Soft, creamy butter mint candies are a holiday tradition in many homes across the southern United States. The only way to improve upon butter mints is to enrobe them in rich, decadent chocolate. Butter mints are one of the simplest and least time-consuming candies to make because they require only a few basic ingredients and no cooking. Adding a layer of chocolate on the outside only requires the added steps of melting the chocolate and dipping the butter mints, and the result is well worth the effort.
Step 1
Place the butter and the corn syrup in the large bowl and blend them with a hand mixer until a batter is formed.
Step 2
Add the vanilla and peppermint extract and blend them with the hand mixer.
Step 3
Divide the batter in half and place in two separate bowls. Add the red food coloring to one bowl until it is your preferred shade of red, and blend the color into the batter with the hand mixer. Remember that when you add in the confectioner's sugar the color will become muted, so add in a little more food coloring than you feel is necessary. Repeat the process with the green food coloring in the other bowl.
Step 4
Gradually add in the powdered sugar one cup at a time and mix until the batter is firm enough to form balls. Repeat the process with the other bowl.
Step 5
Use a teaspoon to scoop up chunks of the batter. Use your hands to roll the batter into small balls, each about the size of a nickel.
Step 6
Melt the almond bark in the microwave in a large microwave-safe dish. Stop the microwave to stir occasionally to prevent the chocolate from drying out on the edges.
Step 7
Rip off a sheet of waxed paper and lay it on the counter.
Step 8
Use a slotted spoon to dip each butter cream ball into the almond bark and lay it on the waxed paper to harden. Decorate by dusting with colored sugar or sugar sprinkles.
Things You'll Need
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 10 cups confectioner's sugar, or enough to make the batter stiff enough to form balls
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. peppermint extract
- 1 tube each of red and green food coloring
- 12 oz. almond bark
- Hand mixer
- 2 large bowls
- Teaspoon
- Waxed paper
- Colored sugar to decorate, optional
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