Sweetheart Mints

In a medium bowl, cream butter and shortening. Add 3 tablespoons of warm water and 2 cups powdered sugar. Mix thoroughly with a spoon. Add remaining sugar and water, peppermint extract, and food coloring. Mix thoroughly using a wooden spoon. Kneading by hand may be required to thoroughly mix ingredients. The mixture should be firm like sugar cookie dough, use more powdered sugar if needed.

Divide mixture in half. Cover one half with plastic wrap. Turn the other half onto a sheet of wax paper. Top with another piece of waxed paper and roll out to a generous 1/4 inch thick. Cut out mints with a small cookie cutter, but do not remove from the sheet. Allow them to dry for about 1 hour. After that, you can remove mints from the waxed paper with a metal spatula, using the cookie cutter to recut the heart again if needed. Flip over and allow to dry at least 1 more hour. Repeat with remaining dough.

May be frozen to store.