🍬 Soft Christmas Peppermints (Old-Fashioned Butter Mints) 🍬

📢 A taste of nostalgia! Perfect for holiday gifts or a sweet family gathering treat!

🍽️ Ingredients 🍽️
- 2 tbsp heavy whipping cream
- ¼ tsp peppermint extract (adjust to taste)
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- Red gel food coloring

🧑‍🍳 Directions 🧑‍🍳
1. Start by placing the softened butter in a mixing bowl and beat it until it's fluffy and light.
2. Gradually add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and peppermint extract to the butter, mixing continuously. Beat the mixture until it becomes smooth and holds its shape.
3. Split the dough into two unequal parts. Keep three-quarters of the dough white, and mix the red food coloring into the remaining quarter.
4. Take small amounts from each part of the dough and roll them into thin ropes. Twist the white and red ropes together to create a candy-cane effect.
5. Cut the twisted ropes into small pieces and pinch the ends to shape them into mints.
6. Allow the mints to air dry on a parchment-lined tray for about 1-2 hours. After initial drying, cut them into the final bite-sized pieces.
7. Let the mints dry completely for 24 hours to set properly before storing or serving.

🍎 Nutritional Information 🍎
- Calories: Approximately 60 per mint
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fats: 2g
- Protein: 0g

💡 Tips and Tricks 💡
- For a more intense color contrast, add more red food coloring to the portion of the dough.
- If the dough is too sticky, chill it for 10 minutes before rolling and twisting.
- Store the mints in an airtight container to keep them fresh and soft.

⏳ Preparation time ⏳
Preparation time: 15 minutes | Drying time: 25-26 hours | Serving: Makes about 50 mints.