Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties: Your Guide to Festive Red, White & Green Candy
Indulge in the spirit of the season with these exquisite Homemade Christmas Peppermint Patties. Featuring vibrant red, white, and green striped cool mint centers enrobed in rich dark chocolate, these delightful candies are surprisingly easy to make and perfect for holiday gifting or your festive dessert spread.
There’s a special magic that peppermint brings to the holiday season. From comforting hot chocolates to elaborate desserts, the crisp, cool flavor of mint is synonymous with December’s festivities. Among the countless peppermint treats, the classic peppermint patty stands out as a timeless favorite. Its refreshing minty core perfectly complements a shell of rich chocolate, offering a sophisticated yet simple indulgence. Imagine taking this beloved candy and giving it a dazzling Christmas makeover!
These homemade peppermint patties are not just delicious; they’re a visual delight, designed to evoke holiday cheer with their distinct red, white, and green layers. And the best part? They are incredibly straightforward to prepare in your own kitchen. While we’re crafting them for Christmas here, the versatility of this recipe means you can easily adapt the colors for any occasion or simply keep them pure white for a traditional look. Preparing these delightful mints at home allows for a level of freshness and flavor that store-bought versions can rarely match, making them an ideal project for bakers of all skill levels.
Beyond their charming appearance, the experience of making these candies is part of the holiday fun. Gather your family and friends for a delightful baking session, where the aroma of peppermint and chocolate fills your home. These patties make fantastic edible gifts, wrapped in cellophane bags with festive ribbons, or a stunning addition to any holiday cookie platter. Their cool, refreshing taste offers a welcome contrast to richer, heavier holiday desserts, ensuring they’ll be a hit with everyone.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the impressive results it yields. You’ll be amazed at how easily you can create professional-looking, striped peppermint patties that taste even better than those from your favorite candy shop. Let’s dive into the world of homemade Christmas candy and discover how to bring these festive treats to life, adding a personal touch to your holiday celebrations.
Essential Ingredients for Your Peppermint Patties
To embark on this sweet journey, ensure you have the following high-quality ingredients. Remember to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card with exact measurements!
- Powdered Sugar: This is the backbone of your mint filling, providing its smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Sifted powdered sugar is recommended to prevent lumps and ensure a silky consistency.
- Corn Syrup: A crucial ingredient for candy making, corn syrup helps prevent crystallization, keeping your peppermint patties soft and pliable. It also adds a touch of sweetness and body to the mixture.
- Milk: Just a small amount of milk is needed to bring the dough together. Whole milk or even a plant-based alternative can work, contributing to the creamy texture.
- Shortening: Opt for solid vegetable shortening, found in the baking aisle. It helps create a tender, smooth mint center and provides a slight richness without altering the flavor. Do not substitute with butter, as its water content and flavor profile are different.
- Peppermint Extract: The star of the show! High-quality peppermint extract is essential for that unmistakable cool, refreshing mint flavor. Start with the recommended amount and adjust to your preference – a little goes a long way.
- Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla balances the strong peppermint flavor and adds depth to the overall taste profile. Use pure vanilla extract for the best results.
- Dark Chocolate: For dipping your patties, dark chocolate is the traditional choice. Its slight bitterness beautifully contrasts the sweet mint filling. Look for good quality dipping chocolate or chocolate melts for an easier tempering process and a smooth, shiny finish. You can also use semi-sweet or even milk chocolate if you prefer a sweeter coating.
- Food Coloring: For vibrant Christmas stripes, red and green food coloring are a must. Gel-based food colorings are highly recommended as they provide intense color without adding excess liquid, which can seize the mint mixture. Liquid food coloring can be used but may require more to achieve the desired hue and could slightly alter the dough consistency.
Expert Tips for Perfect Peppermint Patties
- **Food Coloring Flexibility:** While artificial gel food colorings offer the brightest and most stable colors for your festive stripes, feel free to use natural food colorings derived from vegetables if you prefer. These might yield softer hues but are a great alternative. Alternatively, you can completely omit the coloring and simply make classic, elegant white peppermint patties, which are equally delicious and charming.
- **Chocolate Choice Matters:** Dark chocolate provides the ideal counterpoint to the sweet, vibrant mint filling, creating that classic flavor harmony. However, don’t limit yourself! If you or your guests prefer a milder sweetness, semi-sweet chocolate is a fantastic option. For an even sweeter, creamier coating, milk chocolate can be used, or for a striking visual contrast and different flavor profile, consider white chocolate. Ensure you use good quality melting chocolate or tempering chocolate for the best results in terms of shine and snap.
- **The Magic of Sprinkles:** Sprinkles are more than just a decorative touch. They are a brilliant trick to effortlessly cover any minor imperfections that might occur during the dipping process. A generous shower of festive red, green, and white sprinkles immediately elevates the visual appeal, making each patty look professionally made and ready for a holiday celebration. Apply them immediately after dipping while the chocolate is still wet.
- **Achieving Uniform Dough Balls:** The key to creating beautifully layered peppermint patties is starting with evenly divided dough. After preparing your mint dough, take the time to divide it into three truly equal portions. This meticulous step ensures that when you roll out each colored layer and stack them, they will be of consistent size and thickness, leading to perfectly proportioned and visually stunning stripes.
- **Effortless Striped Layers:** Creating the vibrant striped effect might look complex, but it’s surprisingly simple! The trick is to roll each of your three colored dough balls into identical rectangles of the same size and thickness between sheets of parchment paper. Once rolled, carefully stack the layers on top of each other, gently pressing to adhere them. Then, roll the entire stack into a tight log. This method is far easier than trying to layer individual, smaller patties and yields a clean, professional-looking stripe.
- **Handling the Dough:** If your dough feels too sticky, add a little more powdered sugar, a teaspoon at a time, until it’s pliable. If it’s too dry and crumbly, add a tiny splash of milk, just half a teaspoon at a time, until it comes together. The ideal consistency is smooth, firm, and easy to handle without sticking to your hands.
Storage Guidelines for Freshness
Just like their traditional counterparts, these homemade peppermint patties store beautifully at room temperature, maintaining their quality for a couple of weeks. To keep them at their best, place them in an airtight container. Layer them with parchment paper between each layer to prevent sticking and preserve their delicate chocolate coating. You can store them all together, or for individual serving convenience and to protect them from bumps, wrap each patty in small squares of wax paper or cellophane. If you wish to extend their shelf life further, they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month, though they are best enjoyed closer to room temperature for optimal flavor and texture. For long-term storage, these patties also freeze well for up to 3 months in an airtight container; simply thaw at room temperature before serving.
More Festive Christmas Treats to Explore
The holiday season is a wonderful time to get creative in the kitchen! If you enjoyed making these Christmas Peppermint Patties, you might love these other festive and easy-to-make recipes perfect for sharing, gifting, or simply enjoying with your loved ones. Expand your holiday baking repertoire with these delightful options:
- Sugar Cookie Fudge: A creamy, sweet fudge that captures the beloved flavor of classic sugar cookies, often adorned with sprinkles for extra cheer.
- Salted Caramel Crumb Bars: Indulge in layers of buttery crumb, gooey salted caramel, and a sweet, crunchy topping – a perfect balance of sweet and savory.
- Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars: All the joy of peppermint sugar cookies in an easy-to-make bar form, usually topped with a festive minty frosting.
- Puff Pastry Christmas Tree: A visually stunning and surprisingly simple appetizer or dessert made with flaky puff pastry, often filled with chocolate or pesto.
- Sugar Cookie Chex Mix: A unique and addictive sweet snack mix featuring crunchy Chex cereal coated in a sweet sugar cookie glaze – perfect for munching during holiday movie nights.
Christmas Peppermint Patties
Ingredients
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons corn syrup
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 3 tablespoons shortening
- 2 teaspoons peppermint extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pound dark dipping chocolate
- Red and green food coloring, gel colors work best for vibrant results without altering dough consistency.
Instructions
- Prepare the Mint Dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the powdered sugar, corn syrup, milk, solid shortening, peppermint extract, and vanilla extract. Start mixing on low speed until the ingredients begin to come together and form a crumbly mixture. Once it’s mostly cohesive, transfer the mixture onto a clean work surface generously dusted with powdered sugar. Using your hands, knead the dough vigorously until it forms a smooth, uniform, and pliable ball. The dough should be firm enough to handle without being sticky. If the dough feels too dry, add a tiny bit more milk (1/4 teaspoon at a time) until it reaches the right consistency. If it’s too sticky, incorporate a little more powdered sugar until it’s smooth and manageable.
- Color the Dough: Divide the smooth mint dough into three perfectly even balls. Take two of these balls and place each into a separate small bowl. Add a few drops of red gel food coloring to one ball and a few drops of green gel food coloring to the other. Leave the third ball uncolored for the white layer. Knead each colored dough ball thoroughly with your hands until the color is evenly distributed and vibrantly uniform. Wear gloves if you want to avoid staining your hands!
- Roll the Layers: Prepare three sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap. For each dough ball (red, white, and green), place one log between two sheets of parchment paper. Using a rolling pin, gently and evenly roll out each colored dough ball into a thin rectangle, aiming for dimensions of approximately 10×12 inches, ensuring they are all the same thickness. The goal is to create three identical rectangles. Once rolled, carefully transfer these parchment-wrapped sheets onto a baking tray. Place the tray in the refrigerator and allow the dough to chill for 15-20 minutes. This step helps the dough firm up, making it easier to handle and stack.
- Stack the Layers: Once the dough sheets are chilled, remove them from the refrigerator. Carefully peel off the top layer of parchment paper from each colored rectangle. Lay one sheet of dough (e.g., green) on your clean work surface. Gently place another colored sheet (e.g., white) directly on top, then carefully remove its parchment paper. Finally, place the last colored sheet (e.g., red) on top of the white layer, again removing its parchment paper. You should now have a neatly stacked three-layer rectangle with distinct red, white, and green stripes.
- Seal and Roll into a Log: With all three layers stacked, use your rolling pin to gently roll over the top surface. This step is crucial for sealing the layers together, eliminating any air bubbles, and ensuring a uniform thickness throughout the striped slab. Roll just enough to make the layers adhere firmly without distorting the stripes.
- Form the Log and Chill: Carefully trim the edges of your stacked dough rectangle with a sharp knife to create a neat, perfectly rectangular shape. Starting from one of the long sides, use the bottom layer of parchment paper to assist you in rolling the entire layered dough into a tight, even log. Roll it as snugly as possible to ensure compact, well-defined stripes when cut. Once rolled, wrap the log securely in parchment paper or plastic wrap and place it in the freezer for at least 1 hour. This freezing step is essential for firming up the dough completely, making it easy to slice into perfect, round patties.
- Slice the Patties: Remove the well-chilled and firm log from the freezer. Using a sharp, thin knife, carefully cut the log into 1/4-inch thick disks. Aim for consistent thickness to ensure even dipping and a professional appearance. If the log starts to soften, return it to the freezer for a few minutes.
- Dip in Chocolate: Prepare your dark dipping chocolate. Melt it according to the package directions – typically in a microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, or using a double boiler over simmering water. Ensure the chocolate is smooth and fluid. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or wax paper. Using a fork or a candy dipping tool, carefully dip each peppermint disk into the melted chocolate, ensuring it’s fully coated. Gently shake off any excess chocolate, allowing it to drip back into the bowl. Immediately transfer the dipped patty onto the prepared cookie sheet. If using sprinkles, sprinkle them generously over the wet chocolate right away. Repeat this process with all remaining disks. Allow the chocolate-dipped patties to harden completely at room temperature or in the refrigerator for quicker setting before serving or storing.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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