Best Butter Mints (Homemade)
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Homemade Butter Mints are simply the best! An easy to make sweet, buttery, and delicious old fashioned candy recipe that you could literally eat hand fulls of!
So easy to make at home, we love baby shower yellow, but feel free to customize for the holidays (liked red and green for Christmas) or a nice traditional soft mint green for your candy.
The first thing you should know about making homemade old fashioned butter mints is that while the recipe itself is totally uncomplicated, they do required drying out overnight, so you will need to plan at least one day ahead.
My recipe makes around 3.5 cups of butter mints and I love how they look in the light soft yellows that emulate the butter flavor.
I understand that making candied, well, anything, can seem scary, but these butter mints are not hard at ALL. I am a great cook but all my baking things (while taste great) keep me shy. This is not that – it’s an easy, peasy, butter squeezy after dinner delightful dessert! In fact, some people call these “after dinner butter mints” because its easy to grab a handful after dinner and cleanse the pallet.
The mix of peppermint oil, vanilla and all that sugar mean the are the perfect balance of sweet to feel like you got a treat without overdoing it – unless you do over do it…we all have been there!
They make amazing mints for the holidays and are lovely on a table full of delicious desserts like cakes and soft lofthouse cookies.
You can also try my favorite cream cheese mints as well.
Best Butter Mints Recipe
These butter mints will remind you of being a kid again! Silky and smooth, they are often served after dinner, during holiday times and definitely at weddings and baby showers. Do not get intimated by the end product because its simply a mix and cut recipe requiring no baking! Just the kind of dessert this busy mom can appreciate.
butter mints ingredients
- 1/2 cup, 1 stick butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon half and half
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon peppermint oil (this one)
- dash salt
- yellow food coloring
Peppermint Oil or Peppermint Extract?
Peppermint oil (straight up oil) and peppermint extract (extract has oil and alcohol) are not the exact same thing. Oils are stronger and require less than extracts, which are more liquid and contain less of the “flavor” balanced with alcohol. Either way, Peppermint is really strong so you don’t want to overdo it. I personally use this Peppermint Oil (food grade) by LorAnn
. The peppermint flavor is also what makes them perfect Christmas butter mints! If you need to use an extract, the balance is usually 4:1. So in this case, you would need 1 tsp of extract to reach the same peppermint content as 1/4 tsp of oil.
How to make Old Fashioned Butter Mints
Add softened (not melted) butter to a stand mixer and beat well until smooth.
Add sugar, half and half, vanilla, peppermint, and salt. Beat on low until dry and crumbly.
Half and Half NOTE: Powdered sugar doesn’t always measure the same person to person, depending on how its packed. You may need to add a tiny bit more of half and half to get to this point if it absorbs too quickly. Just only use a very small amount so you do not over wet your dough.
Add 2 drops yellow food coloring (or any color you like) and increase speed to high and beat until smooth and a dough forms.
Sprinkle powdered sugar onto a flat surface.
Remove dough from bowl.
Take a small, palm size amount.
Cover remaining dough with a damp paper towel.
On the sugar dusted surface, roll the dough into a long snake shape about 1/2″ thick.
Use a sharp knife to cut the mints into tiny bites.
Transfer to a baking sheet using a rubber spatula.
Let set and dry overnight.
Store in an airtight container.
Can I make Butter Mints in Other Shapes?
Yes, you can! Just make sure they are not overly big or they may not dry properly. You can mix them up with mini cookie cutters
or even roll into balls. Personally I believe they should be in bite sizes though so just be careful on not making them *too* big.
If I use extract, can I use a different extract than Peppermint?
I think butter mints are typically peppermint, however, places like Micheal’s or Hobby Lobby have an amazing baking aisle with tons of other extract flavors. I would def encourage you to test out a few other ones like cotton candy and strawberry extracts. You could really have a lot of fun with this recipe base! Just remember that oil and extract is usually a 4: 1 ratio (as in you need 1 tsp of extract to contain the same flavor as 1/4th tsp of oil) Oils are stronger and therefore superior for a butter mint recipe and you also need to balance the liquid content when making things like mints. If you want to skip making them entirely, you can buy butter mints
here.
5 Unique Holiday Desserts
- Apple Dump Cake in Crock Pot
- Marshmallow Fluff Dip
- Golden Oreo Truffles
- Bread Pudding
- Christmas Cookie Dough Dip
Best Butter Mints (Homemade)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter (equivalent to 1 stick butter, softened)
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon half and half
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon peppermint oil
- dash salt
- yellow food coloring
Instructions
- Add butter to a stand mixer and beat well until smooth.
- Add sugar, half and half, vanilla, peppermint, and salt. Beat on low until dry and crumbly.
- Half and Half NOTE: Powdered sugar doesn't always measure the same person to person, depending on how its packed. You may need to add a tiny bit more of half and half to get to this point if it absorbs too quickly. Just only use a very small amount so you do not over wet your dough.
- Add 2 drops yellow food coloring and increase speed to high and beat until smooth and a dough forms.
- Sprinkle powdered sugar onto a flat surface.
- Remove dough from bowl.
- Take a small, palm size amount of mint dough.
- Cover remaining dough with a damp paper towel so it does not dry while prepping mints.
- On a powder sugar dusted surface, roll the mint dough into a long snake shape about 1/2" thick. Use a sharp knife to cut the mints into mini shapes that are bite sized. Transfer butter mints to a baking sheet using a rubber spatula.
- Let mints set and dry overnight.
- Store butter mints in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Many of the mint recipes require storing them in the fridge? What do you do? The ones from the store are bagged and sold.
Celeste, I just leave them in a sealed container on the counter because in the fridge they can get to hard for my personal liking. The reason some people leave in the fridge, is due to the ingredients – butter and sugar can essentially “melt” in a warm kitchen. Mine dont last long enough to worry about it 🙂
These are delicious! I made a batch of peppermint and they were so good I decided to try another flavor, cherry. Wonderful! I will be making these for Xmas gifts for sure.👍
Barbara, Thank you SO much for returning with a successful recipe, that just warms my heart. I love your idea of Cherry, this would make a great Valentines day gift wrapped up in a little mason jar and some twine.
So simple and the perfect palate cleanser – anytime! I made half recipe and that was plenty. Used peppermint extract instead of oil, in a 2:1 ratio (some sites say use 4:1). Left them in a bowl, not sealed since I like them a little “stale” instead of soft and they were fine for 4 days. Now they’re all gone and am waiting for X-mas to make them again!
HI Carol, thanks for coming back and sharing your success on the butter mints! They are SO fun to eat!! You can make them in pretty colors for Christmas too. ~Trisha
Peppermint extract, or peppermint oil? The recipe in the post says one thing and then the recipe down at the bottom includes the word “extract.”
I apologize for the confusion – peppermint oil and peppermint extract are pretty much the same thing in regards to flavor. The difference is that in an oil its just straight up the peppermint oil and in extract, its oil and alcohol mixed. Peppermint is a REALLY strong flavor no matter what so a little goes a long way. You can essentially use either one but if you substitute for extract, you will need 1 tsp of extract to maintain the same flavor as 1/4th tsp oil.
These look wonderful and easy to make. Do you use salted or unsalted butter?
Honestly, you could use either, It wont affect the texture. Its more a taste preference since there is no other salt count in the recipe. For baking I usually unsalted and for cooking, I use salted.
~Trisha
Can I use whole milk instead of half and half? I don’t buy cream and it seems such a waste to purchase it for a tablespoon…Donna
Yes, but I would start just using a tiny bit cause half and half is thinner.
These are a perfect addition to my goodie bags, with a little effort. Taste great, look great. My 16year old loves them.😊
I made your dark fudge this evening & will be making your peanut butter fudge tmr. Planning on giving some of each as gifts. I think these mints in red & green would be a tasty addition. Do you think the peppermint flavor would affect the taste of the fudge?
usually if you package anything mint, wrapped or not, with other baked goods, that mint will flavor them…just an FYI
I’m about to try this recipe. 🙂 Just wanted to know what exactly does “overnight” mean to you?
For example, if I made these at 10am and let them dry overnight, that’s about 20 +/- hours.
But, if I made these at 10pm and let them dry overnight, that’s about 8 +/- hours.
Could you perhaps include a specific amount of time to dry these, please. 🙂
Laura Walters
HI laura! It typically takes 4 hours for butter mints to dry. 🙂
What is the shelf life of these mints? Not a big sweets eater but I do love butter mints
About 1 month in the fridge (in a container of course w/ a lid) or 2-ish months in the freezer.
Hello. I’m curious, about how many does this recipe make? In one spot, I see 3 cups – do you know about how many pieces that is? If I didn’t have half and half, what do you suggest for a replacement? Milk, water, etc? Thank you! 🙂
hi Nichole, we have never counted the individual pieces. As a side note that would vary as well because people would in end up making their own sizing too.
This recipe was simple and easy to make. I just made these mints with my niece an hour ago and they’re drying now. Of course we tasted the dough…SO GOOD! The LorAnn peppermint flavoring oil was right at Michael’s in the food crafting section, along with many other flavors. This was fun, fun, fun! We can hardly wait for them. Thank you for this recipe!
I love butter mints, and these are the best I’ve ever tasted! I grew up enjoying these at weddings, but I have never had homemade. Until I tasted your butter mints, the best ones I ever had were in little tins that we sold as a fundraiser when I was in drill team in high school, back in the 90s. They were so creamy and would just melt in your mouth. The other storebought ones weren’t like that; they were dry and crumbly. So I tried to find the ones we used to sell, but it was through one of those school fundraising catalogs, and back then you couldn’t just find things online. I’ve been missing these for over 20 years! LOL. Thanks for the recipe. I made them last night and they are dangerously delicious.
I’ve made these in the past and was wondering if you leave them out longer than overnight do they dry out more so they don’t stick to one another? That was the issue I was having. I live in Utah so humidity is not an issue. They are quite yummy! Thank you for sharing your recipe and for sharing.
I look forward to hearing back from you.
Thank you
Its hard to troubleshoot sometimes on recipes like this – did you use a watery food coloring that could have perhaps made it more wet than it should be? The gel food coloring can help with that over liquid. Also maybe dial back some peppermint – anything that could gotten them to be too soft. As mentioned in the recipe card, it could also be that due to the powdered sugar/half and half ratio, that it was off a bit. If you are sure its not humidity or a hot kitchen, you could always see if that helps. I wish I could provide more info but without seeing exactly what was done, I am not sure what went wrong for you. What I would try is to use less half and half on the next batch because the powdered sugar could have been packed differently than mine. I think its worth trying again!
This sounds like the best butter mint recipe I have ever seen. I can’t wait ti try it!
Is it possible to adjust heavy cream in place of half and half?
So I havent done it that way however I use heavy cream often as a substitute in recipes. I don’t suspect there will be an issue.
I made these yesterday and they are fantastic, I love mint but I wanted orange. They are amazing and I substituted half and half with sour cream. Worked perfectly ! Thank you
I have a question, can you put the “dough” in a candy mold to make Christmas shaped mints?
I have only done this with chocolate myself BUT when my aunt makes buttermints, they are always in a Christmas shape, so yes! I just have to be honest that I havent tested my recipe out doing it. I would personally use silicone mold so they pop out easy.
I once attended a ladies luncheon with all homemade food. One was some kind of fluffy salad/dessert with soft mints mixed in. I have lost contact with the hostess so can’t ask her for the recipe. Do you have any idea what I’m talking about?
My Great Zula Higgins,
She was a WONDERFUL GREAT AUNT. Her Husband was Great Uncle Carl.
She WOULD ALWAYS PREPARE DELICIOUS MINTS for my family EVERY CHRISTMAS. She MADE it the OLD FASHIONED WAY using a MARBLE TABLE.
IT WAS VERY KIND & SWEET for her to do this for us!!!
I am GLAD I LOCATED YOUR RECIPE.
She sounds awesome. I am so glad you can continue this tradition of making buttermints for the family!
Trisha
I was getting excited to see the Amazon link until I saw their “butter” mints were fat free. How is that possible? Do you know of a source for real buttery mints?
Brent, prepurchased buttermints are marketed “fat free” because the main ingredients in those buttermints usually include sugar, corn syrup, and peppermint oil, none of which contain fats. Homemade buttermints contain actual butter, which as you know, has fat in it. There are some brands that make buttermints WITH butter, which may be more in line with what you want on buttermints (dot) com. I havent tried them but I did peek at their ingredients and they have salted butter.
These are problematic. Easy to make and way, way too good, they are dangerous 🤣 in the fridge they are sorta like minty frosting bon bons. Thank you (I think 🤣) 💗
Hi I just finished making a batch but left out the half and half was that okay? my dough is fine but I just wanted to make if it was okay to leave that ingredient out?
I dont see any reason that it would alter the recipe.
Butter mints are also good for getting rid of the bad taste people often get in their mouths when undergoing chemotherapy. It would be a good comfort gift for someone needing a lift in spirits during that rough patch.
I love hearing this!
Can this be made with spearmint. Not a big fan of peppermint.
sure, I think that would be just fine! Any flavored oil would actually be fine in buttermints.
Fabulous. I used 1/8 tsp turmeric to tint yellow mints and beet root powder for pink mints. They taste amazing and are drying. I got just under 300 small mints per batch. A bag of powdered sugar made 2 scant batches. I am making these to give out as part of little gifts. I’ll add a picture when done. Excellent recipe, easy to make, a home run! Thank you for posting a wonderful butter mint recipe that reminds me of my childhood.
Dadof8kids here. I have made these with my kids for decades. The key is to have fun. I have used salted vs unsalted butter, imitation vs real vanilla extract, half/half vs whole milk and yes there is a difference but not much. If you use flavor oils not all are the same. Lorann oils in retail package is only type to use. Be careful as some seller bulk fill and water down the oils. Cotton candy, peppermint, grape, strawberry, watermelon, and bubble gum are our favorites. Have fun and make it your own. This recipe is very close to what we do and great job on the instructions.
Wow, 8 kids! What a beautiful family you must have. Thanks for your feedback on making butter mints in your own home. I agree with making things your own and I appreciate the feedback. Very kind of you to come back!
Trisha
Can you substitute heavy cream for half and half? Thanks
I dont see why not but its more watery and may need less.
I don’t normally leave comments for a recipe. But wow. Back in the 70s, my grandmother and I played canasta, with a butter mint going to the winner. We always had a tin of them to split. I’ve never tried making them myself until now. I know she would be so proud!!
O.M.G.
So good.
I made these with a few substitutions: Powdered allulose instead of powdered sugar, since I’m low carb. And wintergreen instead of peppermint, since I love wintergreen and was trying to make a version of those Lifesavers Wint-o-green mints.
This was so easy – almost foolproof. I didn’t even measure and it still turned out well. Thank you 🙂
This might sound stupid but can I use coconut oil in place of the butter?
First, there are no such thing as stupid questions. In some recipes, substitutions are fine. But in this one with butter mints, oil would likely create a goopy mess. It *might* be able to be altered, but aside from taste and texture, you would need to REALLY test it out to find the right amounts – it would take a lot of testing (which I encourage you to do if its important to you, just test in small batches and right down the amounts each time) but I cannot recommend just a flat change in and out of ingredients.
I’ve made these with the LORAN Cinnamon oil. And the Soesrmint oil. WOW! Great gifts. Will make more the closer I get to Christmas 24.
Easy and so good ! ! ! !
So quick and easy. Taste amazing 🙂
Can whipping cream be used instead of half and half. Already have the cream. Also I have peppermint extract. Can this be used.
That substitute should be fine!
50 years ago I worked in a central New York store called Dey Brothers. I worked most departments but when I was in the candy department these butter mints were the ABSOLUTE BEST!! I have been reminiscing for decades about how great they were and NOW I HAVE THE RECIPE 😊
Ten ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Donna, thanks so much for the beautiful comment! It made my day!
Trisha
Super easy and fantastic results!
Dee-lish! So fresh and tasty. A real treat straight from childhood memories. Will be offering along with baked goodies as Christmas gifts.
I just finished making these. My mother used to make them and now I can continue her tradition. She never gave us the recipe but now I have one!
This is an excellent recipe! My entire family just loves these sweet little treats! I don’t add the food dye because my Mom said she loves the color that just the butter imparts. I agree. The soft yellow is lovely! I sent a tin to my sister and brother-in-law. She asked me what they were. When I told her they were Butter Mints, she goes “I knew those tasted familiar!” And my brother-in-law said “These might be addictive.” They’ve become a Christmas staple, sent in gift boxes. Loved by all. Thank you!
These turned out perfectly!!!
I made the butter mints and they are awesome, however, they didn’t dry out overnight. I ended up putting them in ziplocs after 2 days but left the bags open, but a lot of them still haven’t hardened and I made them Christmas Eve day. What did I do wrong?? Any suggestions??
l just made butter mints!!!!! Wow!! Super easy recipe. I had to tweak it but they taste amazing. I will never buy store bought AGAIN.
I forgot to say thank you Trisha for the amazing recipe.
You are so welcome!
Love these! Another way to flavor them, koolaid packs! I made little disks out of them, like necco wafer candies. Nothing extra needed, even gives color to them
Love these! Another way to flavor and color is kool aid packs. I made them into little wafer candies
Excellent, easy to make and delicious. Be careful with the peppermint oil. Less is more..
Yummers! My grandchildren ask for these ALL the time. Just made some and roll them to look like pearls for a mermaid bday party. Although I don’t use the dye.