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The festive season is here, and what better way to celebrate than with a homemade sweet treat? These Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties are a delightful, no-bake candy perfect for holiday cheer. With their vibrant red, green, and white colors and classic minty flavor, they truly embody the spirit of Christmas. They are ideal for adding a splash of color to your cookie trays, sharing with loved ones, or gifting during festive gatherings. Get ready to create simple, delicious, and memorable candies with this straightforward recipe!
Why You’ll Love These Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties
You’ll quickly fall in love with these delightful holiday treats for several compelling reasons:
- No Baking Required: Say goodbye to oven worries! These simple peppermint patties are entirely no-bake, making them perfect for busy kitchens.
- Iconic Holiday Flavor: Enjoy the classic, refreshing taste of peppermint, a staple of the Christmas season. Each bite brings a burst of minty goodness.
- Customizable Colors: Easily tint the dough with vibrant red and green food coloring to create beautiful, festive candies that truly stand out.
- Fun for All Ages: This recipe is simple enough for kids to help with, turning candy making into a wonderful family activity. It’s a joyful way to spend time together.
- Perfect for Gifting: Package these charming Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties in decorative bags or boxes for a heartfelt, homemade gift. They are always a hit.
- Quick Prep Time: Spend minimal time in the kitchen and maximize your holiday enjoyment. These patties come together in a flash.
Ingredients for Christmas Peppermint Patties
Gather these simple ingredients to create your festive, minty treats:
- ¼ cup butter, softened: Provides a rich, creamy base for the candy dough. Ensure it is truly soft for easy mixing.
- ⅓ cup light corn syrup: This is crucial for adding chewiness to the patties and helps prevent the sugar from crystallizing, resulting in a smooth texture. As discussed by LorAnn Oils, corn syrup plays a crucial role in candy making by preventing crystallization, which ensures a smooth and clear finished product.
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract: The star of the show, delivering that essential, refreshing mint flavor.
- 4 cups powdered sugar, divided: Forms the main structure of the candy, giving it its characteristic texture and sweetness.
- Food coloring: Gel or paste food coloring in red and green is recommended for vibrant, true Christmas hues.
- ½ cup granulated sugar: Used for rolling the shaped balls, adding a beautiful sparkle and a slight textural crunch to the exterior.
Notes & Substitutions
When making your Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties, a few simple adjustments can customize them to your liking. For extracts, you can certainly experiment beyond peppermint. Try a different holiday flavor like spearmint, a touch of vanilla, or even a hint of cherry extract for a unique twist. When it comes to food coloring, gel or paste varieties provide much more vibrant and concentrated colors compared to liquid drops. If you only have liquid, use sparingly to avoid making the dough too wet; you might need a tiny bit more powdered sugar. The consistency of your powdered sugar dough is key; if it feels too sticky to handle, gradually knead in an additional tablespoon or two of powdered sugar until it reaches a pliable, non-sticky texture. For the butter, both salted or unsalted will work fine. If using salted butter, you can reduce the optional pinch of salt if you prefer, but it usually balances the sweetness well.
Equipment Needed
Making these delightful candies requires only a few basic kitchen tools. You likely have most of these on hand already, making this recipe even simpler to tackle.
- Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining all the ingredients easily.
- Spatula or spoon: For stirring and mixing the candy dough until smooth.
- Measuring cups and spoons: To accurately measure all your ingredients for consistent results.
- Parchment paper-lined baking sheet: Prevents sticking and makes the drying process hassle-free.
- Fork: Used for gently flattening the shaped patties and creating their signature look.
- Small bowls: Useful for dividing and coloring the dough portions separately.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these easy steps to create your festive Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties. Remember, simplicity is key!
- Combine wet ingredients: Begin by placing ¼ cup of softened butter and ⅓ cup of light corn syrup into your large mixing bowl. Use a spatula or spoon to cream these two ingredients together until they are smooth and well combined. This forms the essential liquid base for your peppermint candy dough.
- Add flavor: Next, stir in ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract to the butter and corn syrup mixture. Mix thoroughly until the fragrant peppermint extract is evenly distributed throughout the wet ingredients. This ensures every patty will have that signature refreshing minty taste.
- Mix in sugar (initial): Gradually add 2 cups of the powdered sugar to the wet mixture. Mix it in slowly, either with your spatula or a sturdy spoon, until it is mostly incorporated. At this stage, the mixture will start to thicken considerably and form a crumbly, yet somewhat cohesive, dough.
- Add more sugar: Now, stir in an additional cup of powdered sugar to the mixture. Continue to combine with your spoon, working the sugar into the dough. The mixture will become very thick and might be harder to stir, preparing it for the kneading stage.
- Knead dough: Turn the mixture out onto a clean, dry surface or keep it in the bowl if it’s large enough. Begin to knead the dough with your hands until it becomes completely smooth, uniform, and pliable. If the dough feels sticky to the touch, gradually knead in small amounts of additional powdered sugar, about ¼ cup at a time, until it is no longer sticky and is easy to handle.
- Divide dough: Once your smooth dough is ready, divide it into three equal portions. Place each portion into a separate small bowl. This separation is necessary for coloring each part individually and creating your festive red, green, and white patties.
- Color the dough: Leave one portion of dough white. Tint one of the remaining portions red using a few drops of red food coloring or a small dab of gel color. Tint the other portion green with green food coloring. Knead the color thoroughly into each respective dough portion until the color is vibrant and evenly distributed. If the dough becomes sticky from the coloring, knead in a tiny bit more powdered sugar.
- Shape patties: Take each colored dough portion and roll it into small, uniform ¾-inch balls. Aim for consistency in size so your finished Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties look appealing on your platter. Place the shaped balls onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet as you finish them.
- Coat in sugar: For a beautiful, sparkling finish, roll each shaped ball in granulated sugar. The sugar will adhere to the slightly damp surface of the dough, giving the patties an attractive shimmer that catches the light. This step adds a lovely festive touch.
- Flatten patties: Gently press down on each sugar-coated ball with the tines of a fork to flatten it slightly. This gives the peppermint patties their characteristic shape and helps them dry more evenly. Dip the fork in extra powdered sugar between patties if it starts to stick.
- Dry candies: Let the candies stand, uncovered, at room temperature for at least 24 hours. This crucial drying time allows the patties to firm up and develop their proper texture, preventing them from being too soft or sticky. Do not skip this step for the best results.
- Store properly: After they have dried sufficiently, transfer your finished Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties to an airtight container. They are now ready to be enjoyed, shared, or stored for later festivities.
Pro Tips for Perfect Peppermint Patties
Achieve perfectly delightful peppermint patties every time with these helpful tips:
- Softened Butter: Ensure your butter is truly softened to room temperature. This allows for smooth, lump-free mixing with the corn syrup and creates a consistently creamy base.
- Dough Consistency: Add powdered sugar gradually. The final dough should be pliable, easy to handle, and no longer sticky, but not dry or crumbly. Adjust with small amounts of extra powdered sugar if needed.
- Vibrant Colors: Use gel food coloring instead of liquid drops for intense, deep Christmas colors. Gel coloring won’t dilute your dough’s consistency as much.
- Uniform Size: For consistent-looking candies, use a small cookie scoop or measure out portions before rolling. This ensures all your patties are roughly the same size.
- Flavor Adjustment: Start with the recommended amount of peppermint extract. Taste a tiny bit of the dough (before coloring!) and add more extract, a drop at a time, if you desire a stronger mint flavor.
- Drying Time: Do not skip the 24-hour resting period. This allows the patties to properly set their texture, firm up, and become less sticky. It’s essential for the final result.
- Fork Technique: To prevent the fork from sticking when flattening, occasionally dip the tines in a bit of extra powdered sugar or granulated sugar.
Serving, Storage, and Variation Ideas
These delightful candies are incredibly versatile for the holiday season.
Serving Suggestions
Arrange your vibrant Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties on festive cookie trays alongside other holiday treats for a beautiful display. They also make wonderful edible gifts; package them in decorative boxes, cellophane bags, or small tins for a thoughtful, homemade present. Serve them alongside hot cocoa, coffee, or after-dinner mints at your holiday party. They are perfect for satisfying any sweet craving during the festive season.
Storage Instructions
Once dried, store your Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties in an airtight container at room temperature. Kept properly, these candies can last wonderfully for up to two weeks, retaining their flavor and texture. Avoid refrigerating them, as the cold can make them hard and diminish their creamy texture.
Flavor and Decoration Variations
Get creative with your peppermint patties! For a decadent treat, melt dark or white chocolate, dip the set patties halfway or fully, then chill until the chocolate hardens. Enhance chocolate-dipped patties by sprinkling crushed candy canes over the wet chocolate before it sets. Experiment with other extracts like almond, vanilla, or even a hint of orange for different flavor profiles. Use mini holiday cookie cutters to create festive shapes like stars or trees before coating in sugar. Finally, add holiday sprinkles before drying or over a chocolate coating for extra sparkle.
Nutrition Information
These homemade treats are a delightful indulgence for the holidays. While exact nutritional values can vary based on specific ingredients and preparation, each serving of these Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties typically contains approximately 80-90 calories, with around 2g of fat, 18g of carbohydrates, and 16g of sugar. This information provides a general estimate for planning your holiday treat consumption.
| Nutrients | Per Serving (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 85 kcal |
| Total Fat | 2 g |
| Saturated Fat | 1 g |
| Total Carbs | 18 g |
| Sugars | 16 g |
| Protein | <1 g |
Disclaimer: Nutritional information is an estimate only and may vary based on specific ingredients and serving sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Can I use different extracts besides peppermint?
A: Yes, absolutely! Feel free to experiment with extracts like almond, vanilla, or even orange to create unique flavor profiles for your homemade patties.
- Q: Why are my peppermint patties sticky?
A: Your dough likely needs more powdered sugar. Knead in an additional ¼ cup of powdered sugar at a time until the dough is smooth, pliable, and no longer sticky.
- Q: Do I have to let them sit for a day?
A: Yes, this resting period is crucial for proper texture. It allows the candies to dry out and firm up, preventing them from being too soft or sticky when handled.
- Q: Can I dip these in chocolate?
A: Yes, that’s a popular and delicious variation! Melt dark or white chocolate, dip the set patties, and then chill them until the chocolate hardens for an extra layer of flavor.
- Q: How long do these Christmas peppermint patties last?
A: When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, your finished Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties will stay fresh and delicious for up to two weeks.
Conclusion
These Easy Christmas Peppermint Patties are truly a celebration of holiday simplicity and festive charm. With their vibrant colors, refreshing mint flavor, and no-bake ease, they offer a delightful way to bring joy to your home without any stress. This recipe proves that making delicious, impressive candies doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Gather your loved ones, embrace the fun of creating these beautiful treats, and make new holiday memories. Try this delightful recipe today and spread some homemade holiday cheer! Happy holiday crafting from our kitchen to yours!
