Microwave
Crush the peppermints with a rolling pin. Smash the candies carefully and gently into small pieces. To prevent a mess, slip the candies into a sealed Ziploc bag before you crush them with the rolling pin.
Put the candy and 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 mL) of corn syrup in a heat-safe bowl. Transfer the crushed peppermints into a small microwave-safe bowl. Add 1 to 2 US tbsp (15 to 30 mL) of corn syrup.
Heat the candies on LOW for 30 seconds and stir them. If your microwave allows it, adjust the heat settings to the lowest option. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat the candy for 30 seconds. Then, open the door and stir the mixture a few times with a spoon. Stirring the candies helps distribute the heat throughout the mixture.
Keep heating the candy in 30-second increments until it fully melts. Be sure to give the mixture a stir after each 30-second increment to distribute the heat and check the progress. The mixture is ready to use once it melts to a soupy consistency.
Stovetop
Crush your peppermint candies into small pieces with a rolling pin. Unwrap and arrange all your candies on a flat surface, like a cutting board. Grab a rolling pin and carefully break the mints into small pieces. Crushing the candy makes it easier to melt down. For easier cleanup, put the mints in a plastic baggie and seal it before crushing them.
Transfer the crushed peppermints to a saucepan or double boiler. If you’re using a saucepan, stir in 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of corn syrup for every 15-18 candies you plan on melting. If you’re using a double boiler, dump the candies into the top pan without any extra corn syrup.
Turn your stovetop to low or medium heat. If you’re using a saucepan, set your stovetop to the lowest heat setting. If you’re using a double boiler, turn the heat up to medium instead.
Stir the peppermints as they melt. Continue stirring the candies as they begin to melt. This prevents the peppermints from overheating and scorching.
Remove the pan from the heat when the candy melts down to a liquid. Keep an eye on the melted candies. Once you’re happy with the consistency of the liquid, turn off the stovetop and move your saucepan or double boiler off the burner. Use the melted peppermint right away, so it doesn’t re-harden.
Oven
Preheat your oven to 350 °F (177 °C) and line a baking sheet. You won’t be melting the candies down into a liquid, so the oven doesn’t need to be super hot for this. In the meantime, place a sheet of parchment paper on top of a baking sheet, which helps protect the cooking tray from future messes as the candies melt in the oven.
Grease and arrange metal cookie cutters on the baking sheet. Pick out some of your favorite cookie cutter shapes, whether they’re Christmas trees, stars, angels, or other festive shapes. Double-check that they’re made with metal—other materials, like plastic, will melt in the oven. Spray each cutter with non-stick cooking spray, and set them on the lined baking sheet. You can find cookie cutters at most home goods stores, or at online shops.
Place peppermint candies inside the cutters. Fit several round peppermint candies into each greased cookie cutter. If needed, break the candies into smaller pieces so they fit more smoothly in the cutter. Use the same types of peppermints in each cookie cutter. Different candy brands might melt down more quickly or slowly than others.
Bake the candies for 5-6 minutes. Check on the mints—if they’ve melted together into a uniform shape, you can take them out of the oven.
Cool the candies in the cutters for 1 minute. Pull the baking tray out of the oven and set it on a flat surface. Wait about a minute—this gives your ornaments enough time to cool without hardening all the way through.
Poke a hole along the top of the melted candy with a greased skewer. Spray the end of a wooden skewer with non-stick cooking spray. Jab the greased end into the top of your ornament—this will be where your ornament’s future ribbon or hook will go. If the skewer isn’t greased, you might have trouble getting it in and out of the ornament.
Wait for the ornament to cool and remove it from the cookie cutter. Let your melted peppermints sit out for several minutes. Tap on the surface to see if they’re cool to the touch—if so, lift up the cookie cutters and push the ornaments out. Then, string a ribbon through the hole along the top of each ornament and hang them up!
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