Classic Grinch Cream Cheese Mints

If you ask me, holiday treats that look cute and taste amazing are pure magic.

These festive green mints are soft, creamy, and packed with that classic mint flavor everyone loves. The cream cheese makes them smooth and rich, while the green color gives them that perfect Grinch vibe.

They’re rolled into little balls and dusted with sugar for a sweet finish. No baking required – just mix, roll, and chill until they’re ready to serve.

These mints are a hit at holiday parties and make great gifts for neighbors and friends. They taste fancy but come together in just minutes.

What Kind of Cream Cheese Should I Use?

For these festive mints, you’ll want to use full-fat cream cheese rather than the reduced-fat versions. The full-fat variety has a richer texture that blends more smoothly and creates a creamier mint that holds its shape better. Make sure your cream cheese is completely at room temperature before you start – this usually takes about an hour on the counter. Cold cream cheese will be lumpy and difficult to mix, which can affect the smooth texture you’re going for. Any standard brand like Philadelphia will work perfectly for this recipe.

Options for Substitutions

These festive mints are pretty forgiving when it comes to swaps, so here’s what you can try:

• Cream cheese: Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature – this is key for smooth mixing. You can’t really substitute this ingredient since it’s what gives these mints their creamy texture and structure.
• Peppermint extract: If peppermint isn’t your thing, try vanilla extract for a milder flavor, or almond extract for something different. You could also use mint extract if that’s what you have on hand.
• Neon green food coloring: Regular green food coloring works fine – you’ll just need more drops to get that bright Grinch color. Gel food coloring gives better results than liquid and won’t thin out your mixture.
• Powdered sugar: This is pretty essential for the right texture, but if you’re short, you can make your own by blending regular sugar in a food processor until powdery.
• Red heart sprinkles: Any small red sprinkles work great – mini chocolate chips, red sugar crystals, or even tiny cinnamon candies would be fun alternatives.
• Unsalted butter: Salted butter is fine if that’s what you have – just use a pinch less of any additional salt in the recipe.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest mistake when making cream cheese mints is using cold cream cheese, which creates lumps that are nearly impossible to smooth out – make sure your cream cheese and butter are completely at room temperature before you start mixing.

Another common error is adding the food coloring too quickly, which can result in streaky or uneven color, so add it drop by drop until you reach that perfect Grinch green shade.

Don’t dump all the powdered sugar in at once or you’ll end up with a sticky mess that’s hard to work with – gradually add it one cup at a time while mixing to get the right consistency that holds together when rolled.

Finally, resist the urge to skip chilling the mints after shaping them, as this 30-minute rest in the fridge helps them firm up and makes them much easier to handle and store.

What to Serve With Grinch Cream Cheese Mints?

These festive little mints are perfect on their own as a sweet treat, but they really shine when served alongside other holiday goodies on a dessert table. I love putting them out with chocolate cookies, fudge, and other Christmas candies to create a fun mix of flavors and textures. They’re also great to serve with hot cocoa or coffee since the cool peppermint flavor is a nice contrast to warm drinks. For holiday parties, try arranging them on a platter with other bite-sized sweets like chocolate truffles or sugar cookies – the bright green color makes them a real showstopper!

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These adorable Grinch mints stay soft and creamy when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I like to layer them between sheets of parchment paper so they don’t stick together. They’re perfect for making ahead for holiday parties!

Freeze: You can freeze these little green treats for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between layers. They thaw quickly at room temperature in about 10-15 minutes, making them great for unexpected guests during the holidays.

Serve: Let the mints sit at room temperature for about 5-10 minutes before serving if they’ve been chilled. This brings out the best texture and flavor. They’re perfect straight from the fridge too if you prefer them a bit firmer!

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	0-5 minutes
Total Time	75-85 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 1750-1950
• Protein: 2-4 g
• Fat: 30-40 g
• Carbohydrates: 400-440 g

Ingredients

• 5 drops green neon food coloring
• 4 cups confectioners’ sugar (sifted for a smooth texture)
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 4 oz cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
• red heart-shaped sprinkles
• 1/4 tsp peppermint extract (I use McCormick)

Step 1: Mix Cream Cheese, Butter, Peppermint, and Coloring

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/4 tsp peppermint extract
• 5 drops green neon food coloring

In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, unsalted butter, peppermint extract, and green neon food coloring.

Mix these ingredients thoroughly until smooth and well blended.

Step 2: Incorporate Confectioners’ Sugar to Make Dough

• 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
• cream cheese–butter mixture from Step 1

Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar to the cream cheese mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Continue until all the sugar is incorporated and the mixture comes together to form a dough-like consistency that isn’t sticky.

I always add the sugar slowly to avoid lumps and to make sure the mixture stays smooth.

Step 3: Shape the Mints and Prepare for Decorating

• mint dough from Step 2

Take small portions of the dough and roll them into 1/2-inch balls.

Place each ball onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart.

Step 4: Flatten and Decorate the Mints

• red heart-shaped sprinkles
• shaped mints from Step 3

Gently press down each dough ball with a fork to give it a classic mint shape.

Then, top each pressed mint with a red heart-shaped sprinkle for a festive finish.

Step 5: Refrigerate Before Serving

Refrigerate the decorated mints for 1 hour to allow them to set before serving.

This step ensures they hold their shape and become firm.