Bake up a batch of chocolaty Christmas Kiss Cookies for a merry and bright treat to enjoy or share this holiday season.
How about a easy and festive treat to bake or give this holiday season?
These merry and bright cookies are coated in a layer of festive red and green sprinkles
and bake up in about 12 minutes!
Allow them to cool a couple of minutes before placing a Hersey’s Kiss in the center.
This post contains affiliate links. For more information see my disclosure policy. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase anything through an affiliate link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The addition of Hersey’s Special Dark Chocolate Cocoa adds an extra fudgy, chocolaty flavor!
Customize these Christmas Kiss Cookies with your choice of Hersey’s Kisses and sprinkles.
I’m a fan of Hersey’s Kisses ‘Hugs’ but was amazed at all the Kisses flavors
available now. . .
‘Candy Cane’, ‘Mint Truffle’, ‘Sugar Cookie’, ‘Cherry Cordial’, ‘Cookies and Cream’, and ‘Hot Cocoa’!
I found my sprinkles in the baking section at HomeGoods, but you can find a good
selection at the craft store with the cake decorating supplies.
If you need sprinkles for sugar cookies, these nonpareils and jimmies are a great price for the 4 ounce size:
Christmas Blend Nonpareils – 4 oz.
Mistletoe Magic Sprinkle Mix – 4 oz.
And if you have a lot of baking on your ‘to do’ list, I’m a fan of this precut parchment paper.
It’s unbleached, comes four different sizes, greaseproof, waterproof and withstands oven temps up to 425°F.
Looking to upgrade your baking sheets?
I have a set of Chicago Metallic Non-Stick Cookie and Jelly-Roll Pans that came
with a cooling rack that I highly recommend!
They are heavy duty and I use them for everything from baking cookies to roasting veggies, or cooking bacon. They have wire-rod reinforced rims to prevent warping and flexing in the oven.
Christmas Kiss Cookies
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup cup granulated sugar
1 egg yolk room temperature
2 – 4 tablespoons milk or cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Holiday-themed nonpareils / jimmies of choice
Hershey’s Hugs or Kisses candies, unwrapped, 1 per cookie
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
In medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder and salt; set aside.
Beat the butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. With the mixer still running, gradually add sugar and mix until smooth.
Beat in egg yolk, milk / cream and vanilla extract. Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture until well combined. If dough is dry and crumbly, you may need to add additional milk/cream. Add an additional tablespoon of milk at a time until dough is no longer crumbly and comes together.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes until dough is easy to handle and less sticky.
Spread sprinkles into a shallow bowl or dish. Use a tablespoon cookie scoop (#60) to portion out dough for uniform cookies and roll into a ball with your hands. Roll dough ball in the sprinkles, placing 2 inches apart on the lined baking sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes; remove from oven and let cool on pans about 3 minutes, then gently press a Hersey’s Kiss into the center of each cookie while still warm. Note: Cookies may crack slightly, so use a light touch to press Kiss in cookie top. Press any cracked cookie edges back together if cracks bothers you.
Remove cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Cookie Scoop Set for Holiday Baking
Notes:
Humidity and moisture will affect baking; low humidity will cause ingredients to dry out while high humidity will cause flour and dry ingredients to soak up extra moisture. It was extremely cold and dry the day I baked these cookies with a relative humidity of 20%. . .not something we’re accustomed to in the hot and humid southern U.S.! If your dough is dry and too crumbly, add more milk/cream 1 tablespoon at a time until it holds together. I used a total of 4 tablespoons of milk.
When measuring flour, use the ‘spoon & sweep’ method:
Use a spoon to fill measuring cup with flour to overflowing, then sweep with knife edge to level. Scooping measuring cup directly into flour bag will firmly pack flour resulting in too much flour for recipe.
A sweet way to gift these cookies and share with neighbors, co-workers, friends or family. . .fill the bottom of your cookie tin with Kisses. . .
And place a layer of cookies on top!
🎄 🎄 🎄
Cute Clear Top Christmas Metal Cookie Tin Set of 3
Christmas Kiss Cookies
Equipment
- mixer
- tablespoon cookie scoop (#60)
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour spooned and leveled, see notes
- 1/2 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2/3 cup cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk room temperature
- 2-4 tablespoons milk or cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup holiday-themed sprinkles, nonpareils or jimmies
- Hershey’s Hugs or Kisses candies unwrapped, 1 per cookie
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder and salt; set aside.
- Beat the butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. With the mixer still running, gradually add sugar and mix until smooth.
- Beat in egg yolk, milk/cream and vanilla extract. Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture until well combined. If dough is dry and crumbly, you add additional milk/cream one tablespoon of milk at a time until dough comes together.
- Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes until it is easy to handle and less sticky. Longer chill time will make dough hard to scoop.
- Spread sprinkles into a shallow bowl or dish. Use a tablespoon cookie scoop (#60) to portion out dough and roll into a ball with your hands. Roll dough ball in the sprinkles, placing 2 inches apart on the lined baking sheets.
- Bake 10-12 minutes; remove from oven and let cool on pans about 3 minutes, then gently press a chocolate kiss candy into the center of each cookie while still warm. Cookies may crack slightly so use a light touch when pressing Kiss in cookie top and press cookie edges back together if this bothers you.
- Remove cookies to wire rack to cool completely. Store in airtight container at room temperature. Cookies will stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
Notes
- This recipe yields 20-22 cookies using a tablespoon cookie scoop.
- Humidity and moisture will affect baking. Low humidity will cause ingredients to dry out while high humidity will cause flour and dry ingredients to soak up extra moisture. Add more milk/cream 1 tablespoon at a time to your dough to account for low humidity if your dough is dry and too crumbly to hold together.
- When measuring flour, use the 'spoon & sweep' method: Use a spoon to fill measuring cup with flour to overflowing, then sweep with knife edge to level. Scooping measuring cup directly into flour bag will firmly pack flour resulting in too much flour for recipe.
- Yolks act as an emulsifier making a creamy dough even before it’s baked. A cookie made with egg yolk will be lighter and chewier than a cookie made with whole eggs.
The winners of my Baking Spirits Bright Giveaway are:
Kathy E | Cheryl K | Karalee M | Jennifer H | Ann W | Susan T | Diana E | Lauren S | Kristine C | Nancy S
Thanks to all who entered! 🎄
Find 20+ recipes to bake your spirits bright and make your holidays extra sweet, HERE!
You’ll find some easy no-bake treats and food gift ideas too.
Thank you for your visit, sharing with:
Between Naps on the Porch
Share this:
Discover more from Home is Where the Boat Is
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Mary, I can never have too much chocolate! Your
chocolaty Christmas Kiss Cookies look delicious. They are perfect for giving, so festive for the season❤️💚 My “Little Ones” would love them!
It is pouring rain this morning and is supposed to continue through tomorrow. Wishing you a Merry Monday ❤️🎄
These look yummy and so cute! Thank for the gifting idea of placing a layer of Hershey kisses in the bottom of the gift tin – so clever. Hope you are enjoying this Advent season!
Mary, I love the Hershey kisses on the bottom of the tin ! What fabulous idea.
Have a great day.
These all look delicious! Thanks Mary. Clara❤️
These are so pretty Mary! Love the idea of putting a layer of Hershey’s Kisses in the bottom of a cookie tin with the cookies on top, what a great gift! Of course, I’m craving a cookie now :)
Jenna
These cookies are “over the top” and so pretty – but not too pretty to eat! Love your idea with the tins and Hershey kisses as a base. Thank you for sharing.
Those look terrific, Mary. I have a friend who just bought the cherry cordial kisses and I asked if they’re as good as the Queen Anne cherries and she said yes! I hope to find them asap!
Please tell me the brand pan sheet you bought and use. I replaced mine last year due to nasty look and warping when baking, only to get another brand that also popped and warped when I bake bacon. I need pans that won’t warp! I’m debating between Nordic Ware and Cuisinart.
Hi Rita, I have a set of Chicago Metallic Non-Stick Cookie and Jelly-Roll Pans that I highly recommend. They don’t warp or flex in the oven unlike my Wilton baking sheets. I read that the key is a high rolled edge to help reinforce the steel rim, which these have. Our CVS had every variety of Hersey Kisses :)
Thank you, ordering!
That precut parchment paper is a real game changer for me. I used to make a right mess out of the stuff that came on a roll.
The chocolate kiss cookies look so yummy!
I received my Baking Spirits Bright gift on Saturday. Thank you so much; I’m looking forward to baking up a batch of banana chocolate chip loaves in it.
Mary dear, you are such a fund of ideas and recommendations. The baking sheets
remind me it is a good time to retire mine and opt for newbies….Bless you.
So pretty and festive!
Your ideas make for a perfect Christmas! Happy Holidays.
Love this!!!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Thanks for your generous give away, thrilled to be a winner!
Mary, these look delicious! I used to be a baker, but can’t get enthused to bake these days. Fun to see these ideas though. Thank you!
Oh Mary, those cookies are seriously festive and chocolaty! One can never have too many sprinkles especially during Christmas. I can’t wait to make these delectable treats. Thanks for all your sources for products that you love. Congratulations to all the winners of your generous giveaway. ♥️🎄♥️
Mary, just what I needed to begin my Christmas baking! This is such a cute recipe! And a great idea to have kisses in the bottom of the containers.
I’m so glad to see your recommendations on the baking sheets. Ordering those today and the sprinkles too!!
Congratulations to the winners!! They are all set to begin baking!
These are so yummy and so cute! And chocolate!
And what a fabulous idea of putting the kisses in the bottom of the tin!
Merry December sweet friend!
As many others, I love the idea of the kisses under the cookies…so clever! Thank you again for the generous giveaway and I am thrilled to be one of the winners! Very useful as I’m baking this week before a short trip to visit my 90 year old mom for a few days. Thank you again and wishing you a very Merry and Bright Christmas!