Butter Mints

With just five ingredients, you can make sweet and creamy homemade Butter Mints. They are perfect for any gathering, and make great gifts!

We love a good candy recipe – especially for Christmas. A word of caution, these Butter Mints are addicting – like our Homemade Turtles and Homemade Caramels!

A cup and baking tray filled with colorful butter mints.

homemade butter mints

If you’ve ever eaten Butter Mints at a wedding or baby shower, you know that they just melt in your mouth. Am I right?!

Well, this homemade version is even creamier – they dissolve into melty pools of minty goodness within seconds. They’re great favors for showers, holidays, parties, or just to have on hand!

These Homemade Mints are similar to our Cream Cheese Mints, and are often called “wedding mints”.

Homemade Butter Mints do need to dry for at least 24 hours, so plan ahead. If your house is like mine, you will have to hide them during the drying process, or they will all disappear!

Measured ingredients for butter mints set out on a kitchen counter.

How to make Butter Mints

DOUGH. Place your softened unsalted butter, heavy cream, salt, peppermint oil, and ¾ cup confectioners’ sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat till smooth and creamy, scraping the side of the bowl a couple of times.

  • The peppermint oil used here is the kind you find in the baking aisle – not essential oils.

COLOR. Gradually beat in the remaining powdered sugar, scraping the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula often. Add food coloring if desired. Beat for 2-3 minutes till soft and fluffy.

CHILL. Scrape the mixture to the bottom of the bowl, and press plastic wrap firmly over the surface. Chill for at least an hour, or till firm enough to handle.

SHAPE. Divide into 5-6 sections. Sprinkle your counter with powdered sugar and roll each section into a rope about ½” thick. Use a dough scraper, sharp knife, or pizza cutter to cut each rope into pieces about ½” long.

DRY. Place each mint on a baking sheet covered with wax paper. Let sit at room temperature for 24-48 hours to dry out.

Even after drying, they won’t be as hard as the commercial Butter Mints. Their soft middles are what makes them melt-in-your-mouth creamy and irresistible!

variations

Making Butter Mints from scratch means you get to make them exactly how you want. Easily change the flavor, and create different colors, or shapes. 

Flavors. Change the flavor of these mints by replacing the peppermint extract with another flavor. Some good choices: mint extract, cherry extract, lemon extract, or something else! Remember to use food favoring, not essential oils.

Be sure to only add a little at a time and taste as you go. You don’t want to add too much extract.

Colors. To make different colors, divide the candy into smaller portions. Wrap each portion with plastic wrap so that it doesn’t dry out.

  • When it’s time, add 1-2 drops of food coloring to the candy portion. I like to use gel food coloring because it won’t change the texture of the candy.
  • Knead the food coloring evenly throughout the candy. (Wearing rubber gloves can help keep your hands from getting stained).
  • If you’re not going to shape the newly colored portion, wrap it in plastic.

Change the shape

Shapes. The recipe gives directions on how to make pillow shapes. If you choose, roll the pieces in your hand to create a ball shape.

Another idea is to use mini cookie cutters to stamp out different shapes. In this case, you’ll want to press or roll the portion of candy out as you would Sugar Cookie dough. Use the mini cutters to stamp out different shapes.

Rolling and cutting pink butter mints into pillow shapes.

storing info

STORE Soft Mints in a plastic airtight container so they don’t get smashed. They will keep at room temperature for a couple of weeks, or in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

FREEZE mints in airtight containers, or in heavy-duty freezer bags for up to 2 months.

But trust us – these won’t last long in your home. Everyone loves this Butter Mint candy recipe. They may take a little time, but they’re simple and so delicious. 🙂

A close up of a cup and tray filled with different colored butter mints.

For more easy candy recipes:

Butter Mints Recipe

4.96 from 24 votes
With just five ingredients, you can make sweet and creamy homemade Butter Mints. They are perfect for any gathering, and make great gifts!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 12 minutes
Total Time 12 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 218 kcal
Author Lil’ Luna

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter unsalted, softened
  • 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 5-6 drops peppermint oil
  • 3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-3 drops food coloring, optional

Instructions
 

  • Beat butter, cream, salt, peppermint oil, and ¾ cup of powdered sugar in a Kitchenaid till very smooth and creamy.
  • Slowly add in the remaining powdered sugar, scraping the sides of the bowl often. Add food coloring if desired. Beat for 2-4 minutes, or till smooth and fluffy. 
  • Scrape all of the mixture into a mound, cover tightly with plastic wrap. Chill for at least an hour.
  • When the mixture is firm enough to handle, divide it into 5 or 6 pieces. To form mints, sprinkle your counter liberally with powdered sugar. Roll each piece out into a rope about 1/2" thick.
  • Use a dough scraper to cut each rope into small pillow-shaped pieces approximately 1/2" long. Place each mint on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Let mints sit at room temperature for at least 12 hours to dry out.

Notes

STORE Soft Mints in a plastic airtight container so they don’t get smashed. They will keep at room temperature for a couple of weeks, or in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
FREEZE mints in airtight containers, or in heavy-duty freezer bags for up to 2 months.

Like this recipe?

Pin it now to remember it later! Share it with your Facebook friends (you know they’ll love it). Or tweet it to the world. Maybe even email it to your favorite cousin!

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About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Comments:

    1. You may need to adjust the amount of extract since the oil is typically stronger. But you could give it a try! I have always used oil, so I’m not exactly sure how much to tell you. You’ll have to let us know how it turns out!

    1. Hi! The mints last for about a month in the fridge. And I have’t measured out exactly how many cups it makes, but that sounds about right.

  1. Can this recipe be used in a candy mold? It’s for an 80th birthday, the mold is a 1.25 inch circle with an 80 impression in the center. If so, should the mixture go in the mold before it’s refrigerated or after?

    1. I have never tried making these in a candy mold before but you could certainly give it a try! I’d assume you put it in the mold before refrigerating? You’ll have to let us know if you end up using the mold and how they turn out!

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