Making Old-Fashioned Wedding Mints: A Step-By-Step Guide

Old-fashioned wedding mints are a delightful treat that can be made in a variety of colours and shapes to suit any occasion. The recipe is simple and only requires a few ingredients: cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and flavouring. The mints can be formed into cute little discs or moulded into pretty shapes using silicone moulds. They are creamy and sweet, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture. The process is straightforward and can be done with kids, making it a fun activity for the whole family.

Choosing your ingredients

Choosing the right ingredients is the key to making delicious old-fashioned wedding mints. The ingredients are simple and easily available, but it's important to get the right quantities and quality to ensure the best results. Here's a detailed guide to help you choose the perfect ingredients for your wedding mints:

Cream Cheese:

The first key ingredient is cream cheese, which provides the creamy texture and slightly tangy flavour that balances the sweetness of the mints. Use an 8-ounce package of full-fat cream cheese, softened at room temperature, for the best results. Avoid using low-fat or fat-free cream cheese, as it may affect the texture and taste.

Butter:

Butter is another essential ingredient that adds richness and creaminess to the mints. You'll need 4 tablespoons of softened butter. Using a good-quality, salted butter will enhance the flavour.

Powdered Sugar (Confectioner's Sugar):

Powdered sugar is the sweetener and binding agent in this recipe. You'll need quite a bit of it—around 8 to 9.5 cups. Sift the powdered sugar before measuring and adding it to ensure a smooth, lump-free mixture.

Flavouring:

The flavouring is what gives your mints their signature taste. The most common choice is peppermint extract, which provides a refreshing minty flavour. You'll need about 1.5 teaspoons. However, feel free to experiment with other extracts like vanilla, almond, or spearmint. You can also use a combination of extracts to create unique flavours. For a more subtle mint flavour, consider adding a small amount of vanilla extract along with the peppermint.

Food Colouring (Optional):

Food colouring allows you to customise the colour of your mints to match the theme of your wedding or event. You can use gel food colouring or liquid food colouring, adding a small amount at a time until you achieve the desired shade. Pastel colours are particularly popular for wedding mints, creating a delicate and elegant look.

By choosing high-quality ingredients and following a trusted recipe, you'll be well on your way to creating delicious, old-fashioned wedding mints that will impress your guests and add a special touch to your celebration.

Mixing the dough

To make the dough for old-fashioned wedding mints, you'll need to cream together the cream cheese and butter using an electric mixer until you have a smooth and creamy mixture. Next, add a cup of confectioner's sugar to the bowl and mix until smooth. Then, add the peppermint and vanilla extracts and mix until incorporated.

Now, you can start to add the remaining confectioner's sugar. You'll need to do this gradually, mixing in between each addition. Keep going until you achieve a texture that is similar to Play-Doh and no longer sticks to your fingers. Depending on your equipment, you might need to mix some of the sugar in by hand as the dough gets thicker.

If you don't have an electric mixer, you can still make the dough, but you'll need to put in a bit of elbow grease!

Once you're happy with the consistency, separate the dough into balls—one for each colour you plan to use. Add a small amount of gel food colouring to each ball and knead until the colour is evenly distributed.

Shaping the mints

One way is to roll the dough into a long rope, about as thick as your pinkie finger for smaller mints or your thumb for larger mints. Then, cut the rope into the desired lengths. You can do this on parchment paper for easy cleanup. If the dough is sticking to your hands, simply add some powdered sugar to your hands to prevent sticking. Place the mints on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and let them dry at room temperature for about 12 hours.

Another way to shape the mints is to roll a small piece of dough into a rope, about 1/2 inch long and as thick as your thumb. Then, roll the rope down the back of a fork to create an imprint. This method is a bit more time-consuming but creates a pretty design. Place the mints on a cookie sheet and let them dry at room temperature for about 12 hours.

If you don't want to use a mold, you can simply pinch off about a tablespoon of dough and roll it into a small ball. Place the ball on a sheet pan and gently press it with the tines of a fork to flatten it and create a design. You can also dip the ball into colored sugar or sprinkles before flattening to add some extra sweetness and color.

Once the mints have been shaped, they need to be dried and stored. Let them dry at room temperature for several hours, or until they are firm to the touch. Then, transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to serve.

Flavouring and colouring

Flavouring

You can flavour your mints however you like. The most common flavouring is peppermint extract, but you can also use spearmint, vanilla, almond, butter, or any other food flavouring. You can even try cinnamon or chocolate. Just remember that a little goes a long way with these flavourings, so start with a small amount and add more to taste.

Colouring

You can use gel food colouring or liquid food colouring to create mints in any colour you like. You can make them a single colour or a rainbow of colours. You can even make them to match the colour of your moulds, such as green for a leaf or shamrock mould, or red for a heart-shaped mould. If you don't want to use food colouring, you can simply leave it out.

Storing your mints

To store your mints in the refrigerator, place them in an airtight container with layers separated by wax or parchment paper to prevent sticking. They will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.

If you want to make your mints ahead of time, you can also freeze them. Place them in a medium-sized covered plastic container, separating the layers with parchment paper. To keep them as fresh as possible, place the plastic container in a sealed plastic bag. They will keep in the freezer for several months.

When you're ready to serve your mints, simply take them out of the refrigerator or freezer and let them come to room temperature. Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions