Description
These Peppermint Kiss Cookies are a festive holiday treat featuring a soft, buttery sugar cookie base with crushed peppermint candies, topped with iconic red and white striped Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses. Perfect for Christmas cookie exchanges, easy dessert trays, or just cozy winter nights, they’re simple to make and loaded with cheerful flavor. If you’re looking for quick holiday baking ideas, easy recipes, or fun food ideas to impress guests, this is the perfect choice for your cookie lineup. These cookies are also a hit for gifting and ideal for anyone who loves peppermint and white chocolate.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup crushed peppermint candies or candy canes
30 Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses, unwrapped
Extra granulated sugar for rolling
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
2. Add egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract. Beat until combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to wet mixture until a dough forms.
4. Fold in crushed peppermint candies.
5. Chill dough for 30 minutes if too soft.
6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
7. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and coat with granulated sugar.
8. Place on baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart.
9. Bake for 8–10 minutes until edges are set and tops begin to crack.
10. Let cookies cool for 2–3 minutes, then press a Candy Cane Kiss into the center of each cookie.
11. Transfer to wire racks and cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
Let butter soften at room temp before mixing for fluffier cookies.
Press the Kisses in while cookies are still warm but not hot to avoid melting.
Chill dough if it’s too soft for better shape and structure.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 13g
- Sodium: 65mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: peppermint kiss cookies, holiday cookies, easy recipe, Christmas baking