Description
Delight in the festive flavors of Candy Cane Kiss Cookies, a perfect holiday treat combining soft sugar cookies with peppermint candy canes and a classic Hershey’s Candy Cane Kiss center. These cookies feature a tender, buttery dough with a refreshing peppermint twist, ideal for holiday gatherings or gift-giving.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- 2 tsp milk
Dry Ingredients
- 1¼ cup white sugar, divided (1 cup + ¼ cup)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
Other
- ½ cup crushed candy canes
- 28 Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses, unwrapped
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Sheets: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside to make cookie removal easy and prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a handheld mixer on medium-low speed, cream together the softened butter and 1 cup of sugar until light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes, to incorporate air into the dough.
- Add Egg and Extracts: Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract, blending well for about 1 minute to create a smooth wet mixture.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until well combined to ensure even leavening and salt distribution.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture, milk, and crushed candy canes to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined (about 30 seconds) to avoid overworking the dough.
- Form Cookie Balls: Scoop dough using a tablespoon measure and roll each portion into a smooth ball with your hands.
- Coat with Sugar: Roll each dough ball in the remaining ¼ cup of sugar to coat the outside, which adds a sweet, slightly crunchy exterior.
- Chill Dough: Place the coated dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets spaced about 2 inches apart. Refrigerate the cookie dough balls flat for 2 hours to chill thoroughly, which helps cookies maintain shape while baking.
- Preheat Oven: While dough chills, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake chilled cookies for approximately 10 minutes or until the centers are set but edges are still soft, for a tender texture.
- Add Kiss Candy: Remove cookies from oven and cool for 5 minutes, then gently press one unwrapped Hershey’s Candy Cane Kiss into the center of each warm cookie, allowing it to soften and slightly melt.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is essential to prevent spreading and helps cookies keep a thicker, chewier texture.
- Use fresh Candy Cane Kisses for the best melting and flavor.
- If you prefer a stronger peppermint flavor, you can add a little more peppermint extract but be careful not to overpower the cookie base.
- Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
- For a crispier cookie, bake an extra 1-2 minutes but watch carefully to prevent over-browning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Candy Cane Kiss Cookies, holiday cookies, peppermint cookies, Christmas cookies, sugar cookies with candy canes
