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Soft Christmas Peppermints Recipe

5 from 149 reviews

Soft Christmas Peppermints are a delightful holiday treat featuring a chewy texture and classic peppermint flavor. These colorful candies combine sweetened condensed milk, powdered sugar, and peppermint extract, twisted into festive red, green, and white ropes, then coated with granulated sugar. Perfect for gift-giving or festive parties, these soft mints require no baking and are best left to set at room temperature until firm.

Ingredients

Scale

Base Ingredients

  • 3¾ cups powdered sugar (plus extra for dusting)
  • ⅓ cup sweetened condensed milk
  • ½ teaspoon peppermint extract

Coloring

  • Red gel food coloring
  • Green gel food coloring

Coating

  • Granulated sugar (for coating)

Instructions

  1. Sift powdered sugar: Begin by sifting 3¾ cups of powdered sugar into a large bowl to remove any lumps, reserving a small amount for dusting your work surface later.
  2. Mix dough: Add ⅓ cup of sweetened condensed milk and ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract to the powdered sugar. Mix thoroughly until a sticky dough forms. If the mixture feels too wet, incorporate additional powdered sugar one tablespoon at a time until the proper consistency is achieved.
  3. Divide and color dough: Split the dough evenly into three portions. Leave one portion plain (white), and knead red gel food coloring into one portion and green gel food coloring into the other until colors are evenly blended.
  4. Prepare work surface: Dust your work surface generously with reserved powdered sugar to prevent sticking during rolling.
  5. Roll into ropes: Roll each colored dough portion into long, thin ropes approximately ½ inch in diameter.
  6. Twist ropes together: Gently twist the red, green, and plain ropes together to create a festive candy cane swirl effect.
  7. Cut and shape: Slice the twisted ropes into 2-inch segments and shape each segment into small rounds or discs.
  8. Coat candies: Roll each peppermint disc in granulated sugar, ensuring they are thoroughly coated for added texture and sweetness.
  9. Dry the candies: Place the sugared candies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and allow them to dry at room temperature for several hours or overnight until they are firm to the touch.

Notes

  • Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without affecting the dough’s texture.
  • If the dough is too sticky, add powdered sugar incrementally until manageable.
  • Allow the candies to dry completely at room temperature; do not refrigerate, as moisture can make them sticky.
  • Store the peppermint candies in an airtight container once firm to maintain softness and freshness.
  • These candies are soft and chewy, not hard like traditional peppermint candies.

Keywords: Christmas candy, peppermint candies, soft peppermint, holiday treats, no-bake candy, festive peppermint