When I think of ice mice, I think of those clear menthol candies that make your mouth feel frigid with cold.
Xylitol, a natural sweetener, is apparently one ingredient that reduces the temperature when it dissolves in your mouth, so your mouth feels colder. So add that and menthol (using peppermint or spearmint flavours) and you get a chilly reaction, perfect for ice mice. Brrr!*
A note on xylitol
There are lots of positives about xylitol (I’m rephrasing what this website says about it). It’s low GI, and helps prevent tooth decay by increasing saliva, thereby decreasing the risk of bacterial infections. Fun fact there for you.
However, here are also some side effects:
- epileptics should stay away as it can increase seizure frequency.
- If you have too much, it can cause bloating, diarrhea, gas, and children are even more sensitive (good to know if using for a party).
- keep your dog away from them. The smallest amounts can make Fluffy’s blood sugar levels drop, leading to seizures and liver failure.
Although I tried using xylitol the same way I would sugar in candy making (two tries!), it definitely doesn’t work the same way. If you make a thin layer, it will harden overnight, but anything thicker and, well, three days later I still have a sticky pile of xylitol goo sitting in a bowl.
So, instead, for the ice mice, I created a normal peppermint flavoured sugar candy for the ‘mouse frame’ and sprinkled in xylitol into the centre, before closing the base of the mouse.
*I tried two different brands of peppermint flavour, and, surprise surprise, you need a good quality oil to get an icy effect. While actually an essential oil, I used Doterra’s peppermint oil which is food grade (link takes you to my Doterra account, but you can have a browse by clicking ‘shop’ on the top) and gives a good menthol kick with very little. You might have a favourite brand you go with, but whatever one you use, get the very best concentrate you can.
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Ice Mice | Harry Potter
Ingredients
Units Scale
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup glucose syrup
- 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
- 1/2 tsp (2.5ml) high quality peppermint oil concentrate [ I used a Doterra peppermint oil however Lorann Oils are perfect for candy making ]
- xylitol
- silicone mouse candy mold (or make your own using a plastic mouse and Food Grade Easy Mold Silicone Putty <-- I buy from Amazon)
- candy making gloves
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together the sugar, water, glucose syrup and cream of tartar.
- Place a candy thermometer in the saucepan, and let the candy cook till it reaches 300F.
- Remove from heat and stir in the peppermint oil.
- Pour a little in each mold and swirl to coat, but not completely fill the mold.
- Put candy-making gloves on, and once soft, but not sticky, press the candy to make a decent indent.
- Make sure you have some candy left over to cover the base.
- When the candy has cooled, pour in a little bit of xylitol into the cavity.
- If the excess candy has firmed up, place in the microwave on low power for 20 seconds until soft.
- With the candy-making gloves still on, pull off a little bit of candy and shape into the mouse base shape, then press onto the base of the mouse mold.
- Complete the rest of the molds then set aside to harden.
- Store in an airtight container.
If you like this Ice Mice recipe from Honeydukes, you might like these other Harry Potter candy recipes
I’m a Harry Potter fan
★★★★★
Very cool I have the Doterra oils too!
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I love what you are doing with this site, but please beware encouraging people to ingest essential oils, especially with fun candies that may very well be fed to children. Peppermint essential oil is not safe for children under the age of 6, and ingesting higher quality oils can actually be more harmful to your internal organs because of the potency. I’ve linked sources from a certified clinical aromatherapist. I sincerely hope you do not take this as a slight on your hard work, and I plan to make this recipe myself with peppermint extract.
Thanks, Megan, for your point. I’ve read somewhere that paediatricians discourage hard candies being given to children under 6 due to risk of choking, so I would hope parents would keep this in mind as well.