Irresistible Peppermint Kiss Chocolate Cookies: Your Guide to Festive Holiday Baking

Get ready to infuse your holiday season with an extra sprinkle of joy and a burst of peppermint flavor! These Peppermint Kiss Chocolate Cookies are not just a treat; they’re a delightful holiday tradition in the making. Imagine sinking your teeth into a perfectly baked, rich, and chewy chocolate cookie, perfectly complemented by the cool, refreshing snap of a festive peppermint Hershey’s Kiss nestled right in the center. The vibrant red and white swirl of the kiss against the deep, dark chocolate is simply captivating, making them as pleasing to the eye as they are to the palate. Every batch turns out adorably cute, adding a touch of homemade charm to any holiday gathering or cookie swap. Best of all, they’re surprisingly simple to prepare, making them a fantastic baking project for the whole family. Join me in whipping up a batch of these irresistible holiday delights!

Christmas Cookies: A Seasonal Tradition

There’s something truly magical about the month of December, isn’t there? For me, it kicks off with a little tune playing on repeat in my head: “Christmas cookies and holiday hearts, that’s the way the holiday starts!” I don’t recall where this catchy jingle originated, or if it even has more lyrics, but it perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the season. It’s the official ‘cookie month,’ a time when kitchens come alive with the aroma of freshly baked goods, and the joy of creating sweet treats fills the air. It’s an opportunity to gather loved ones, share laughter, and create lasting memories over warm, homemade delights.

These Peppermint Kiss Chocolate Cookies are my festive answer to the beloved classic peanut butter blossoms. While the original holds a special place, this holiday spin elevates the experience with a captivating color contrast and a flavor profile that is absolutely on point. The subtle coolness of peppermint perfectly complements the deep chocolate, creating a symphony of flavors that is both familiar and excitingly new. It’s a cookie that truly embodies the festive cheer of Christmas!

The Magic of Peppermint Hershey’s Kisses

The secret star of these exquisite chocolate cookies is, without a doubt, the Peppermint Hershey’s Kiss. I typically find these delightful, seasonally-specific kisses at my local grocery store, like Lee’s Marketplace. Their distinct red and white striped foil and refreshing peppermint flavor aren’t just delicious; they’re also incredibly aesthetically pleasing, instantly transforming a simple chocolate cookie into a festive holiday masterpiece. The visual appeal adds so much to the overall holiday feel of these treats.

However, if your local store isn’t stocking the peppermint variety, don’t fret! The beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility. You can easily substitute the peppermint kisses with any other flavor of Hershey’s Kisses that catches your eye. In recent years, I’ve seen wonderful options like sugar cookie flavored kisses, which would be another fantastically cute and fun addition, lending a different but equally festive twist. Classic milk chocolate kisses also work beautifully if you’re looking for a simpler flavor profile that still delivers that iconic “blossom” look and texture. Feel free to experiment and make these cookies uniquely yours!

Mastering the Peppermint Kiss Chocolate Cookie Recipe

Creating these delightful Peppermint Kiss Chocolate Cookies is a rewarding and relatively straightforward process. It begins with a rich, velvety chocolate cookie base that serves as the perfect canvas for the refreshing peppermint kiss. The key to their success lies in careful measurement and a few simple baking techniques that ensure a tender, chewy cookie every time.

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Cookies

Gathering your ingredients beforehand, and ensuring they are at room temperature where specified, is crucial for a smooth baking experience and optimal cookie texture. Here’s what you’ll need:

• All-purpose flour: The structural foundation of our cookies.
• Cocoa powder: Provides that deep, irresistible chocolate flavor. Opt for good quality cocoa for the best results.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolate notes.
• Unsalted butter, softened: Essential for a tender crumb and helps create that wonderful creamy texture when beaten with sugar.
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cookies and contributes to their chewy texture.
• Egg yolk, at room temperature: Adds richness and helps bind the dough without making it too cake-like.
• Milk: Adds moisture and helps achieve the perfect dough consistency.
• Pure vanilla extract: A touch of vanilla complements the chocolate beautifully.
• Peppermint Kisses, unwrapped: The star topping! Make sure to unwrap them all before you start baking for easy assembly.

Step-by-Step Baking Instructions for Success

1. Prepare Your Workspace: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper; this prevents sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, and salt. This step ensures that all the dry ingredients are evenly distributed, preventing pockets of unmixed flour or salt in your final cookies. Set this mixture aside.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), beat the softened unsalted butter on medium-high speed until it’s smooth and creamy, which usually takes about 1 minute. Gradually add the granulated sugar and continue beating on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes, until the mixture is light and fluffy. This “creaming” process incorporates air, which contributes to the cookies’ light texture.
4. Add Wet Ingredients: Introduce the room temperature egg yolk, milk, and pure vanilla extract to the creamed butter and sugar. Beat on high speed for about 1 minute until all ingredients are well combined. Don’t forget to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula to ensure everything is thoroughly mixed. Beat again briefly if needed.
5. Form the Dough: Gradually add the whisked dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until just combined and a cohesive dough forms. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies. Stop mixing as soon as no streaks of dry flour remain.
6. Roll the Dough: Take small portions of the dough and roll them into 1-inch balls. Place these balls about 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheets. This spacing allows the cookies to spread slightly without touching each other.
7. Bake to Perfection: Bake the cookies for exactly 10 minutes. The edges should be set, but the centers might still look a little soft. This is perfect for a chewy cookie!
8. Add the Peppermint Kisses: As soon as you remove the cookies from the oven, allow them to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. This brief cooling period helps the cookies set enough to prevent them from crumbling when you add the kisses. Then, gently press one unwrapped peppermint kiss into the center of each warm cookie. The residual heat from the cookies will slightly melt the base of the kiss, helping it adhere and creating that iconic “blossom” look.
9. Cool Completely: Carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents the bottoms from becoming soggy and allows the kisses to firm up properly.

Pro Tips for Cookie Perfection

• Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the dough, especially after adding flour, can develop the gluten too much, resulting in tough cookies. Mix until just combined.
• Measure Flour Correctly: For accurate measurements, spoon flour into your measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge, rather than scooping directly from the bag.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure butter, egg yolk, and milk are at room temperature. This helps them emulsify better, leading to a smoother dough and a more consistent cookie texture.
• Don’t Overbake: These cookies are best when slightly soft in the center. Overbaking can make them dry and crumbly. Keep an eye on them; 10 minutes is usually just right.
• Parchment Paper is Your Friend: Always use parchment paper for easy removal and consistent baking. It also makes cleanup a breeze!
• Chilling the Dough (Optional but Recommended): If your kitchen is warm or if you find the dough too soft to handle, chilling it for 15-30 minutes before rolling can make it much easier to work with.

Serving and Storing Your Peppermint Kiss Chocolate Cookies

Once completely cooled, these Peppermint Kiss Chocolate Cookies are ready to be devoured! They make a fantastic addition to any holiday dessert spread, a delightful treat for cozy evenings, or a thoughtful homemade gift for friends and family. Pair them with a warm cup of coffee, hot chocolate, or a glass of cold milk for the ultimate comfort experience.

To store, place the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days. If you want to extend their freshness, you can also freeze them in an airtight container for up to 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving. These cookies travel well, making them perfect for potlucks, holiday parties, or shipping to loved ones!

Explore More Holiday Cookie Recipes

If you’ve enjoyed baking these festive chocolate peppermint cookies, you might be looking for more delightful recipes to fill your holiday cookie tins. Here are some of my other favorite cookie recipes that are perfect for any occasion, especially during the festive season:

• Salted Caramel Blossoms: A decadent twist on the classic blossom cookie, featuring a gooey salted caramel center.
• Mexican Wedding Cookies: Delicate, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth cookies coated in powdered sugar. A timeless favorite!
• Cut Out Sugar Cookies: The perfect canvas for holiday decorating, these easy-to-make sugar cookies hold their shape beautifully.
• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies: A comforting classic with a chewy texture and plenty of chocolate chips.
• Soft & Chewy Gingersnaps: Spiced with warming ginger and molasses, these cookies are perfect for a cozy winter day.

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These Peppermint Kiss Chocolate Cookies are more than just a dessert; they’re a symbol of holiday cheer, a sweet gesture of warmth, and a delicious way to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. Their simplicity makes them accessible to bakers of all skill levels, while their festive appearance and irresistible flavor make them a standout treat. I genuinely hope you give this recipe a try and let these cookies become a cherished part of your holiday traditions.

If you do give this recipe a try, I’d absolutely love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below to share your experience, rate the recipe, or even better, snap a photo of your beautiful cookies and tag it with @TheAlexDaynes on Instagram! Your creations always make my day!