How to Make Mints

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Mints are a delicious treat. They are sweet, cool, and refreshing. There are lots of different ways of making mints, from hard peppermint candies to the soft, crumbly mints often found at weddings and graduation parties. They are easy to make and even more delicious to eat! Not only do they make a great treat for parties, but they also make wonderful gifts!

Ingredients

Hard Mint Candy [1]

  • 3½ cups (790grams) sugar
  • 1 cup (240 milliliters) light corn syrup
  • 1 cup (240 milliliters) water
  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon peppermint oil
  • 1 teaspoon food coloring (optional)

Makes 32 candies

Buttermints [2]

  • ½ cup (115 grams) salted butter, softened
  • 16 ounces (453 grams) confectioners’ sugar, plus extra for dusting
  • 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) heavy cream or milk
  • 1 teaspoon (7.5 milliliters) mint extract
  • 7 to 12 drops food coloring (optional)

Makes 4 to 5 dozen candies

Cream Cheese Mints [3]

  • 3 ounces (85 grams) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tablespoon (15 grams) butter, softened
  • 3 cups (375 grams) confectioners' sugar
  • 2 drops peppermint oil
  • Gel food coloring (optional)
  • Granulated or confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Makes 4 to 5 dozen candies

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Making Hard Mint Candy

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  1. You can grease the baking sheet using cooking spray or some cooking oil (such as canola or vegetable).
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    You can get one at any cooking supply store or online. Some arts and crafts stores may also sell them in their baking department. If you absolutely cannot get one, don't worry; you will still be able to make hard mint candies.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    Add the sugar, light corn syrup, and water to the saucepan and turn the heat to low. Keep stirring until the sugar dissolves.
    • Make sure that you are using light corn syrup and not dark. It will show up nice and clear, which is important if you wish to color your candy.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    Turn the heat up to medium-high and let the mixture reach the hard-crack stage, between 300°F and 310°F (150°C and 155°C). [4] Do not stir the mixture during this time. Also, keep an eye on your candy thermometer. The temperature will rise slowly at first, but then it will jump very quickly to the necessary temperature. [5]
    • If you do not have a candy thermometer: Wait until the mixture has been boiling for a few minutes, then place a small drop of it into cold water. [6] If it has reached the hard crack stage, it will form hard, brittle strands that snap when bent. Let the candy cool before trying to snap it. [7]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    At this point, you can also stir in the food coloring. Blue or green make great colors for mint candy!
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    If you need to, use a rubber or silicone spatula to help spread the mixture across the baking sheet. You don't have to spread it from edge to edge or be perfectly neat, but you want the sheet to be somewhat thin.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    Aim to make the squares about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) big. You might also find it easier to lightly score the lines first, then cut them using a pizza cutter. [8]
  8. If you need to, separate the squares or rectangles using a knife or your fingers. [9]
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    This is very important. If the container is not airtight, moisture will get into the candy and make it sticky.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Making Buttermints

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  1. If you don't have any parchment paper, you can use wax paper or even plastic wrap. You will be setting the finished mint onto this to dry.
    • Plan ahead: avoid making these if it is humid. The moisture will make the mints stickier than usual. [10]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    Cut the softened butter into smaller cubes and place it into a large bowl. Beat the butter using an electric mixer until it is soft any creamy. If you don't have an electric mixer, you can also use a food processor.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    Don't worry if the mixture doesn't form a dough-like texture yet. Hold off on adding the food coloring just yet; you will be kneading it into the mixture later.
  4. This will prevent the dough from sticking to it. Be sure to have the box or bag of confectioners' sugar on hand; you will likely need more of it.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    At this point, you can also add some food coloring. You can use either gel or liquid, but many people find that gel works better. Simply add 1 to 2 drops of food coloring and knead it into the dough until it is evenly mixed in. [11]
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    Lightly dust your work surface with more confectioners' sugar. Take about 2 tablespoons worth of the dough, and roll it into a ½-inch (1.27 centimeters) thick rope.
    • Keep the rest of the dough you aren't working with covered with a damp towel. This will prevent it from drying out too soon.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    Each piece should be between ½ and ¾-inch (1.27 and 1.91 centimeters) long. [12]
  8. Use a spatula to transfer them. The mints will be very soft at this point, and if you use your fingers, you might squish them.
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    Remember to keep the dough you aren't rolling and cutting under a damp towel, or it will harden and dry out too fast.
  10. [13] It might also be a good idea to store them in between layers of parchment paper. This will prevent the mints from sticking to each other. [14]
    • Because these mints are made of butter, they will soften up again at room temperature. It is important to keep them cool.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Making Cream Cheese Mints

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    You can do this using an electric mixer or even a spatula. Make sure that everything is evenly combined.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    Keep beating until the mixture turns dough-like. It will feel hard and dry at first, but it will soften after about 1 to 2 minutes. If it is still too hard, add in 1 tablespoon of milk and mix again.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    At this point, you can also add in some food coloring. You can use liquid or gel good coloring, but you might find more success with gel. You don't need much; only a few drops should be plenty. Keep kneading the dough until all the ingredients come together, and the dough is silky-smooth.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    The balls should be small—roughly the size of marbles. You will only need about ½ teaspoon to make each mint. [15]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    Fill a shallow dish with granulated or confectioners' sugar. Gently roll the balls one by one in the sugar before placing them back onto the wax paper. [16]
  6. You can do this with your fingertip, the back of a spoon, a fork, etc. Don't flatten the balls so much that they are flat like a pancake. If you are using a mint mold, simply push the ball into the mold, smooth down the back, and pop it out. [17]
  7. If you are in a hurry, you can also leave them to harden in the fridge or freezer; this will only take about 2 hours. [18]
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Make Mints
    These mints are based on cream cheese, so they will go bad if they are left out at room temperature for too long. You might also want to place a sheet of parchment paper between each layer of mint candy; this will prevent the candies from sticking together.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Why won't my cream cheese mints get hard?
    AnonymousSuperWriter
    Community Answer
    Maybe you forgot to put the cream cheese into the refrigerator overnight. If you didn't do that, and the cream cheese still is not hard, freeze until it becomes solid.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 9
  • Question
    Could I pour the mix into silicone holders for the hard mint one?
    Community Answer
    Yes, as long as you can still cut it to the size you want the mints to be in.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 11
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      Tips

      • If you find it difficult to cut the hard mint candy, you can let it dry in one big sheet instead, then break it into shards using the back of a spoon or a clean hammer. You can also dust the candy with confectioners' sugar for a sea glass look. [19]
        Thanks
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      • If you are making buttermints or cream cheese mints, you can also put the dough into a piping bag fitted with a star-shaped tip, and pipe out little starts instead. You do not need to dust the mint stars with sugar. [20]
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      • If you wish to make buttermints or cream cheese mints in different colors, knead the dough first, then separate it into smaller batches. Knead a drop of your desired food coloring into each batch. [21]
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      Warnings

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      Things You'll Need

      Hard Mint Candy

      • Candy thermometer
      • Saucepan
      • Large baking sheet
      • Sharp knife or pizza cutter
      • Airtight container for storing

      Buttermints

      • 1 to 2 large baking sheets
      • Electric mixer
      • Smooth working surface
      • Wax paper or parchment paper

      Cream Cheese Mints

      • Electric mixer
      • Smooth working surface
      • Wax paper or parchment paper


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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/christmas-hard-candy
      2. ↑ https://www.womansday.com/food-recipes/food-drinks/recipes/a11147/butter-mint-pillows-recipe-122510/
      3. ↑ https://allrecipes.com/recipe/9441/cream-cheese-mints/
      4. ↑ https://www.recipetips.com/knowledge.asp?content=t--1459/how-to-test-stages-of-sugar.asp
      5. ↑ https://momofftrack.com/2015/12/how-to-make-hard-candy/
      6. ↑ https://www.offthemeathook.com/2011/11/22/top-tip-tuesday-getting-accurate-candy-temperatures-without-a-thermometer/
      7. ↑ https://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/candy/sugar-stages.html
      8. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cinnamon-rock-candy/
      9. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cinnamon-rock-candy/
      1. ↑ https://sweets.seriouseats.com/2012/12/bake-the-book-buttermints.html
      2. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2012/12/buttermints-candy-recipe.html
      3. ↑ https://www.womansday.com/food-recipes/food-drinks/recipes/a11147/butter-mint-pillows-recipe-122510/
      4. ↑ https://www.womansday.com/food-recipes/food-drinks/recipes/a11147/butter-mint-pillows-recipe-122510/
      5. ↑ https://neverendingyarn.wordpress.com/2008/11/21/butter-mints/
      6. ↑ https://pintsizedbaker.com/cream-cheese-mint-roses/
      7. ↑ https://www.skiptomylou.org/how-to-make-cream-cheese-mints/
      8. ↑ https://pintsizedbaker.com/cream-cheese-mint-roses/
      9. ↑ https://tatertotsandjello.com/2014/12/happy-holidays-cream-cheese-mints.html
      10. ↑ https://momofftrack.com/2015/12/how-to-make-hard-candy/
      11. ↑ https://pintsizedbaker.com/cream-cheese-mint-roses/
      12. ↑ https://www.womansday.com/food-recipes/food-drinks/recipes/a11147/butter-mint-pillows-recipe-122510/

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