Description
Homemade Christmas peppermints blend festive cheer with sweet minty magic from traditional Italian dessert techniques. Candy crafters can enjoy creating these delightful holiday treats that sparkle with seasonal charm.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces (115 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 4 cups (500 grams) powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) peppermint extract
- Red food coloring
- Green food coloring
- Granulated sugar
Instructions
- Prepare Base: Whip cream cheese in a large mixing bowl until smooth and creamy, creating a uniform foundation for the peppermint treats.
- Develop Dough: Fold powdered sugar into the cream cheese, mixing until a pliable, cohesive dough forms with a silky consistency.
- Flavor Enhancement: Infuse the dough with peppermint extract, ensuring even distribution of the refreshing essence throughout the mixture.
- Color Separation: Divide the dough into three equal portions, reserving one for the classic white base and transforming the others with festive red and green food colorings.
- Color Integration: Knead each colored segment thoroughly, working the pigments until achieving a vibrant, streak-free hue that captures the holiday spirit.
- Shaping Process: Dust the work surface with powdered sugar, then roll each colored dough into uniform half-inch spheres, creating consistent, bite-sized candies.
- Texture Refinement: Gently press each sphere with fork tines, imparting a traditional peppermint pattern and coating generously with granulated sugar for a sparkling finish.
- Drying and Setting: Arrange the sugared confections on a parchment-lined baking sheet, allowing them to air-dry for 2-3 hours until they develop a firm, stable texture.
- Storage and Preservation: Transfer the completed peppermints to an airtight container, maintaining optimal freshness at room temperature for one week or refrigerated for up to two weeks.
Notes
Prevent Sticky Dough: Dust work surfaces and hands generously with powdered sugar to maintain smooth dough manipulation and prevent unwanted adhesion.
Color Consistency Technique: Knead food coloring thoroughly into dough segments, using steady, even motions to guarantee uniform color without unsightly streaks or patches.
Sizing Precision: Use a small cookie scoop or weigh each dough ball to ensure identical candy sizes, creating a professional and visually appealing final presentation.
Storage Strategy: Store peppermints in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers to preserve texture and prevent candies from sticking together, maintaining their delicate crystalline surface.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 31
- Calories: 63
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 3 mg