These old-fashioned Cream Cheese Mints are vegan, so easy to make, and perfect for any holiday, wedding, bridal, or baby shower! Also known as Wedding Mints, these bite-sized candies are easily customized with different flavors and colors! Melt-in-your-mouth, creamy, sweet, and minty, these after-dinner treats are fantastic dairy-free desserts or party favors you can make in minutes!
These sweet and creamy mints are an old-fashioned treat you've probably had growing up, whether it was at Grandma's house during Easter or Christmas or at your cousin's wedding. They're a simple mixture predominantly made with cream cheese and powdered sugar, flavored, colored, and pressed into a bite-sized drop! So simple and so delicious, you can see why they've been a staple at bridal showers, weddings, baby showers, and holidays for decades! It's about time we have a vegan recipe for these delectable candies!
Old-Fashioned Cream Cheese Mints
This old-fashioned candy is made with just 5 essential ingredients: cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, mint extract, vanilla extract, and coloring. Some like to keep the mints white without adding food coloring, but it's more fun to add some color to match the holiday or event you're celebrating! They're also known as wedding mints and traditionally may be found on dessert tables, or served as an after-dinner palate refresher.
Why You'll Love This Vegan Recipe
By swapping the cream cheese and butter with dairy-free alternatives, you can make the exact same rich and creamy mints without the dairy! This allergy-free candy is perfect for everyone to enjoy! Cream cheese mints are naturally gluten-free, and can be made low-carb and keto! This classic homemade candy is:
- Gluten-Free
- Vegan & Vegetarian
- Allergy-free (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, Sesame-Free, Nightshade-Free, Fish-Free, Shellfish-Free, Coconut-Free, Grain-Free, Corn-Free)
- Sugar-Free, Low-Carb & Keto Option
- Quick, Easy, Simple Ingredients
- Kid-Friendly
- Make-Ahead & Freezer-Friendly
- Perfect Treat For Holidays, Large Events, & Celebrations
What Do Cream Cheese Mints Taste Like?
The combination of vanilla extract and mint extract makes these mints sweet and only slightly minty. I prefer to use mint extract instead of peppermint extract if I'm not making them during the winter holidays like Christmas. If you don't want to use mint at all, you can literally use any flavored extract of your choice! Just using vanilla is always a safe bet that goes well with the buttery mouthfeel and tanginess of these rich cream cheese candies, but even almond, cherry, orange, strawberry, banana, maple...you get the idea!
Ingredients For Vegan Cream Cheese Mints
- Vegan Cream Cheese: The most important ingredient is high-quality plain dairy-free cream cheese! You want to bring the cream cheese to room temperature and make sure the cream cheese is not a "whipped" variety, but thick block-style.
- Vegan Butter: Adding a small amount of dairy-free butter to the cream cheese gives the mints an even creamier, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Powdered Sugar: The powered sugar makes your mints sweet, but also holds them together! Think of it as the "flour" for your cream cheese dough!
- Vanilla Extract: Vanilla is used to balance the mint flavor with the buttery richness of the candy.
- Mint Extract: The mint gives this candy its name and adds a deliciously refreshing flavor!
- Food Coloring: Optional if you want to be boring but using some natural food dye is perfect for making your mints bold and beautiful!
What's The Best Vegan Cream Cheese?
For this recipe, you want vegan cream cheese that is similar to classic block cream cheese. My favorite is Trader Joe's vegan cream cheese, however, I also recommend Daiya Plain Cream Cheese, Violife’s Just like Cream Cheese, Philadelphia Plant-Based Cream Cheese, and Spero Original Sunflower Cream Cheese.
How To Make Cream Cheese Mints Keto?
To make these wedding mints sugar-free and keto, you can swap the powdered sugar with a sugar-free powdered sweetener like Swerve. This cuts out the calories, sugar, and carbs!
How To Make Cream Cheese Mints
- In a stand mixer, (or electric hand mixer) add the room-temperature vegan cream cheese and butter.
- Beat the ingredients together until smooth and combined.
- Add 2 cups of powdered sugar to the creamed butter and cream cheese and mix it together slowly until combined.
- Add the vanilla and mint extract and mix the flavors in.
- Add the remaining powdered sugar and slowly mix it in.
- Once the powdered sugar is combined, you can speed up the mixer and blend the dough until it is thick and smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add your choice of food coloring to the white cream cheese mint dough. (If using multiple colors, scoop out equal portions of dough into separate bowls for the different colors you plan on using. Make sure to whip clean the mixer when changing colors!)
- Mix the color into the white dough until fully incorporated. Adjust the intensity of the color as needed.
-
Cover and place the dough in the freezer for 15-20 minutes until firm enough to handle. Optionally, refrigerate the dough until you're ready to shape the candies. If the dough is still cold and firm enough, you can skip the chilling time.
-
Line 1 to 2 baking sheets with wax paper or parchment paper and liberally dust with powdered sugar.
-
Pinch off small amounts of the dough, about 1 to 2 teaspoons worth, and form the dough into ½-inch to 1-inch balls. Lightly roll them in powdered sugar and place them on the lined baking sheets. Press down on the balls slightly to flatten the tops.
- Gently press the tines of a fork into the top of each candy. You can dip the fork in powdered sugar to prevent sticking.
-
Let stand, uncovered, for 2 hours, until the mints are firm. If the bottoms have any moisture, flip them over and let them stand again until the bottoms of the mints are also firm before storing them in the fridge until ready to serve.
How To Use A Mint Mold
If you want to use a mold to make different shapes, you can find a plethora of silicone molds online! To make the mints in a mold and prevent them from sticking, first, roll the ball of dough in granulated sugar (not powdered), and press it firmly into your mold. Invert the mold and pop out your the shaped cream cheese mint before placing it on a lined baking sheet to dry!
How To Store Cream Cheese Mints
You can store the mints in an airtight container in the fridge, making sure to separate the layers with wax paper or parchment paper. Take them out as needed when ready to serve. You can keep them in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. You can also store batches of prepped cream cheese mint dough covered in the fridge until you are ready to shape and serve.
How To Freeze
You can freeze cream cheese mints as well! Store them in an airtight container, in single layers, with wax paper in between, to prevent them from freezing together. Allow the mints to thaw slightly on the counter for 30 minutes before serving. You can freeze the mints for 6-8 months.
Recipe Tips & Customizations
- Depending on the size of your mints this recipe will make about 50-60 mints. You can easily double the recipe for 100-120 or more. Aim for about 2-3 mints per person.
- If your dough is too sticky to handle, even after letting it chill, add more powdered sugar to help it firm up. You can also coat your hands in powdered sugar when you go to shape them.
- If your dough is firm enough and cold enough after mixing, you can shape the mints right away. It all depends on how fast you work!
- If your dough becomes too firm, add a small amount of water or non-dairy milk to the mixture. Just a teaspoon at a time until it is no longer crumbly.
- You can use a pastry bag to pipe out "kiss" shaped mints too if you don't want to get your hands dirty or hand mold to use.
- Once you shaped the mints and they've had time to firm up, you can dip the mints in melted chocolate!
- You can roll your mints in colorful sugar or sprinkles before they dry if desired.
More No-Bake Vegan Candy:
- 4-Ingredient Homemade Mounds Bars
- 3-Ingredient Maple Tahini Freezer Fudge
- Homemade Vegan Peppermint Bark
- Sesame Seed Crunch Candy
- Sunflower Seed Brittle
- Irish Potato Candy
Vegan Cream Cheese Mints
These old-fashioned Cream Cheese Mints are vegan, so easy to make, and perfect for any holiday, wedding, bridal, or baby shower! Also known as Wedding Mints, these bite-sized candies are easily customized with different flavors and colors! Melt-in-your-mouth, creamy, sweet, and minty, these after-dinner treats are fantastic dairy-free desserts or party favors you can make in minutes!
- Prep Time: 20 Minutes
- Drying Time: 2 Hours
- Cook Time: 0 Minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 50-60 Mints 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 4 oz Plain Vegan Cream Cheese (room temperature)
- 1 TB Vegan Butter
- 4 Cups Powdered Sugar, plus more for rolling (or sugar-free powdered sweetener)
- ½ Tsp Pure Mint Extract
- ½ Tsp Pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract
- Natural Food Coloring (optional, as needed)
Instructions
- In a stand mixer or large bowl with a hand mixer, beat together the softened vegan cream cheese and butter until creamed and smooth.
- Add 2 cups of powdered sugar to the creamed butter and cream cheese and mix it together slowly until combined. Then add the vanilla and mint extract and mix again to combine.
- Add the remaining 2 cups of powdered sugar and slowly mix it in. Once the powdered sugar is combined, you can speed up the mixer and blend the dough until it is thick and smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Check the consistency and add more powdered sugar if needed.
- Add your choice of food coloring to the white cream cheese mint dough. If using multiple colors, scoop out equal portions of dough into separate bowls for the different colors you plan on using.
- Mix the color into the white dough until fully incorporated. Adjust the intensity of the color as needed. (Make sure to whip clean the mixer when changing colors).
-
Cover and place the dough in the freezer for 15-20 minutes until firm enough to handle. Optionally, refrigerate the dough until you're ready to shape the candies.
-
Line 1 to 2 baking sheets with wax paper or parchment paper and liberally dust with powdered sugar.
-
Pinch off small amounts of the dough, about 1 to 2 teaspoons worth, and form the dough into ½-inch to 1-inch balls. Lightly roll them in powdered sugar and place them on the lined baking sheets. Press down on the balls slightly to flatten the tops.
- Gently press the tines of a fork into the top of each candy. You can dip the fork in powdered sugar to prevent sticking.
-
Let stand, uncovered, for 2 hours, until the mints are firm. If the bottoms have any moisture, flip them over and let them stand again until the bottoms of the mints are also firm before storing them in the fridge until ready to serve.
Notes
- Using A Mold: To make the mints in a mold and prevent them from sticking, first, roll the ball of dough in granulated sugar (not powdered), and press it firmly into your mold. Invert the mold and pop out your the shaped cream cheese mint before placing it on a lined baking sheet to dry.
- Storage: You can store the mints in an airtight container in the fridge, making sure to separate the layers with wax paper or parchment paper. Take them out as needed when ready to serve. You can keep them in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. You can also store batches of prepped cream cheese mint dough covered in the fridge until you are ready to shape and serve.
- Freezing: Place the mints in an airtight container, in single layers, with wax paper in between, to prevent them from freezing together. Allow the mints to thaw slightly on the counter for 30 minutes before serving. You can freeze the mints for 6-8 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2-3 Mints
Keywords: cream cheese mints, vegan cream cheese mints, old-fashioned cream cheese mints, keto cream cheese mints, dairy-free cream cheese mints
Easy, delicious, no-bake! You may just want to meal prep a batch to keep in the fridge for when that sweet craving hits!
So tell me:
+ Have you ever had a cream cheese mint? If you love cream cheese frosting, then you'll love these candies!
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Andrea
They look beautiful - I can't wait to try them!
★★★★★
Rebecca Pytell
Awesome, let me know!
Hari
Such a lovely recipe! Looks delicious. Thanks for sharing.
★★★★★
Rebecca Pytell
Hope you enjoy!