Make your own mints with this easy butter mints recipe. Perfect to snack on or serve at weddings and other special occasions!
You might also like my lemon butter mints, homemade Tootsie Rolls, or homemade saltwater taffy.
My kids and I LOVE old-fashioned butter mints. I remember my grandparents putting butter mints out for my aunt's wedding when I was a child. She had two receptions, and I think most of my memories revolve around playing with my cousins and eating the butter mints and mixed nuts off the tables. Butter mints are a nostalgic candy that is easy to make at home!
What I Like About This Recipe
- Easy to customize. You can flavor these using any flavor of extract you like, but peppermint is my favorite. You can also color them to match the theme of any occasion using food coloring.
- Soft and buttery. Homemade butter mints contain fewer preservatives, resulting in a softer texture compared to store-bought mints. Because they are homemade, the butter flavor really shines through.
- Fun to make. My kids enjoy making butter mints. The dough is easy to work with and simple to cut into shapes.
What Others Are Saying
I just made your mints for my Christmas goodie gift packs. Thank you soooooo much! Simple, easy, and FABULOUS! Next I’ll try another fun flavor!---Anna
These were AMAZING!!!!!---Lily
These are my favorite even as a kid. I added 1 teaspoon mint instead of half and go the perfect mint! Thank you again for sharing!---Robin
Jump to:
Tips and Tricks
- Use peppermint extract. This is not to be confused with peppermint oil. The flavoring oils are more potent and require less, but the flavor is similar. If using peppermint flavoring oil, you will need to adjust the measurement.
- Allow mints to dry. Fresh mints are delicious, but they are so much better after drying for 24 hours. The texture hardens on the outside, but remains slightly soft on the inside.
- How to store butter mints. There aren't any preservatives in homemade butter mints, and they are slightly softer than their store-bought counterparts. The butter will make them soften and stick together, so it is best to store them in the refrigerator after drying out.
Ingredients
- Butter: I always bake with salted butter, but you can use unsalted butter.
- Powdered sugar
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Peppermint extract
- Vanilla Extract
- Food coloring
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Butter Mints
Step 1: Beat butter using an electric mixer until smooth, 30-45 seconds.
Add powdered sugar, milk, peppermint extract (or any other kind of extract) and vanilla, and mix until a dough forms. Add an additional ¼ cup of powdered sugar if the dough is too sticky.
Step 2: Divide the dough into 3 or 4 portions for coloring. Add a few drops of coloring and knead it into the dough.
Tip: If you have a Kitchenaid mixer you can use the paddle attachment to color the dough or use gloves to color the dough by hand to save your fingers from staining.
Step 3: Pinch off a 2" ball of colored dough and roll out into long ropes. Cut each rope into tiny bite sized pieces using a pizza cutter on a cutting board.
Step 4: Let candy dry on baking sheet for 24 hours.
Finished mints can be refrigerated for several weeks or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Butter Mints FAQs
Butter mints are often served at weddings and parties. They come in a variety of colors and are hard in texture until you pop them in your mouth. Then they become soft and melt in your mouth.
Use peppermint extract. This is not to be confused with peppermint oil. The flavoring oils are more potent and require less, but the flavor is similar. If using peppermint flavoring oil, you will need to adjust the measurement.
There aren't any preservatives in homemade butter mints, and they are slightly softer than their store-bought counterparts. The butter will make them soften and stick together, so it is best to store them in the refrigerator after drying out.
More Candy Recipes To Make
MADE THIS RECIPE AND LOVED IT? 💛 Please leave a STAR rating and COMMENT below! Post it to Facebook or Pinterest to easily share with friends!
Recipe adapted from Averie Cooks
Old Fashioned Butter Mints
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- electric mixer
- Pizza Cutter
- cutting board
- measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter softened
- 3 ¼ cups powdered sugar
- ⅓ cup sweetened condensed milk
- ½ teaspoon extract peppermint, cinnamon, lemon, etc.
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- food coloring variety of colors
Instructions
- Beat butter using electric mixer until smooth, 30-45 seconds.
- Add powdered sugar, milk, peppermint extract (or any other kind of extract) and vanilla, and mix until a dough forms. Add an additional ¼ cup of powdered sugar if the dough is too sticky.
- Divide dough into 3 or 4 portions for coloring. Add a few drops of coloring and knead into dough.Tip: If you have a Kitchenaid mixer you can use the paddle attachment to color the dough or use gloves to color the dough by hand to save your fingers from staining.
- Pinch off a 2" ball of colored dough and roll out into long ropes. Cut each rope into tiny bite sized pieces using a pizza cutter on a cutting board.
- Let candy dry on baking sheet for 24 hours.
Anna Kinopka says
I just made your mints for my Christmas goodie gift packs. Thank you soooooo much! Simple, easy, and FABULOUS! Next I’ll try another fun flavor!
Brandy says
Love it! Let me know what flavor you end up making next!
Lily Johnson says
These were AMAZING!!!!!
Brandy says
So glad to hear, Lily!
Deanna Grelinger says
My niece is using a dark green for one of her wedding colors. Has anyone tried to dye these mints darker colors?
Robin says
These are my favorite even as a kid. I added 1 teaspoon mint instead of half and go the perfect mint! Thank you again for sharing! I will be posting on my food page and will be giving you credit 😉
Brandy says
So glad to hear!! Thank you!
Miz Helen says
I just love Butter Mints and a perfect mint for the June celebrations! Your post is awesome and thanks so much for sharing it with us at Full Plate Thursday. Hope you are having a great day and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
Amy says
These butter mints caught my eye since I have always loved them. When I clicked for the recipe, it said that that link was no longer available. I was dissapointed. Maybe I will try back again and see if I can get it. I found you at Tasty Tuesdays link party.