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

What are candy cane ingredients? ›

SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, ACACIA (GUM ARABIC), CORN STARCH, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (COLOR), CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE (SHELLAC), COCONUT OIL, PEPPERMINT OIL, CARNAUBA WAX, WHITE MINERAL OIL, PARAFFIN OIL, BEESWAX, SUNFLOWER LECITHIN, RED 40, RED 3, BLUE 1.

Are candy canes and peppermints the same? ›

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 peppermint candy made of? ›

Sugar, Corn Syrup, Titanium Dioxide (for color), FD&C Red 40, Natural Peppermint Oil. Sugar, Corn Syrup, Titanium Dioxide (for color), FD&C Red 40, Natural Peppermint Oil. Store in a cool dry place.

What makes candy canes Christmas? ›

A Christmas legend

The choirmaster asked a local candy maker for the sugar sticks to be turned into a hook so they resemble the shape of a shepherd's staff. Shepherds are common symbols in the Christian faith and can be seen in the Christian story of the birth of Christ.

What is the biblical story 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 did candy canes used to be called? ›

History. 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.

What are 3 fun facts about candy canes? ›

12 cool facts about Candy Canes
  • The longest candy cane made came from Switzerland and measured 51 feet.
  • 1.76 BILLION candy canes are produced every year.
  • December 26th is National Candy Cane Day.
  • Candy canes were the #1 holiday candy in Louisiana in 2020 according to CandyStore.com.
Dec 17, 2022

Can you pour melted sugar into silicone molds? ›

Yes, you can pour molten sugar into a silicone ice cube tray. Silicone molds, like those from Pjbold, are known for their heat resistance and non-stick properties, making them suitable for handling hot sugar.

Can you pour hard candy into silicone molds? ›

Step 2: Casting the Hard Candy

You can pour the hot liquid into any mold that can withstand temperatures of 300 degrees. I figured vacuum-formed plastic wouldn't withstand this heat, but any silicone baking molds work really well. So would wood, ceramic, or plaster, or even hand-formed aluminum foil.

Do you put butter in silicone molds? ›

Use a silicone spatula or flat knife to push and spread the softened butter into the mold. Push down to avoid any air pockets. If you're using a wooden mold, set entire filled mold in the refrigerator to harden for an hour. For silicone molds, save time by placing the filled mold in the freezer for 30 minutes.

Why do we eat peppermint at Christmas? ›

According to The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets, a local choirmaster in Cologne, Germany, sometime around 1670, was looking for a way to keep rowdy young people quiet while they were watching the live Nativity, and asked a local confectioner to create a special hard candy for the kids to keep busy on for a while.

What does peppermint candy do for the brain? ›

Studies suggest that peppermint can help stimulate your brain and improve memory. Just the smell of peppermint can slightly increase oxygen saturation and blood pressure. As your blood brings more oxygen to your brain, it increases your brain's ability to concentrate and focus.

What kind of mint is candy cane? ›

Candy canes get their distinctive taste from the oil secreted under the leaves of Mentha × piperita, the bright green herbaceous perennial herb known as peppermint. Peppermint, a cross between spearmint and wintermint, is America's most popular mint flavor.

What do I do if my dog ate a candy cane? ›

If you think your dog has eaten a sugar-free candy cane—or anything containing xylitol—get them to the vet right away.

Is candy cane just sugar? ›

Candy Cane Ingredients

The ingredients list on a typical candy cane is usually short and sweet, emphasis on sweet: sugar, corn syrup, natural flavor, and added colors like Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1.

Do candy canes have gluten or dairy? ›

In mostl cases, candy canes are usually gluten-free. While there are no certified gluten-free candy canes on the market yet, there are several brands out there (Bob's, Jelly Belly, Starburst, Lifesavers) that contain no gluten ingredients and are processed in facilities that don't process gluten-containing items.

Do any candy canes have gelatin? ›

Candy Cane FAQ

Gelatin is an ingredient typically not found in hard candy like candy canes, but to be 100% sure, always read the ingredient list before buying.

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