Wedding mints are a delightful treat that can be made in a variety of ways, with just a few simple ingredients. These creamy, melt-in-your-mouth sweets are often served at weddings and other special occasions, evoking fond memories for many. Whether you choose to make them with cream cheese, butter, or a combination of both, the process is relatively straightforward and can be customised to your liking. From shaping them with moulds to adding food colouring, the possibilities are endless for creating delightful treats that will impress your guests.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Prep Time | 20-40 minutes |
Inactive/Additional Time | 8-12 hours |
Total Time | 8 hours 20 minutes - 12 hours 40 minutes |
Ingredients | Cream Cheese, Butter, Powdered Sugar, Peppermint Extract, Salt, Heavy Cream |
Equipment | Electric/Stand Mixer, Cookie Sheet/Baking Tray, Airtight Container |
Yield | 1 pound |
What You'll Learn
Choosing your ingredients
Wedding mints are a delightful treat that is surprisingly easy to make. The ingredients are simple and customisable, making them perfect for any special occasion. Here are some tips for choosing the right ingredients for your wedding mints:
Cream Cheese
Cream cheese is the star ingredient in wedding mints, creating a creamy texture that melts in your mouth. It is best to use full-fat cream cheese to achieve the ideal consistency. Before you begin making the mints, remember to soften the cream cheese by setting it out at room temperature for about an hour. This will make it easier to mix and create a smoother mint base.
Butter
Butter is another key ingredient, adding richness and creaminess to the mints. Use regular salted or unsalted butter, softened to achieve the best results. The amount of butter used is typically small, usually around one tablespoon, but it makes a significant difference in the texture of the mints.
Powdered Sugar
Powdered sugar, also known as confectioner's sugar, is essential for giving the mints their structure and sweetness. It is important to gradually add the powdered sugar to the cream cheese and butter mixture, ensuring a smooth and well-combined dough. The dough should be stiff and similar to the consistency of Play-Doh. If it is too sticky, simply add more powdered sugar until you achieve the desired texture.
Flavouring
The most popular flavouring for wedding mints is peppermint, creating a refreshing and sweet taste. However, you can also experiment with other flavourings such as spearmint, vanilla, almond, or butter flavouring. It is important to add the flavouring in small amounts, tasting as you go, to ensure the mints don't end up tasting like toothpaste!
Food Colouring
Wedding mints are often associated with pastel colours, but you can get creative and choose any colour you like. Food colouring, either liquid or gel, can be added to the dough to create your desired shade. If you prefer a more subtle colour, add a small amount of colouring and mix well. For bolder colours, simply add more.
Additional Ingredients
While the above ingredients form the base of wedding mints, there are a few additional ingredients you can use to enhance the mints or customise them further. These include:
- A pinch of salt to enhance the flavours.
- Heavy cream to add richness and creaminess.
- Vanilla extract to add depth of flavour and temper the mint flavour.
- Granulated sugar for coating the mints or rolling the dough before pressing it into moulds. This helps prevent sticking and creates a light crust on the outside of the mints.
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Mixing your dough
To make wedding mints, you'll need to combine your ingredients to form a dough. Here's a detailed, step-by-step guide on mixing your dough for wedding mints:
Firstly, gather your ingredients. The exact measurements may vary slightly depending on the recipe you follow, but the core ingredients typically include butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and peppermint extract. You can also add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavour.
Before you begin, ensure your butter and cream cheese are slightly softened at room temperature. This will make them easier to work with and create a smoother dough.
Using a mixer, start by beating the butter until it's light and fluffy. You can use a stand mixer or a hand mixer for this process. If using a stand mixer, a whisk attachment is ideal. Beat the butter on high speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, until it reaches a light and fluffy consistency.
Once the butter is ready, add the remaining ingredients. Start by adding the heavy cream, peppermint extract, and salt (if using). Beat this mixture until it is well combined and smooth. Remember to scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally to ensure all the ingredients are fully incorporated.
Now, it's time to add the powdered sugar. This ingredient will give your mints their structure and sweetness. Add the powdered sugar in increments, about 1 to 2 cups at a time, mixing on low speed until it is well combined after each addition. The dough will become very stiff as you add more powdered sugar. Continue adding and mixing until you've used up all the powdered sugar.
At this point, you can taste the dough and adjust the flavouring if needed. If you prefer a stronger mint flavour, you can carefully add a tiny bit more peppermint extract, mixing it in thoroughly.
Once you're happy with the flavour, it's time to beat the dough on high speed. This step will make your dough light and fluffy. Mix for about 4 minutes or until the desired consistency is achieved. You're looking for a dough that is smooth, creamy, and holds together well.
If the dough seems too sticky at any point, you can add a small amount of powdered sugar to your hands or the dough to prevent sticking.
And that's it! You've successfully mixed your wedding mint dough. From here, you can shape your dough into mints using various methods, such as rolling it into ropes and cutting it into desired lengths or using moulds to create shaped mints. Remember to let your mints dry at room temperature for several hours or overnight before storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Enjoy your homemade wedding mints!
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Shaping your mints
Rolling and Cutting:
- Roll the dough into a long rope between your hands. The thickness of the rope will determine the size of your mints; for smaller mints, aim for a thickness of about a pinkie finger, and for larger mints, use your thumb as a guide.
- Cut the rope into your desired lengths, and place the mints on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. This method is simple and allows for quick and consistent mint formation.
- If the dough sticks to your hands, a helpful tip is to coat your hands with a thin layer of powdered sugar to prevent sticking.
Using a Fork:
- Shape a small piece of dough into a rope, about half an inch long and as thick as your thumb.
- Roll the rope of dough down the back of a fork to create an imprint. This method adds a pretty pattern to your mints and is a bit more time-consuming but worth the effort!
- Place the mints on a cookie sheet and allow them to dry.
Using Molds:
- If you want to get creative, you can use rubber mint molds or silicone molds to shape your mints into various shapes and designs.
- Roll the dough into marble-sized balls, coat them in granulated sugar, and press them into the desired mold.
- Remove the mints by inverting the mold; they should pop right out.
- You can find mint molds at party supply stores, kitchen supply stores, or online. They come in various shapes and themes, such as flowers, leaves, hearts, baby bottles, Christmas trees, and more.
- If you don't have access to molds, you can also try using a cookie press or a piping bag to shape your mints. Experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you.
Other Creative Ideas:
- If you're making mints for a special occasion, consider customizing the color to match the theme. You can use food coloring to create any shade you like.
- You can also package the mints as party favors. Place them in small gift boxes or clear plastic bags, and seal them. Keep them refrigerated until you're ready to hand them out to your guests.
- Add some extra flavoring, such as vanilla, almond, or peppermint, to enhance the taste of your mints. Experiment with different extracts to find your favorite combination.
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Drying and storing your mints
Once you've shaped your mints, it's important to let them dry completely before storing them. Place the mints on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and leave them at room temperature for 12 hours to dry. If you're in a humid environment, you may need to let them dry a bit longer.
After the mints have dried completely, place them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve them. This will help keep them fresh and firm. If you're making the mints in advance, you can also freeze them for up to two months. To freeze, place the mints in a single layer on a tray and freeze until solid, then transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag.
When you're ready to serve the mints, you can let them thaw at room temperature for a few hours, or serve them straight from the refrigerator. They will be firm and delicious either way.
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Flavour and colour variations
Wedding mints can be made in a variety of colours and flavours.
For a classic mint taste, peppermint or spearmint flavouring is a good option. You can also use almond, vanilla, or any other food flavouring. Start with just a drop or two of flavouring and adjust from there.
You can make cream cheese mints into any colour using food colouring. Consider customising the colour for the type of mint mould you are using:
- Green for a leaf or shamrock
- Pink for a heart
- Blue for a bottle for a baby shower
- Red and green for Christmas
You can also make the mints into different shapes using moulds. Some shape options are:
- Diplomas for graduation parties
- Hearts for Valentine's Day or wedding anniversaries
- Shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day
- Flowers for a wedding
- Crosses for confirmation or First Communion
- Bottles for a baby shower
- Christmas trees, stars or Santa Clauses for Christmas
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Frequently asked questions
Wedding mints can be kept in the fridge for up to two weeks or in the freezer for two months.
You will need butter, cream, peppermint extract, and powdered sugar.
First, cream the butter and then add the remaining ingredients. You can shape the mints by hand or use a mould. Leave the mints to dry at room temperature and then chill until ready to serve.