10 Best Peppermint Candies of 2026 (Brach's, Altoids, and More)
Nothing says "festive" quite like a burst of peppermint. From classic striped rounds to candy canes, peppermint treats bring a jolly kick to the holidays—and make for a refreshing, cool treat any time of year. But with so many varieties out there, which one will be your go-to?
Popular peppermint brands like Brach's offer a wide variety of peppermint treats, including peppermint sticks, peppermint bark, and peppermint creams. Or maybe you are just looking for peppermint to freshen up your breath. To help you find the perfect peppermint candy, we've put together a buying guide and list of the best peppermint candies from sites like Amazon and Walmart.
Quick List - Top Peppermint Candies
Kerri is an Iowan farm girl turned teacher who came to Japan for a one-year adventure and ended up staying for 11. Alongside teaching, she has a background in Literature and Creative Writing, with a special focus on poetry, and is always chipping away at that big dream novel—when she’s not crafting mybest articles, of course. She especially enjoys writing creative introductions for each product. In her free time, she loves discovering new books, exploring the outdoors, spending time with her husband, and spoiling her two cats, Venus and Neptune.
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Why Is Peppermint a Christmas Thing?
Peppermint candy has become a holiday tradition, largely due to its vibrant, wintry flavor that pairs well with cold-weather festivities.
Dating back to the 17th century, peppermint’s invigorating taste made it a favorite for holiday celebrations, particularly when it was introduced as candy canes—both a symbol of the season and a sweet treat.
Beyond the holidays, peppermint’s cooling effects and breath-freshening qualities make it a great choice for year-round enjoyment, whether to perk up after a meal or add a minty touch to hot cocoa.
How to Choose Peppermint Candy - Buying Guide
For Festive Appeal, Look for Holiday Designs and Packaging
When selecting peppermint candy for the holiday season, festive appeal and holiday packaging are often important.
Many peppermint candies come in holiday-themed wrappers or shapes, like candy canes or red-and-white swirls, which add a decorative touch to holiday displays or gift baskets.
Brach’s peppermint nougats are a great example. The center of their candy is designed with a green Christmas tree.
Seasonal tins or boxes can enhance the holiday feel and make the candy suitable for gifting.
For a more classic look, traditional peppermint rounds or starlight mints are also widely popular for both seasonal and year-round enjoyment.
For Long-Lasting Freshness and Portability, Check Mints like Altoids
For those who like to carry peppermint candy on the go or want it to last throughout the holiday season, freshness and portability are essential.
Hard candies or individually wrapped mints are ideal for maintaining freshness and are easy to store or carry. Altoids are a great choice as the tin fits easily in a bag or even your pocket.
Choosing peppermint candy with airtight packaging helps extend shelf life, keeping it fresh over longer periods.
Individually wrapped candies also prevent sticking, making them practical for sharing or keeping in a purse or pocket.
Consider Sugar-Free or Low-Calorie Options
Sugar-free peppermint candies are ideal for those with dietary restrictions, such as people with diabetes, or for anyone looking to reduce their sugar intake without sacrificing flavor.
Many popular brands, such as Cambie and Breath Savers, offer sugar-free versions of classic peppermint candies, making it easy to find a suitable option.
These varieties are often made with sugar substitutes like sorbitol, maltitol, and isomalt but still provide the same minty taste and breath-freshening effects.
Products that use alternatives to sugar also mean fewer carbs. If you are on a keto diet or managing your weight, sugar-free peppermint candy may be a good choice.
10 Best Peppermint Candies Ranking
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | Details | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Count | Individually Wrapped | Strong Flavor | Sugar Content | Weight | |||||
1 | Brach's Soft Peppermint Candy | | Soft, Smooth, and Refreshing | 350 Candies | 15 g | ||||
2 | Brach's Peppermint Christmas Nougats | | Nougat and Peppermint for Freshness | 24 Candies | 18 g | 11 oz | |||
3 | Altoids Classic Peppermint Breath Mints｜12 pack | | Bold and Intense Mint Flavor | 2 g | 1.76 oz (Pack of 12) | ||||
4 | Cambie Sugar Free Peppermint Starlights | | Sugar-Free Peppermint, Same Fresh Flavor | 0 g | 16 oz (1 lb) | ||||
5 | Brach's Star Brites Peppermint Candy | | Classic, Crisp Peppermint and Individually Wrapped | 360 Candies | 10 g | ||||
6 | BREATH SAVERS Peppermint Sugar Free Breath Mints | | Portable, Sugar-Free Breath Fresheners | 24 Candies | 0 g | ||||
7 | Red Bird Soft Peppermint Candy Puffs | | Light, Airy Puffs with a Gentle Peppermint Taste | 15 g | 18 oz | ||||
8 | Atkinson's Mint Twists Crushed Peppermint Candy | | Crushed Peppermint for Baking and Decor | 12 g | 8 oz | ||||
9 | Simply Gum Simply Mints Peppermint | | Simple Ingredients and Pure Peppermint Flavor | 30 Candies (Pack of 6) | 1 g | ||||
10 | YumEarth Organic Candy Canes | | Organic and Festive Candy Canes for All Ages | 10 Candies | 11 g | ||||
Brach'sSoft Peppermint Candy
| Count | 350 Candies |
|---|---|
| Sugar Content | 15 g |
Soft, Smooth, and Refreshing
| Individually Wrapped | |
|---|---|
| Strong Flavor | |
| Weight |
Brach'sPeppermint Christmas Nougats
| Count | 24 Candies |
|---|---|
| Sugar Content | 18 g |
Nougat and Peppermint for Freshness
| Individually Wrapped | |
|---|---|
| Strong Flavor | |
| Weight | 11 oz |
AltoidsClassic Peppermint Breath Mints ｜ 12 pack
| Count | |
|---|---|
| Sugar Content | 2 g |
Bold and Intense Mint Flavor
ALTOIDS Peppermint Flavor Breath Mints come in a convenient pack of twelve 1.76-ounce pocket-sized tins, each packed with the signature curiously strong flavor that Altoids are known for. These mints deliver a sharp, pepperminty punch that freshens breath and provides a lasting burst of cool flavor. Not only are the tins perfect for easy portability in purses, briefcases, or backpacks, but the mints can also be used as a decoration for baked goods or an ice-breaker. Since 1780, Altoids has been providing strong, long-lasting peppermint mints, making them a classic choice for those seeking a bold, refreshing mint experience.
| Individually Wrapped | |
|---|---|
| Strong Flavor | |
| Weight | 1.76 oz (Pack of 12) |
CambieSugar Free Peppermint Starlights
| Count | |
|---|---|
| Sugar Content | 0 g |
Sugar-Free Peppermint, Same Fresh Flavor
Cambie's Sugar-Free Peppermint Starlight Mints offer a classic, refreshing peppermint taste without the sugar. Each individually wrapped candy is bursting with sweet mint flavor, making them a perfect treat for after meals or any special occasion like Christmas, weddings, or birthdays. These sugar-free mints are packaged in a resealable stand-up pouch for easy access and portion control, allowing you to enjoy a little or a lot. With their red-and-white swirl design, these mints are a guilt-free, calorie-friendly option for anyone craving a traditional peppermint experience without the sugar.
| Individually Wrapped | |
|---|---|
| Strong Flavor | |
| Weight | 16 oz (1 lb) |
Brach'sStar Brites Peppermint Candy
| Count | 360 Candies |
|---|---|
| Sugar Content | 10 g |
Classic, Crisp Peppermint and Individually Wrapped
| Individually Wrapped | |
|---|---|
| Strong Flavor | |
| Weight |
BREATH SAVERSPeppermint Sugar Free Breath Mints
| Count | 24 Candies |
|---|---|
| Sugar Content | 0 g |
Portable, Sugar-Free Breath Fresheners
| Individually Wrapped | |
|---|---|
| Strong Flavor | |
| Weight |
Light, Airy Puffs with a Gentle Peppermint Taste
| Individually Wrapped | |
|---|---|
| Strong Flavor | |
| Weight | 18 oz |
Atkinson'sMint Twists Crushed Peppermint Candy
| Count | |
|---|---|
| Sugar Content | 12 g |
Crushed Peppermint for Baking and Decor
| Individually Wrapped | |
|---|---|
| Strong Flavor | |
| Weight | 8 oz |
Simply GumSimply Mints Peppermint
| Count | 30 Candies (Pack of 6) |
|---|---|
| Sugar Content | 1 g |
Simple Ingredients and Pure Peppermint Flavor
| Individually Wrapped | |
|---|---|
| Strong Flavor | |
| Weight |
YumEarthOrganic Candy Canes
| Count | 10 Candies |
|---|---|
| Sugar Content | 11 g |
Organic and Festive Candy Canes for All Ages
| Individually Wrapped | |
|---|---|
| Strong Flavor | |
| Weight |
Best Uses for Leftover Peppermint Candy
Peppermint candy finds its way around the house during the holiday season. However, you don't have to just leave it sitting there. You can make a variety of sweet treats to get rid of leftover peppermint candy.
Just pulverize the peppermint candy to your liking and add them to recipes like these:
- Peppermint bark
- Peppermint brownies
- Candy cane cookies
- Peppermint cheesecake
- Peppermint ice cream
Frequently Asked Questions - Peppermint Candy
Is peppermint candy gluten free?
Peppermint is naturally gluten-free. While most peppermint candy should not include gluten, always check the label and ingredients list.
How to crush peppermint candy?
Crushing peppermint candy for a recipe doesn't have to be a hassle. Put the peppermint candy in a resealable bag and pulverize it with a mallet. This way is mess-free.
If you have a food processor, you can use that. Just pulse until it is thoroughly crushed.
Is peppermint candy good for nausea?
Peppermint may actually be good for an upset stomach. Peppermint packs a punch with its soothing duo of menthol and methyl salicylate. Some studies report this dynamic pair works to relax the digestive tract, making it a possible choice to help with indigestion or irritable bowel syndrome.
Top 5 Peppermint Candies
No. 1: Brach's｜Soft Peppermint Candy
No. 2: Brach's｜Peppermint Christmas Nougats
No. 3: Altoids｜Classic Peppermint Breath Mints｜12 pack
No. 4: Cambie｜Sugar Free Peppermint Starlights
No. 5: Brach's｜Star Brites Peppermint Candy
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.