I often make these for Christmas. They are a good change from chocolates!

You can get oil of peppermint from a chemist. It is very strong and a tiny bottle will last - and keep - for years.

  Ingredients for about 3 dozen sweets:

    The white of one egg
    500g (1 lb) icing sugar
    oil of peppermint

Weigh out about 350g (12 oz) of the icing sugar.

Put the egg white into a mixing bowl and beat with a wire whisk. Add the icing sugar and mix. Add more icing sugar if necessary.

Add a few drops of oil of peppermint and mix thoroughly. Taste it as you go as oil of peppermint is very strong.

Scatter icing sugar onto a board and knead the mixture. Roll out until it is about 5mm (quarter inch) thick.

Cut into rounds and space out on trays lined with grease-proof paper. Leave to dry over night in a warm place. An airing cupboard is best.

Store in an airtight tin.