Irresistible Candy Cane Kiss Cookies Easy Holiday Recipe 2024
These festive Candy Cane Kiss Cookies combine a buttery, soft cookie base with a crisp peppermint crunch and a gooey Hershey’s Kiss center, perfect for holiday baking and sharing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (120 g) crushed candy canes
- 1 bag (about 36 pieces) Hershey’s Kisses
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Crush about 1 cup (120 g) of candy canes in a zip-top bag using a rolling pin until you have a mix of fine crumbs and small chunks. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup (227 g) softened unsalted butter and 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar using an electric mixer or whisk until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add 1 large room-temperature egg and 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract to the butter mixture and mix until fully combined and smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 1/4 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just incorporated. Avoid over-mixing.
- Fold in the crushed candy canes gently, reserving a few pieces for topping if desired.
- Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, drop dough balls about 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are set but centers are still soft. Watch closely to avoid overbaking.
- Immediately after removing from the oven, press one Hershey’s Kiss gently into the center of each cookie.
- Transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool completely for 20-30 minutes to allow the chocolate to set.
Notes
Crush candy canes finely but leave some small chunks for texture. Press Hershey’s Kiss onto cookies immediately after baking to create a gooey center. Avoid overbaking to keep cookies soft. Dough can be chilled for 15 minutes if kitchen is warm for easier handling. For vegan or gluten-free versions, see variations.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 90
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 3.5
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 1.5
Keywords: candy cane cookies, peppermint cookies, holiday cookies, Christmas cookies, Hershey’s Kiss cookies, easy holiday recipe, festive cookies