Make peppermint creams - a retro festive treat!

We have fond memories of making (and eating) peppermint creams as children. They evoke memories of Christmas decorations, gifts beneath a tree and the excitement of sharing something handmade with friends and relatives. 

They may be retro but we think peppermint creams still make a delicious Christmas gift. Just pop them in a jar or clear plastic bag and add some Christmassy ribbon. They will keep for up to a month.

Back in 2019 we made these peppermint cream sheep to accompany The First Christmas Jumper by Ryan Tubridy. You can follow the recipe exactly or may choose to make the basic peppermint cream mixture before creating your own shapes and decorations.

 

Make 15-20 peppermint cream sheep

 

You will need:

• 250g icing sugar
• 1 egg white
• A few drops of peppermint essence
• 50g dark chocolate
• 30 candy eyes

 

1.     Use an electric whisk to beat your egg white. Sieve the icing sugar into a large bowl. Mix in the egg white, a little at a time, until you have a soft dough that feels like plasticine.

2.     Add 3 drops of peppermint essence. Mix well and taste, adding more if it isn’t minty enough.

3.     Take two thirds of your mixture and roll it into balls, about the size of cherry tomatoes, then flatten them with your hand to make the sheep heads. Place these on sheets of baking paper on a large board or tray.

4.     Use two thirds of the remaining mixture to make 15 blueberry-sized balls and flatten them into circles to make your sheep faces. Use the rest of the mixture to make 30 ears. 

5.     Ask an adult to help you melt the chocolate in a microwave or in a bowl placed over a pan of boiling water.

6.     Dip the faces and ears ONLY in the melted chocolate, making sure they are well coated.

7.     Once the chocolate is hardened, position the faces and ears onto the sheep heads. Add two candy eyes to each sheep as well.

8.     Leave the sheep to dry for 3-4 hrs or overnight.

 

If you enjoyed this recipe, why not also check out 7 sweet treat ideas for Christmas Eve boxes?