Description
Delight in the festive flavors of Candy Cane Kiss Cookies, featuring a soft, peppermint-infused dough coated in sugar and topped with a classic Hershey’s Candy Cane Kiss. Perfect for holiday celebrations, these cookies combine a buttery base with the crunch of candy canes for a refreshing minty treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1¼ cup white sugar divided
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tsp milk
- ½ cup crushed candy canes
Topping
- 28 Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Sheets: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside for later use to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a handheld mixer on medium-low speed, cream together the softened butter and 1 cup of white sugar until the mixture is fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Add the egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract to the creamed butter mixture. Mix for another 1 minute until well combined.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, stir together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
- Combine Mixtures: Add the flour mixture, milk, and crushed candy canes to the wet ingredients. Beat the mixture just until combined, about 30 seconds, avoiding overmixing.
- Form Cookie Balls: Scoop the dough into 1 tablespoon-sized portions. Use your hands to roll each portion into a smooth ball, shaping the edges.
- Coat with Sugar: Roll each cookie dough ball in the remaining ¼ cup of white sugar, ensuring an even coating on the outside.
- Chill Dough: Place the sugar-coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Refrigerate the cookie dough balls flat for 2 hours to chill before baking.
- Preheat Oven: While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the chilled cookies for 10 minutes, or until the centers are set but still soft.
- Add Candy Cane Kisses: After baking, let the cookies cool for 5 minutes, then immediately press an unwrapped Hershey’s Candy Cane Kiss in the center of each cookie to create a festive topping.
Notes
- Store leftover cookies at room temperature in a sealed container for up to 5-7 days to maintain freshness.
- Crushed candy canes add a delightful crunch, but you can substitute with peppermint chips if preferred.
- Ensure the dough balls are well chilled before baking to prevent spreading and maintain shape.
- For an extra festive look, consider using colored sugar or sprinkles along with the coating sugar.
