Cream Cheese Mints are the classic confection that we all love at any special event. Cream cheese, butter, and sugar come together to create a tasty treat that everyone loves and is super easy to make.

Closeup shot of cream cheese mints on white plate

You’ve almost certainly had these little mints, or at least a variation of them, at holiday events. Your grandmother might have even just had them around for little treats when you came over to visit. They’re such a classic treat that almost everyone either knows them or knows of them.

Today, you’re really going to get to know these little mints because we’re sharing our recipe with you. Get ready for one of the easiest sweet treats you’ve ever made!

Cream Cheese Mints

I have always loved these little mint confections. I’ve been making them for years. When I first married my husband, I showed the recipe to him, and that was all she wrote. We’ve both been a fan ever since. We will almost always make a batch of these little mint goodies for Easter parties and for Christmas. They’re perfect for both, depending on what food coloring you use.

Cream cheese mints are great for all occasions. We have made orange, black and green for Halloween and red white and blue for Memorial Day and July 4th. They are also perfect for bridal showers and baby showers. Just change up the colors.

That being said, we also make these on random weekends when we’re feeling like we want something easy and sweet. They’re so simple to make, so sweet and tasty, and they make us feel all fancy even when we’re wearing our sweats. That’s a win!

Overhead shot of cream cheese mints on white plate

Ingredients

It only takes a handful of ingredients to make these delicious mints. With just five ingredients, you’ll be all set to make some of the most iconic – and easiest – mints you’ve ever made. The best part is that you probably have everything you need in your kitchen already. You might need to buy food coloring, but that’s it. Here’s what you’ll need.

Overhead shot of cream cheese, butter, and mint in mixing bowl

Cream cheese
Unsalted butter
Powdered sugar
Mint extract
Gel food coloring – Aqua, purple, rose pink, and lime.

Look at that. Five ingredients. That’s all it takes. You won’t find a simpler ingredient list!

Powdered sugar being mixed into cream cheese and butter mixture with stand mixer

Making Cream Cheese Mints

Making the cream cheese mints is just as easy as gathering the ingredients. There is ZERO cooking involved. You’ll simply be mixing ingredients and adding color to them. That’s all there is to it. You’ll find the complete recipe along with amounts in the recipe card below, but for now, take a look at this overview and be amazed at the simplicity.

Fork pressing down cream cheese mints on parchment paper-lined baking sheet

Cream together cream cheese and butter until smooth.
Slowly add the powdered sugar until completely combined and a smooth dough has formed.
Divide the mixture into four bowls.
Add different gel coloring to each bowl and mixt until completely incorporated.
Roll mixture into balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Smash down with a fork.
Enjoy!

Pretty easy, right? No baking, no stovetop cooking. All you have to do is mix. It’s one of the simplest recipes we’ve ever made, and it’s also one of the tastiest!

Fork pressing down cream cheese mint balls into discs

Tips

This recipe is super easy, but there are a few tips to keep in mind so that you get the best possible mints when you use this recipe. With a recipe this simple, the little things can really make a big difference, so don’t skip this part!

Softened Cream Cheese

It’s important that you fully soften your cream cheese before mixing it to make these cream cheese mints. Whenever you combine cream cheese with other ingredients, softening it is important, but it’s even more important for this recipe because there’s absolutely nothing to disguise the texture. If you get that wrong, the whole thing is off.

Unsalted Butter

Absolutely do not use salted butter in this recipe. If you don’t have unsalted butter, you’ll have to buy some. We can’t stress enough how important this is. Sometimes in recipes, you can get away with using salted butter instead of unsalted, but with a recipe this simple, the saltiness of the butter will absolutely stand out and ruin the mints.

Crem cheese mints stacked atop one another on plate

Variations

There are two major adjustments you can make with this recipe – your extract and your coloring. Just by changing the food coloring, you can change the entire look of your mints and thus, where you can serve them. Changing the extract allows you to experiment with different flavors.

Food Coloring

For Easter, use the colors called for in our recipe. For Christmas, substitute, red, green, blue, and other holiday colors. Make these cream cheese mints for Halloween using orange, black, and red food coloring. You can even make them for baby showers with pastel colors, as well. Changing the color allows you serve these tasty mints at literally any event or occasion.

Extracts

You can use any extract you like in this recipe. Of course, mint, spearmint, or peppermint will be your big three to keep these classic cream cheese mints. However, if you want to get creative and turn them into a different kind of sweet treat, try extracts like almond, cherry, orange, lemon, and more. Get creative!

Serving Cream Cheese Mints

These delicious little mints make great snacks or desserts for almost any occasion. Simply adjust the food coloring to match your event! To serve, place them all in a bowl and simply let people come by and take a few whenever they want.

We recommend that you make enough to accommodate about three mints per person plus a little extra. You know, for those people who always seem to grab double handfuls.

Storing Cream Cheese Mints

These mints will keep well in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for about two weeks. For longer storage, you can even freeze them in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bags for up to twelve months. It’s a great way to prepare a batch ahead of time. Pro tip: these mints are super tasty frozen, as well.

Cream cheese mints stacked atop one another in a tower

FAQ

Before you get started making these cream cheese mints, let’s hit the highlights and answer a few common questions.

Why are my mints so sticky?
You didn’t use enough powdered sugar. The secret to the sweetness and “doughiness” of these mints is the powdered sugar. Too little, and your mints will be sticky.

Why are my mints so dry?
You used too much powdered sugar. There’s a sweet spot that keeps your mints solid and not sticky but also not powdery and dry.

Can I use a different flavor?
Sure! Any of the mints will work well. You can even get creative and make other kinds of sweet treats using any kind of extract you like.

How long will these mints last?
These mints will last for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. For longer storage, you can freeze them for up to a year. They’re actually delicious right out of the freezer!

Try These Classic Cream Cheese Mints

These cream cheese mints are so quick and easy to make, you can whip up a batch for any special occasion no matter how pressed for time you are. You can also just make them on a random weeknight when you’re feeling like something sweet that’s also extra fancy.

However or whenever you choose to make them, these cream cheese mints are so quick, easy, and tasty, you owe it to yourself to give them a try. Trust us, you’re going to love them.

PIN IT!!