 6 for total of 24 per color.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks for the help and feedback Tiara!