Description
Delight in the festive flavors of Candy Cane Kiss Cookies, featuring a soft, peppermint-infused dough rolled in sugar and topped with iconic Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses. Perfect for holiday celebrations or a winter treat, these cookies combine a tender texture with a sweet minty crunch.
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 aside to prevent sticking during baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a handheld mixer on medium-low speed, beat the softened butter and 1 cup of white sugar together until the mixture becomes fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract, continuing to beat for another minute until fully combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, stir together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly mixed.
- Mix Dough: Add the flour mixture, milk, and crushed candy canes to the wet ingredients. Beat on low speed just until the dough is combined, about 30 seconds, avoiding overmixing.
- Form Dough Balls: Scoop the dough into 1-tablespoon sized portions and roll each into a smooth ball with your hands.
- Coat with Sugar: Roll each dough ball in the remaining ¼ cup of sugar to coat the surface evenly.
- Chill Dough Balls: Arrange the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart, then refrigerate them flat for 2 hours to firm up before baking.
- Preheat Oven: While chilling the dough, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the chilled cookies for 10 minutes or until the centers are set but the edges remain slightly soft.
- Add Candy Cane Kiss: Remove cookies from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. Then gently press one unwrapped Hershey’s Candy Cane Kiss into the center of each cookie.
Notes
- Store leftover cookies in a sealed container at room temperature to maintain freshness for 5 to 7 days.
- Crushed candy canes add a refreshing peppermint crunch to the dough; you can substitute with peppermint candy bits if preferred.
- Make sure to chill the dough balls thoroughly before baking to prevent spreading and maintain shape.
- For a richer flavor, use European-style butter if available.
- If you prefer stronger peppermint flavor, increase peppermint extract to ¾ teaspoon, but be cautious as it can become overpowering.
