I made a batch of these and took them to Thanksgiving Dinner. People descended on them, saying Oh my grandma used to make these and I loved them. Straight from the Sixties and Seventies, folks. Or Eighties. Or Nineties. Or the Aughts. Guess that’s what makes them a classic! It is tempting to roll out the candy mixture and treat it like cookie dough. Does not work well, as the small mints are difficult to handle and quickly become distorted beyond recognition. I tried! The stars and Christmas trees on the plate were the result. Total result! At least, that remained recognizable. And they took as much time as the rest of the mints put together. Your mileage may vary, but I found the roll and press method far more efficient and consistently better looking. Leaving the mints ... [Read More]
Mints
Cinnamon Swirl Cream Cheese Mints
A new twist on a classic candy – Cinnamon Swirl Cream Cheese Mints. I like the surprise of the cinnamon flavoring since the classic version calls for mint flavoring of some type. I used gel food coloring for a more intense red, adding only a small bit at a time until I had a bright color. I used Wilton Candy Flavorings. Both are available in hobby stores and sometimes grocery stores in the cake decorating section. Or – during my tenure as a pharmacy tech I found out that many pharmacies order candy flavorings to sell over the counter at this time of year! Who knew! Candy flavor is more intense than the liquid flavorings so less is needed and that keeps the candy from being too moist. When you finish mixing the candy, it will likely seem a little sticky. Try to resist adding more ... [Read More]
