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Ingredients
- 1 pound confectioners sugar (about 4 cups)
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter cut into slices, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons ice water
- 1/4 teaspoon peppermint oil or 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- Pinch of salt
- Green, red, blue, and yellow food coloring
Details
Preparation
Step 1
In a large bowl, cut butter into sugar with two knives or your fingers. Add 1 tablespoon ice water, salt, and peppermint oil, and toss with a fork. Press mixture into a ball. If it seems crumbly, add more ice water, a teaspoon at a time, until dough presses together easily.
Turn dough out onto a work surface and knead until it's smooth and satiny; about 3 to 4 minutes. Quarter dough, then tint each quarter a different color with food coloring (use sparingly; paler colors are prettier). You can also leave a quarter white.
Roll dough into 1/2-inch balls and flatten them slightly with your palm. Keep the remaining dough covered with plastic wrap as you work so it doesn't dry out.
You can make the mints fancier with layered colors, shapes, or other decorations, depending on your little helper's imagination, ambition, and ability.
They need to set for 2 to 3 hours, uncovered, at room temperature. Then move them to a covered container in a cool place (where they should ripen for 2 days to improve flavor and make them easier to handle) before being eaten or packed to ship. They will keep at room temperature for 2 weeks and in the fridge for a month.
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