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
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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
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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.
roseannmhampton says
My mom used to have butter mints every time we had company over for dinner! These look delicious!
Kim says
These looks so yummy!Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! Have a great week!
Kim
Donna @ Modern on Monticello says
I have always loved butter mints since I was a kid and my mom used to make them for weddings. Great recipe. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
Gentle Joy Homemaker says
Those look great.... I have never made them, but need to. 🙂
Laura says
Oh. my. gosh. I love those mints. I will HAVE to make some. I am pinning this immediately! Thanks for sharing!Laura @ The Experimental Home
Jo and Sue says
Aaaaaw...I remember these from when I was little. My grandma used to have these on her table whenever we went to visit her. I will have to give these a try. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Hannah Harper says
WOW! These look amazing! I have to try them. I wonder if you could use a piping bag with a large tip, like a star tip, and make a cool shape...
Paula says
I could seriously eat buttermints by the pound! What a great recipe! We'd love for you to share this at our party! http://housewivesofriverton.blogspot.com/2012/09/riverton-housewives-round-up-31.html
Megan @ PolishTheStars.com says
Yum! I have always loved eating these when they are served at parties but I never learned to make them myself. Can't wait to try this recipe. Thanks!
Renee Hagloch says
Yummy! My recipe for mints is very similar but I use cream cheese. I would love for you link this up at my first LINK PARTY!
http://www.thecreativeorchard.blogspot.com/2012/08/tutorial-link-party.html
Melissa Lind says
Mmmmmm. I am excited to try these! 😀
Melissa http://www.mywatermelonmoon.com, I am (now) a follower and I would appreciate you following along with me too! Have a fabulous day!
The Daily Smash says
Yummy these look great.. What a great blog it makes me hungry lol check out my food blog if you get a min and have not done it already..
http://www.thedailysmash101.blogspot.com
Erin Alldredge says
My hubby really loves mints. Whenever we find a good mint at a restaurant we always sneak a huge handful. I'll have to try these for sure. I'd love it if you shared this at my link party. http://acraftycook.blogspot.com/2012/08/1-month-of-fun-august-link-party.html
Melissa says
Life. Changing. I had NO idea you could make butter mints and I have a good working knowledge of candy! I'm so pleased that you shared this!
Mary says
So glad that you made these. I have been wanting to try the recipe, but wasn't sure how well they'd come out. Yippee...I'll have to make these soon.