Soft Christmas Peppermints

The delicate crunch giving way to a melt-in-your-mouth texture makes these Soft Christmas Peppermints an irresistible holiday treat. Unlike hard candy canes, these homemade peppermints offer the perfect balance of cooling mint flavor with a pillowy-soft center that simply dissolves on your tongue. A festive red and white swirl makes these Soft Christmas Peppermints instantly recognizable as a holiday classic, yet this homemade version elevates the familiar candy to new heights. You’ll learn how to create these beautiful treats from scratch, master the perfect consistency, and customize them for gift-giving or holiday entertaining.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These Soft Christmas Peppermints will quickly become a holiday tradition in your home for countless reasons. First, their texture is absolutely unmatched—firm enough to hold their shape but with a tender bite that commercial candies simply can’t replicate. The contrast between the cool peppermint flavor and the melt-away texture creates a sensory experience that feels distinctly festive.

What’s more, these peppermints contain no artificial ingredients or preservatives that you might find in store-bought versions. You’ll control the sweetness level and peppermint intensity, allowing you to create a custom candy tailored to your preference.

Perhaps most appealingly, these homemade mint candies make stunning gifts. Packaged in clear cellophane bags with a festive ribbon, your Soft Christmas Peppermints will impress friends, neighbors, and coworkers as a thoughtful homemade present. They also make beautiful decorations for holiday dessert tables or as garnishes for hot chocolate and festive cocktails during December gatherings.

Ingredients

For these Soft Christmas Peppermints, you’ll need:

• 2½ cups (500g) granulated sugar
• ⅓ cup (80ml) light corn syrup
• ½ cup (120ml) water
• ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1-1½ teaspoons pure peppermint extract (adjust to taste)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Red food coloring (gel coloring works best)
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar (for dusting work surfaces)

The quality of your peppermint extract makes a significant difference in these candies. Look for pure peppermint extract rather than imitation flavoring for a clean, natural mint flavor. For the food coloring, gel-based colors produce vibrant red swirls without adding excess liquid to your candy mixture. If possible, choose a professional-grade peppermint oil for an even more robust flavor profile in your holiday peppermint treats.

Pro Tips

Watch Your Temperature Carefully
The most crucial element when making Soft Christmas Peppermints is achieving the perfect temperature. Use a reliable candy thermometer and cook the mixture to exactly 245°F (118°C)—the firm ball stage. Even a few degrees too high will result in harder candies, while undercooked mixture won’t set properly. Don’t rely on visual cues; temperature precision is essential for that signature soft texture.

Master the Cooling Time
Allow the candy mixture to cool slightly before adding the peppermint extract and working it. The ideal temperature for handling is around 200°F (93°C)—still very hot but manageable with heat-resistant gloves. Adding flavor extracts while the mixture is too hot can cause the volatile oils to evaporate, reducing the peppermint intensity. However, wait too long and the mixture becomes too firm to work with properly.

Perfect Your Pulling Technique
The signature look of Soft Christmas Peppermints comes from proper pulling and folding of the candy. Once colored, pull the candy with greased hands until it develops a satin-like sheen. This incorporation of air not only creates the beautiful appearance but also contributes significantly to the soft texture. Pull until the candy becomes increasingly difficult to stretch—this indicates you’ve incorporated enough air for the perfect soft-yet-firm consistency.

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace
Before heating any ingredients, prepare your work area. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and dust lightly with powdered sugar. Gather all tools including a candy thermometer, heat-resistant gloves or mitts, and scissors for cutting. Measure all ingredients in advance, as the process moves quickly once the sugar reaches temperature.

Step 2: Cook the Sugar Mixture
In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, corn syrup, water, cream of tartar, and salt. Stir gently over medium-low heat until the sugar completely dissolves. Once dissolved, increase heat to medium and clip your candy thermometer to the side of the pan. Cook without stirring until the mixture reaches exactly 245°F (118°C). Immediately remove from heat.

Step 3: Add Flavoring and Color
Allow the mixture to cool slightly for about 2-3 minutes, then carefully add the peppermint extract (be careful, as it may sputter). Stir gently to incorporate. Pour approximately one-third of the mixture onto one of the prepared baking sheets. Add several drops of red food coloring to the remaining mixture in the pan and gently fold to create a uniform red color.

Step 4: Begin Working the Candy
Pour the red candy mixture onto the second baking sheet. When both portions have cooled enough to handle (but are still pliable), don heat-resistant gloves. Begin pulling and folding each portion separately—first the clear portion, then the red. Pull until each develops a satiny sheen and becomes more opaque, about 3-5 minutes per portion.

Step 5: Create the Peppermint Swirl
Once both candy portions have been pulled sufficiently, twist them together to create a candy cane effect. Pull and twist gently to create thin ropes about 1/2-inch in diameter, maintaining the red and white swirl pattern. Work quickly as the candy will continue to harden as it cools.

Step 6: Shape and Cut
Using greased scissors or a bench scraper, cut the pulled ropes into 1-inch pieces for traditional Soft Christmas Peppermints. Alternatively, shape small portions into discs by pressing lightly with your palm. Work swiftly to shape all the candy before it becomes too firm to manipulate.

Step 7: Allow to Set
Let your Soft Christmas Peppermints cool completely on the parchment paper for at least 1 hour. The candies will continue to soften slightly over the next 24 hours as they absorb moisture from the air, developing their characteristic soft-but-firm texture.

Variations

Soft Christmas Peppermint Pillows
For an elegant variation, shape your candy into small squares instead of rounds. After pulling and twisting the candy, flatten the rope to about 1/4-inch thickness, then cut into small squares. These “pillows” make beautiful additions to holiday candy dishes and offer a different visual appeal from traditional round holiday peppermints.

Soft Chocolate-Dipped Peppermints
Once your Soft Christmas Peppermints have fully set, try dipping half of each piece into melted dark or white chocolate. Allow the chocolate to set completely before packaging. This variation adds a luxurious touch and creates a delightful flavor combination of cool mint and rich chocolate—perfect for special holiday gifts or an elevated after-dinner treat.

Sugar-Free Holiday Peppermints
For those watching sugar intake, substitute the granulated sugar with allulose or a stevia-erythritol blend specifically formulated for candy making. Replace corn syrup with a sugar-free syrup alternative. While the texture might differ slightly from the original Soft Christmas Peppermints, this adaptation allows everyone to enjoy a festive mint treat during the holiday season.

Storage and Serving

Store your Soft Christmas Peppermints in an airtight container at room temperature, placing parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. In dry climates, these mints will stay fresh for up to 3 weeks. In more humid environments, they may soften more quickly, typically lasting about 2 weeks with optimal texture. Do not refrigerate, as condensation will cause the candies to become sticky.

For an elegant holiday dessert, crush a few Soft Christmas Peppermints and sprinkle over chocolate mousse or vanilla ice cream. The candy adds festive color and a refreshing peppermint flavor to simple desserts. These mints also make beautiful garnishes for hot chocolate—simply place one on the rim of the mug or allow it to slowly dissolve in the warm drink for a minty infusion.

For a striking presentation, arrange your homemade peppermints in clear glass jars tied with ribbon as a centerpiece, combining both decoration and dessert in one beautiful display. Their festive red and white swirls instantly create holiday atmosphere wherever they’re served.

FAQs

Why did my peppermints turn out too hard?
You likely cooked the sugar mixture to too high a temperature. For Soft Christmas Peppermints, the mixture must reach exactly 245°F—no higher. Even 5 degrees more will result in significantly harder candies.

Can I use peppermint oil instead of extract?
Yes, but reduce the quantity significantly. Peppermint oil is much more concentrated than extract. Start with just 3-4 drops and adjust to taste. Add it at the same cooling stage as you would the extract.

How do I prevent my peppermints from getting sticky?
In humid environments, dust the finished candies lightly with powdered sugar before storage. Also ensure they’re completely cool before placing in airtight containers with parchment paper between layers.

Can I make these without corn syrup?
Corn syrup prevents crystallization, which is essential for smooth-textured Soft Christmas Peppermints. You can substitute with honey (which will add flavor) or glucose syrup, but removing it entirely will likely result in grainy candies.

Why didn’t my red and white swirl pattern show up clearly?
This typically happens when the candy is overworked after combining the colors. For distinct swirls, minimize handling after combining the red and white portions—just enough twisting to create the pattern, then cut quickly.

Conclusion

These Soft Christmas Peppermints are comfort food at its most festive — cool and refreshing yet somehow warming to the spirit with their nostalgic holiday appeal. They’re the kind of treat that transforms ordinary December moments into memory-making experiences, whether shared around a crackling fire or packaged with care as heartfelt gifts. Beyond their delightful taste and texture, these homemade peppermints carry the irreplaceable essence of holiday tradition and the personal touch that makes the season so special. Master this recipe once, and you’ll have created not just candy, but a cherished part of your holiday legacy.

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