Homemade Peppermint Patties: 1 Easy Recipe

Oh, there’s just something so special about a homemade treat, isn’t there? That feeling of creating something delicious from scratch? Well, let me tell you, making your own Homemade Peppermint Patties is totally doable and seriously rewarding! I remember the first time I tried to make these little gems. I was maybe ten, and my mom had bought a big box from the store. I thought, ‘I bet I can do that!’ It turns out, they’re way easier than you think, and honestly, they taste even better than the store-bought ones. That cool, minty center with that snappy chocolate shell? Pure magic!

Why You’ll Love These Homemade Peppermint Patties

Honestly, these homemade beauties are just the best! You’re going to adore how:

• Super Easy to Make: Seriously, no fancy techniques needed – just a few simple steps!
• Amazing Flavor: That perfect zing of peppermint wrapped in smooth chocolate? Unbeatable!
• Nostalgic Charm: They taste just like the ones that bring back all those happy memories.
• Totally Customizable: Want them greener? More minty? You’re the boss!

Ingredients for Your Homemade Peppermint Patties

Getting these Homemade Peppermint Patties just right starts with good ingredients! Don’t worry, you probably have most of this in your pantry already. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 cups powdered sugar, plus a little extra if needed for dusting
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup – this is key for that chewy, melt-in-your-mouth texture!
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract – you can always add a *tiny* bit more if you love a super strong minty kick!
• Green food coloring (optional), just a few drops to get that classic look.
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips – I like semi-sweet because it balances the sweetness perfectly.
• 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening – this helps the chocolate melt smoothly and coat nicely.

Essential Equipment for Making Homemade Peppermint Patties

Alright, you don’t need a whole professional kitchen for these! Just a few everyday things will get you rolling. Make sure you’ve got:

• A medium mixing bowl for your peppermint filling.
• A small saucepan to warm up that corn syrup and water.
• A sturdy whisk or spoon for stirring everything together.
• A baking sheet – a standard one works perfectly.
• Plenty of wax paper to line that baking sheet; this is a lifesaver for easy cleanup and preventing sticking!
• A spot in the refrigerator for chilling those patties into shape.
• A microwave-safe bowl for melting that yummy chocolate.
• A fork or a couple of wooden skewers for dipping those patties into the chocolate.

Step-by-Step Guide to Homemade Peppermint Patties

Making these Homemade Peppermint Patties is actually a breeze! You’ll spend about 20 minutes prepping and 5 minutes with the actual cooking part, totaling maybe 25 minutes, plus chilling time. Trust me, it’s so worth it when you bite into that perfect, minty center! It’s way easier than you might think to get that lovely smooth chocolate coating, even if you’re worried about things like candy melts or keeping things from sticking.

Preparing the Peppermint Filling

First things first, let’s get that delicious peppermint filling ready. Grab your medium mixing bowl, and dump in the 2 cups of powdered sugar and that 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract. In your little saucepan, just warm up the 1/4 cup of corn syrup and 1/4 cup of water – you don’t want it boiling, just nice and warm. Slowly pour that warm liquid into the sugar and extract mix, stirring as you go. Keep stirring until it all comes together into a nice, smooth dough. If you want that classic green color, now’s the time to add a few drops of food coloring. Mix it in really well until you don’t see any white streaks!

Shaping and Chilling the Patties

This is where they start looking like actual peppermint patties! Take about a teaspoon of your dough (or a bit more if you like them bigger!) and roll it into a little ball between your palms. Then, just gently flatten each ball into a cute patty shape. You can make them as thick or as thin as you like. Place all your shaped patties onto that baking sheet you lined with wax paper. Pop the whole sheet into the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This is super important – it firms them up so they don’t fall apart when you dip them in chocolate!

Melting Chocolate and Dipping

Okay, chocolate time! Grab your semi-sweet chocolate chips and the vegetable shortening. Pop them in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave them in 30-second bursts, giving them a really good stir after each interval. You want it super smooth and melty, but be careful not to scorch it! Once it’s all done, take your nicely chilled peppermint patties out of the fridge. Using a fork or a skewer, carefully dip each patty into the melted chocolate. Make sure you get them completely coated! Let any excess chocolate drip off for a second before placing them back on your wax-paper-lined baking sheet. It’s a little messy, but so fun!

Setting the Chocolate Coating

Almost there! Now you just need to let that yummy chocolate shell set completely. Just leave them on the wax paper-lined baking sheet at room temperature until the chocolate is firm to the touch. This usually doesn’t take too long, maybe another 15-20 minutes, sometimes a bit longer if your kitchen is warm. You want that snap when you bite into them!

Tips for Perfect Homemade Peppermint Patties

Making these Homemade Peppermint Patties is all about a few little tricks! So, here are my best tips to make sure yours turn out absolutely perfect every single time. First off, that peppermint flavor? If you’re like me and LOVE a strong minty punch, don’t be shy about adding an extra drop or two of the peppermint extract. Just do it slowly! For that gorgeous, smooth chocolate coating, the key is the shortening and melting it *gently*. If your chocolate seems a bit thick, a tiny drizzle more shortening will help it flow beautifully. And please, please, please make sure those patties are good and chilled before you dip them – trust me on this one, it makes all the difference in getting clean edges and preventing the peppermint from crumbling into your chocolate!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Let’s talk ingredients for these Homemade Peppermint Patties, because a few of them are pretty important for getting that classic taste and texture just right! That light corn syrup is really key here; it’s what gives you that wonderfully fudgy, melt-in-your-mouth center, and it keeps them from getting too crumbly. If you absolutely can’t find it, you *could* try using another liquid sweetener like golden syrup, but corn syrup really is the best bet. For the chocolate, feel free to swap out the semi-sweet chips for dark chocolate or even milk chocolate if that’s what you have on hand – just know it will change the sweetness a bit! And the peppermint extract? Make sure it’s pure peppermint extract, not mint extract, or you’ll get a weird wintergreen flavor. Don’t be scared of the shortening if you don’t usually use it, it really does help make the chocolate dip so much smoother!

Storing Your Homemade Peppermint Patties

Okay, so you’ve made these amazing Homemade Peppermint Patties and you want them to stay fresh and delicious, right? Easy peasy! Just pop them into an airtight container. I usually layer them between sheets of wax paper if I’m stacking them, just to make sure they don’t stick together. They are perfectly happy sitting out at room temperature, and they’ll stay yummy like this for about a week, maybe even a bit longer if your house isn’t too hot. The chocolate coating actually helps preserve them!

Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Peppermint Patties

Got questions about whipping up these delicious Homemade Peppermint Patties? I’ve got you covered!

Can I make these without food coloring?

Absolutely! The green food coloring is totally optional. They’ll taste just as amazing without it. You’ll just end up with lovely white centers instead of green ones, which is perfectly fine!

How do I get a smooth chocolate coating?

The trick to a smooth chocolate coating for your Homemade Peppermint Patties is all in the melting! Make sure you melt the chocolate chips and shortening gently, using short bursts in the microwave and stirring really well in between. If it still seems a bit thick, adding just a tiny bit more shortening (like, half a teaspoon at a time) can really help thin it out and make it flow beautifully over the patties. And remember, dipping them while they’re nice and cold really helps the chocolate set evenly!

Can I use different extracts?

While peppermint is the classic for these Homemade Peppermint Patties, you can totally experiment! You could try spearmint extract for a slightly different minty flavor, or even a touch of vanilla along with the peppermint. Just be careful adding too much of a different extract, as they can be quite potent!

My chocolate coating is cracking, what did I do wrong?

Oh, that can be a bummer! Usually, chocolate coating cracks because the peppermint filling was still too warm or wasn’t chilled enough when you dipped it. If the filling is cold and firm, the warm chocolate will set nicely around it without cracking. Also, if your kitchen is really cold, the chocolate can set too quickly before it has a chance to smooth out. Try warming the room just a touch!

Nutritional Information (Estimated)

Alright, so we know these Homemade Peppermint Patties are delicious little treats, but what are you actually eating? Here’s a rough idea per patty. Keep in mind that these numbers are estimates and can change a bit based on the exact brands of ingredients you use and how big you make each patty. But it gives you a good ballpark, right?

Serving Size: 1 patty

Calories: 100

Fat: 4g

Protein: 1g

Carbohydrates: 16g

Sugar: 15g

Sodium: 5mg

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