Eeny meeny minty moe

December 7, 2015 11:34 AM

What's the best peppermint candy for using in baking recipes which call for such?
posted by paperback version to Food & Drink (13 answers total)

My grocery store sells crushed candy canes for just this purpose around this time of the year. I think it's even Brach's or some other candy maker.
posted by rachelpapers at 11:40 AM on December 7, 2015

I just save up candy canes that I otherwise wouldn't want, and then when I want them for a recipe, I process or blend them into crushed peppermint candies.
posted by aniola at 11:42 AM on December 7, 2015

Nthing candy canes. They are perfect for this purpose.
posted by bearwife at 12:11 PM on December 7, 2015

Response by poster: Sorry, I should've been clearer: what's the best quality peppermint I can find? Brand names are helpful. I often find grocery store candy canes (like Allan brand) to be too sweet and not minty enough, somewhat like toothpaste.
posted by paperback version at 12:16 PM on December 7, 2015

I actually prefer Brach's Star Brites (the round pinwheel in the individual plastic wrapper) to candy canes for this.

Unless I don't need a crunchy peppermint, in which case I use Bob's soft peppermint sticks.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:48 PM on December 7, 2015

Best answer: OK, then I recommend Yummy Earth. Not cheap but amazing peppermints.
posted by bearwife at 2:02 PM on December 7, 2015

Best answer: Piggybacking on bearwife's suggestion, go to a health food store. Any hard candies they sell from wholesome/organic/natural brands will be, as a rule of thumb, less sugary-sweet and more strongly flavored.
posted by mkultra at 2:14 PM on December 7, 2015

Best answer: The best quality peppermint candy I know of is by Seely. They grow their own mint and it is fantastic.
posted by aniola at 2:49 PM on December 7, 2015

From their about page:

Seely Farm Today

We are the Seely Family, and we live and work on the mint farm located near Clatskanie, Oregon. We grow peppermint and spearmint for tea leaf and essential oil, using the same agricultural practices our family has used for four generations. We have always been mint farmers.

Third generation mint farmer, Mike Seely, and his wife Candy operate Seely Family Farm. They grow single-cut, premium-quality mint to create essential oils for toothpaste and chewing gum. In addition to mint oil they produce mint soap mint flea repellent for pets, mint teas, and a variety of handcrafted mint chocolates-including the very popular Seely Peppermint Patty. They have recently became more integrated with Seely Mint, while their children tend to the Seely Family Farm.

Our mint has a unique flavor that cannot be found anywhere else. The way we raise our mint, the climate we are located in, the rich organic soils along the Columbia River, and the way we harvest makes our mint very smooth and refreshing.

Our heirloom Black Mitcham Peppermint and Native Spearmint are sustainability grown and organic. Our mint essential oils are steam distilled only once, to retain the full spectrum of the flavor and bouquet of real Oregon mint. We also have pure sun-dried mint leaf tea. Our handcrafted mint confections use only natural and high-quality ingredients.

Once you have experienced Seely Mint, no other mint will do. The original essence of Oregon. Try some of our products today, delivered to the convenience of your own home by ordering here. You can also find us in many grocery stores around the United States.

Our Mission is to preserve the unique flavor profile of mint grown in the lower Columbia region by offering amazing mint creations. Our mint will take you by surprise and hold you there. Every taste an experience that leaves you satisfied, yet yearning for more. Our joy is in the honest and euphoric reactions to the addictive and smooth intensity of Seely Mint.

posted by aniola at 2:55 PM on December 7, 2015

If it's crushed candy cane type peppermints you seek, try King Arthur's.
posted by AliceBlue at 3:37 PM on December 7, 2015

Response by poster: This should be enough to go on. Thanks very much!
posted by paperback version at 5:54 PM on December 7, 2015

FWIW, I picked up a bag of Yummy Earth mint candies last night. They are, in fact, quite minty, but I think they may be fairly overpowering in a recipe, and the actual dessert recipe may be relying on a sweeter and less intense flavor from the candies.
posted by mkultra at 5:12 AM on December 8, 2015

Yes, I second that Yummy Earth are strong. I'd cut considerably the amount used compared to what the recipe specifies. But the peppermint taste, it is pure and good.
posted by bearwife at 10:16 AM on December 8, 2015