Step into a world of enchanting holiday flavors with our irresistible Peppermint Buttercream Candies. These delightful confections are more than just a treat; they’re a journey back to cherished childhood memories, evoking the comforting taste of homemade sweets from grandma’s kitchen. Exceptionally easy to prepare and charmingly simple to decorate, these candies are the quintessential festive indulgence. Beyond personal enjoyment, they transform into thoughtful, personalized gifts, perfect for sharing the spirit of the season with friends, family, and appreciative teachers.
Imagine the joy of biting into a velvety smooth buttercream center, bursting with refreshing peppermint, all encased in a crisp, decadent chocolate shell. Each candy is a miniature masterpiece, promising a melt-in-your-mouth experience that captures the essence of Christmas.
For those eager to dive straight into the confectionary creation, feel free to scroll to the bottom of the page for the full recipe card. We understand that some readers prefer a quick guide, while others enjoy exploring additional details, tips, and inspiration. This article is designed to cater to both, ensuring a delightful experience for everyone.
Table of Contents
- Festive Peppermint Buttercream Candies
- The Art of Making Perfect Buttercreams
- Essential Tips for Flawless Buttercreams
- Frequently Asked Questions About Buttercreams
- Explore More Holiday Treats
Festive Peppermint Buttercream Candies
The enchanting flavor of buttercream frosting holds a special place in many hearts, especially during the festive season. At our core, we adore creating buttercream candies – those heavenly bites, often dipped in rich chocolate, that dissolve on your tongue, leaving behind a wave of classic, nostalgic dessert flavor. Our Peppermint Buttercream Candies are a seasonal twist on our beloved Easy Buttercreams recipe, infused with a vibrant peppermint essence that makes them absolutely perfect for holiday gatherings, neighbor gifts, and cookie exchanges.
What makes these peppermint delights so extraordinary for Christmas? It’s their unique ability to transport you back to simpler times. The cool, crisp notes of peppermint combined with the smooth, sweet buttercream filling evoke the warmth and joy of winter holidays. They are a delightful contrast to traditional rich, heavy holiday desserts, offering a light yet intensely satisfying sweetness. Their vibrant green, white, and red sprinkles (optional, but highly recommended!) make them visually stunning, instantly adding a festive touch to any dessert platter.
These candies aren’t just easy to make; they’re a fantastic activity for the whole family. Kids will love rolling the buttercream mixture into balls and decorating them with colorful sprinkles, creating precious holiday memories in the kitchen. Plus, the recipe yields a generous batch, ensuring there’s plenty to share and enjoy throughout the holiday season.
If you find yourself enchanted by this delicious and straightforward recipe, we invite you to explore our extensive dessert archives. You’ll discover a treasure trove of holiday cookie party suggestions and other festive delights, ensuring your holiday season is filled with sweet moments.
The Art of Making Perfect Buttercreams
Creating delectable buttercream candies is surprisingly straightforward, but achieving that perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture requires a little patience and attention to detail, particularly with chilling and preparation. Don’t worry, the process is incredibly rewarding, and the steps below will guide you to flawless confections every time!
One of the best aspects of this recipe is that it utilizes common kitchen tools that most home bakers already possess. There’s no need to hunt for specialized gadgets; a few basics are all you need to create these impressive treats. However, if you’re looking to upgrade your kitchen arsenal or need a specific item, we’ve provided some suggested affiliate links for your convenience:
- Large Mixing Bowl: Essential for combining ingredients without a mess.
- Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer: For effortless creaming and smooth mixing. A sturdy mixing spoon can also work wonders with a bit of elbow grease.
- Cookie Scooper: Ensures uniform candy sizes, making dipping easier and results more professional.
- Baking Sheet: Provides a stable surface for chilling and setting your candies.
- Parchment Paper: Prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.
- Dipping Tool: A specialized tool for effortless chocolate coating. (Click here for a complete dipping tool set.)
- Festive Sprinkles: To add that magical holiday touch!
To embark on this delightful culinary adventure, gather the following high-quality ingredients. Each plays a crucial role in the texture and flavor profile of our peppermint buttercream candies:
- Unsalted Butter (½ cup, softened): The foundation of our buttercream, providing rich flavor and a silky texture. Softened butter is key for seamless blending and prevents a lumpy mixture.
- Cream Cheese (4 ounces, softened): Adds a wonderful tangy note that beautifully balances the sweetness and enhances the overall creaminess, contributing to the candy’s luscious interior. It also aids in stabilizing the filling.
- Salt (¼ teaspoon): A small but mighty ingredient that amplifies all the other flavors, cutting through the sweetness to create a more harmonious and vibrant taste experience.
- Peppermint Extract (1 ½ teaspoons): The star of the show! This delivers the signature cool, refreshing minty flavor, making these candies an iconic holiday treat. Adjust to your preferred intensity.
- Vanilla Extract (2 teaspoons): Provides a warm, aromatic depth that complements the peppermint, adding complexity and a comforting, classic dessert undertone.
- Powdered Sugar (4 cups): Not just for sweetness, powdered sugar is essential for achieving the smooth, velvety consistency of the buttercream filling and gives it structure.
- Chocolate Melting Wafers (4 cups): Chosen for their ease of melting and smooth, glossy finish, these wafers create a perfect, firm chocolate shell that beautifully encases the creamy peppermint center.
- Sprinkles (optional, but highly recommended!): For a burst of color and a festive aesthetic, sprinkles are a simple way to customize and enhance the visual appeal of your buttercreams for any occasion. Consider using red, white, and green for a truly Christmassy look.
Once you’ve gathered these essential tools and ingredients, let’s walk through the simple yet satisfying process of crafting these irresistible candies:
- Prepare the Buttercream Base: In a generously sized mixing bowl, or using a stand mixer equipped with a paddle attachment, begin by creaming together the softened unsalted butter, softened cream cheese, peppermint extract, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix thoroughly until the mixture becomes wonderfully smooth and evenly combined. This initial creaming ensures a light and airy base for your candies.
- Incorporate Powdered Sugar: Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time. After each addition, mix until the sugar is fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth. This incremental approach prevents a cloud of sugar and ensures a perfectly smooth buttercream consistency. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is well combined.
- Initial Chill for Firmness: Once all the powdered sugar is mixed in, cover the mixing bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour. This crucial step allows the mixture to firm up, making it much easier to handle and shape into individual candies without becoming sticky or oily.
- Shape the Candies: After the initial chilling period, remove the buttercream mixture from the refrigerator. Use a medium cookie scoop (approximately 1.5 tablespoons) to portion out uniform balls of the buttercream mixture. Gently roll each scoop between your palms to create smooth, round balls, or if you prefer a flatter bottom, press the scoop against the side of the bowl before releasing. Arrange these shaped buttercream balls onto a prepared baking pan lined with parchment paper.
- Second Chill for Structure: Return the baking pan with the shaped buttercream balls to the refrigerator for an additional 2 hours. This extended chilling period is vital; it ensures the candies are firm enough to withstand the warmth of the melted chocolate and retain their perfect shape during the dipping process. Do not skip this step for best results!
- Melt the Chocolate: While your buttercream balls are chilling, prepare your chocolate coating. Melt the chocolate melting wafers in a glass. For optimal results and to prevent the chocolate from seizing or becoming too thick, we recommend doing this in two separate rounds. This keeps the chocolate fresh and at an ideal dipping consistency throughout the process. You can use a microwave (short bursts, stirring frequently) or a double boiler.
- Dip and Coat: Once the buttercream balls are thoroughly chilled and firm, it’s time for dipping! Using a spiral dipping tool, a simple toothpick, or a fork, gently submerge each buttercream candy into the melted chocolate. Ensure it’s fully coated, then carefully lift it out, tapping off any excess chocolate against the rim of the glass. Place the chocolate-covered candy back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Add Sprinkles Promptly: Work quickly when adding sprinkles! The chocolate will begin to set rapidly, especially on chilled candies. Sprinkle your chosen festive decorations onto the chocolate-dipped candies immediately after dipping each one, or at least after every few, to ensure they adhere properly before the chocolate hardens.
- Final Set and Harden: Allow the newly dipped and sprinkled buttercreams to sit at room temperature for approximately 15 minutes. This allows the chocolate to temper slightly, preventing a white bloom (fat bloom) from forming if chilled too quickly. After this brief resting period, transfer the baking sheet back to the refrigerator for an additional 30 minutes. This final chill will fully harden the chocolate shell, giving your candies their delightful crunch.
- Serve and Store: Your exquisite Peppermint Buttercream Candies are now ready to be enjoyed! For optimal freshness and to maintain their perfect texture, store any leftover candies in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Layer them with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They will keep beautifully for up to one week.
Essential Tips for Flawless Buttercreams
While the Peppermint Buttercream Candy recipe is designed for simplicity, a few expert tips can elevate your results from good to absolutely spectacular, ensuring perfectly formed, delicious treats every single time. Pay attention to these details for professional-looking and tasting candies:
- Embrace Room Temperature Ingredients: This is a golden rule for all baking and candy making. Using softened butter and cream cheese that are at true room temperature ensures they cream together smoothly and evenly. This creates a homogeneous, light, and airy base for your buttercream. However, be cautious not to let them get too warm or melted, as this can result in an oily, separated mixture and a less desirable texture for your finished candies. Aim for soft but still cool to the touch.
- The Power of Chilling: Chilling is paramount in this recipe. The initial hour-long refrigeration of the buttercream mixture is essential before you even attempt to roll it. If the mixture is too soft, you’ll end up with shapeless blobs rather than elegant candy balls. Furthermore, the second chilling phase after forming the balls is equally important. This ensures they are firm enough to maintain their perfect shape when dipped into the warm melted chocolate, preventing them from softening or distorting. Patience in chilling truly pays off!
- Mastering the Dip: When it comes to coating your candies, technique matters. Melt your chocolate in a tall, narrow glass for a deeper pool, which makes dipping easier and ensures a complete, smooth coating. For dipping, a simple toothpick or a regular dinner fork can work wonders. If you’re serious about candy making, investing in a specialized dipping tool can make the process even more efficient and mess-free. Gently lower the candy, swirl to coat, and tap lightly on the side of the glass to remove excess chocolate before placing it on parchment paper.
- Strategic Sprinkling: Don’t underestimate the speed at which chocolate sets, especially when coating chilled candies. To ensure your festive sprinkles adhere beautifully, apply them immediately after dipping each candy, or at most, after every two or three. If you wait too long, the chocolate will harden, and your sprinkles will simply roll off, leaving you with plain candies.
- The Art of Tempering (Briefly): While we’re not aiming for a full chocolate temper here, allowing the dipped buttercreams to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before their final refrigeration step is important. Placing them directly into the cold refrigerator immediately after dipping can cause “fat bloom” – a dull, whitish film on the chocolate surface due to rapid temperature change. This brief resting period helps the chocolate stabilize, resulting in a shinier, more appealing finish.
- Optimal Storage for Freshness: Buttercreams, being made from both icing and chocolate, are best stored properly to maintain their integrity. These easy candy treats are robust enough for parties, but a quick chill in the fridge before serving can enhance their texture, providing a satisfying chocolate crunch. Store your peppermint buttercreams in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. To prevent them from sticking together or absorbing any plastic flavors, line the container with parchment paper between layers.
- Freezing for Long-Term Enjoyment: For extended enjoyment, buttercream candies freeze exceptionally well. You can store them in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to four months. This is perfect for making ahead during busy holiday seasons or for stashing away a secret supply for future sweet cravings. They defrost quickly at room temperature, offering a convenient, indulgent treat whenever the mood strikes.
- Shaping Variations: While rolling the buttercream mixture into perfect spheres is classic, feel free to experiment with shapes. We often prefer pressing the cookie scoop gently against the edge of the mixing bowl to create a slightly flattened half-circle. This shape can be easier to dip and provides a different aesthetic. Get creative with small cookie cutters for truly unique holiday shapes!
- Choose Quality Ingredients: The quality of your ingredients directly impacts the final taste. Opt for good quality butter, full-fat cream cheese, and a reliable brand of chocolate melting wafers or couverture chocolate. High-quality peppermint extract will also make a noticeable difference in flavor intensity and purity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buttercreams
Peppermint buttercream candies are delightful bite-sized confections featuring a rich, creamy buttercream filling, generously flavored with refreshing peppermint extract, and typically enrobed in a smooth, crisp layer of chocolate or candy melts.
Absolutely! The beauty of this buttercream recipe lies in its versatility. You can easily substitute peppermint extract with other flavor extracts such as classic vanilla, nutty almond, bright orange, or even a hint of raspberry, to create a variety of delicious candy flavors.
Yes, you certainly can! While candy melts offer a convenient, smooth, and easy-to-work-with coating, high-quality milk or dark chocolate can be used. Keep in mind that real chocolate may require tempering to achieve a glossy finish and prevent blooming, and it might result in a slightly different texture and taste compared to candy melts.
When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, these delectable candies will maintain their freshness and quality for up to 2 weeks. For longer storage, they can be frozen for up to 2 months.
Yes, these candies are an excellent make-ahead treat, especially useful during busy holiday seasons. You can prepare them completely and store them in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer until you are ready to serve them.
Definitely! Sprinkles are a fantastic way to add a decorative and festive touch. You can also experiment with crushed candy canes for extra peppermint crunch, finely chopped nuts, cocoa powder, or a drizzle of contrasting white chocolate to make them even more special and colorful.
To prevent the chocolate coating from melting during handling, ensure the buttercream centers are very cold before dipping. Use a toothpick or a dipping fork to immerse the candies in chocolate, minimizing direct hand contact. Tap off any excess chocolate efficiently, and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet to harden. Refrigerating the candies for a few minutes after dipping can also help the chocolate set quickly and firmly.
Explore More Holiday Treats
Our Peppermint Buttercream Candies are truly a highlight of the holiday season, embodying ease, nostalgia, and irresistible flavor. We hope you enjoy making and sharing them as much as we do! But the festive culinary journey doesn’t have to end there. The holidays are a perfect time to explore a myriad of sweet delights. Here are some of our other favorite recipes that are guaranteed to bring cheer to your table and make wonderful additions to any holiday gathering or cookie exchange.
If you’re a fan of rich chocolate and beautiful textures, you simply must try our Chocolate Crinkle Cookies – their cracked, powdered sugar-dusted surface is as visually appealing as it is delicious. For an adult-friendly treat, pair them with a creamy, spiced cocktail like our Pumpkin Spice White Russian Cocktail for a truly decadent experience.
Looking for even more sweet treats and inspiring ideas for your next cookie party? We’ve got you covered! Explore some of our top festive recipes below:
- Air Fryer Pumpkin Butter Cookies Recipe: Quick, easy, and full of autumn spice.
- The Best Easy Chewy Sugar Cookies Ever Recipe: A classic, foolproof recipe for perfectly soft and chewy sugar cookies.
- Easy Lofthouse Cookies Copycat Recipe: Recreate those beloved soft, frosted supermarket cookies right at home.
- Chewy Molasses Cookies: Warm, spicy, and perfectly chewy – a true taste of tradition.
- The Best Easy Peanut Butter Bread Recipe: A simple, comforting loaf perfect for any time of day.
- Gooey Butter Red Velvet Cake Cookies: Decadent, rich, and incredibly moist – a showstopper!
- Candy Cane Cake Batter Microwave Fudge: A super quick and festive fudge recipe with a delightful peppermint twist.
- Candy Cookie Dough Fudge: A fun, no-bake treat packed with colorful candies.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge: The ultimate combination of two classic flavors in a smooth, rich fudge.
More Sweet Holiday Inspirations
Cranberry Bars
Best Chocolate Truffles
Best Gingerbread Cookies
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
We truly hope you adore this simple yet spectacular recipe! If you’ve enjoyed making these delightful Peppermint Buttercream Candies, please consider giving it a five-star rating and leaving a comment below. Your feedback helps our community of bakers! Also, don’t forget to share your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest – we love seeing what you bake!
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Easy Peppermint Buttercreams Candy Recipe
Equipment
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Cordillera | Milk Chocolate Couverture | Cacao 32% | 2.2 Lb, Pack of 1 | Latin America Chocolate | Real & Sustainable Chocolate | High Fluidity
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Fox Run 3-Piece Chocolate Dipping Set, 0.5 x 5 x 13 inches, Metallic
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons peppermint extract
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 4 cup chocolate melting wafers
- Sprinkles, optional
Instructions
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In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter, cream cheese, peppermint, extract, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
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Add in the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time mixing until smooth between each addition.
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Cover the mixing bowl and place it in the refrigerator to chill for 1 hour.
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After chilling, use a medium cookie scoop to measure out even balls of the buttercream mixture and place them on the prepared baking pan.
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Refrigerate the balls for 2 additional hours.
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Melt the melting wafers (I usually do this in two rounds to keep the chocolate fresh) in a glass.
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Dip the buttercreams in the chocolate with a spiral dipping tool, toothpick, or fork until fully coated and place back on the baking sheet.
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Add sprinkles after every few you dip because they will begin to harden and won’t stick after a couple of minutes.
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Allow the buttercreams to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes then transfer back to the refrigerator to chill for an additional 30 minutes to harden.
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Enjoy or store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.