Peppermint candies are so festive and classic, no matter what time of the year it is, the sight and smell of peppermints always reminds me of the holidays. Peppermint Candy Ornaments are thrifty and quick to make, they’re a handmade project that is perfect for this time of the year, when we’re all running a little lower on money and time! You could make a dozen of these edible ornaments at just a dollar per bag of peppermints!
These melted candies aren’t just for the tree either! Use this method to create cute little edible toppers for cupcakes or brownies (what is more festive than the flavors of chocolate with peppermint?!).
I first melted peppermints in cookie cutters after seeing the idea in an American Girl magazine, back in the 90’s (I’m pretty sure that a project centered around scalding hot, melted sugar would not make it into a children’s magazine these days). As easy as this project is, I had a difficult time finding anything similar to this online, so I decided to share it.
Include your kids in creating this fun craft project, spend an afternoon making homemade ornaments for decorating your Christmas tree this year!
Metal cookie cutters are a must! I love using this: Vintage Christmas Ornament Set and this: Snowflake Set!
Peppermint Candy Ornaments
- peppermint candies
- metal cookie cutters
- non-stick cooking spray
- parchment paper
- toothpick or skewer
- twine or ribbon
Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spray the inside of each cookie cutter with cooking spray. Lay cookie cutters on baking sheet and fill with a layer of peppermints.
Bake for 3-9 minutes. Keep an eye on candy as it melts, remove from oven when candies have melted together.
Lightly coat a toothpick with cooking spray and use it to make a hole in each group of candies. Let candy sit inside cookie cutter until it re-hardens. Once hard, carefully stretch out the cookie cutter, pulling it away from the candy, to pop out your ornament.
Wrap these peppermint treats individually in plastic wrap, if you’d like.
• Many of you have contacted me about a sealer that would be suitable for this project. Unfortunately I do not know of any available sealants that would work with these ornaments (the moister of sealers causes the candies to melt). Similar to a gingerbread house, these ornaments may not last for more than a season but it’s a fun (and inexpensive) project to create every Christmas season!
• These ornaments are really so easy, but it may be helpful to make a trial run: Place one peppermint-filled cookie cutter into the oven to get an idea of how fast the candy will melt and how quickly it will cool and re-harden after you remove it from the oven.
• Try turning down the temperature of your oven, so that candies will melt more slowly, if your candies are melting unevenly or at different rates.
• Squeeze as many peppermints, side-by-side, into your cookie cutter as possible. If peppermints melt into too thin of a layer, try layering peppermints in the cookie cutter to make a thicker, more sturdy, ornament.
• Large, simply shaped, cookie cutters work best for this project. The more intricate the cutter, the more likely ornaments will break when removed from their cookie cutter mold.
• Don’t forget to be careful around the hot metal and melted candy! This is a fun craft to make with children, just be sure to provide plenty of supervision.
• Try not to handle the ornaments too much because they can get sticky, but they should be fine after they’re hanging on the tree.
Here’s to a happy handmade Christmas!
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I made a dessert tray out of these candies, just laid them in a square on the parchment paper, worked great!