Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Candy Cane Kiss Cookies

I was looking for something to make for our ward Christmas party and had some Candy Cane kisses in the house. The recipe on the back for those "kiss" cookies you always see (you know, where the kiss is pressed in the middle of it?) was a sugar cookie and I didn't think that candy canes went well with sugar cookies, so I looked online for a chocolate cookie recipe to use. This recipe off of allrecipes.com got really good ratings, so I baked them like the recipe says then added the candy cane kiss in the center after they had cooled a few minutes. The kisses melted a little (DON'T touch the kisses until the whole thing has cooled or they'll lose their cool shape!) and melted into the cookie perfectly. If you wait too long to put the kiss on, they won't stick well to the cookie. These cookies were gone soooo quick at the party and were super festive. Next time I want to try and wrap the dough around the kiss and bake them that way so there is that melted candy cane kiss in the center when you are done!

Candy Cane Kiss Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)- I didn't add this, but would be yummy if you aren't using the kisses
1 bag candy cane kisses, unwrapped

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In large bowl, beat butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; stir into the butter mixture until well blended. Mix in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or just until set. Cool slightly on the cookie sheets and add a candy cane kiss to the center of each cookie after they have cooled 3-5 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

TIP: Don't press the candy cane into the cookie while it is on the wire rack because it will push the cookie through the bottom of the rack. I know this from experience :) Press them into the cookie while the cookie is still on the cookie sheet!

4 comments:

Stina said...

Well...this is just too great. They look very cute and festive. And, I'm all about the chocolate and mint.

Celeste Pearson said...

These were so yummy! My kids couldn't get enough of them. AND they are easy to make, yet festive enough for your treat plate you hand out to friends or to put out Christmas Eve to munch on.

Denise said...

Yum, sounds like a great cookie exchange recipe!

Kelli said...

For some reason, when you explained these to me, I thought you rolled the cookie dough around the kiss so it melted in the middle of the cookie like a filling. These look awesome and I love holiday kisses. I'm totally stocking up on them after christmas when they go on sale so I can make these year round!