Red and white sugar and a candy kiss give these Candy Cane Kiss Cookies a festive holiday look. These sparkly chocolate kiss cookies will be the first treat to disappear off your holiday cookie tray this year.
I don't know about you, but I just love this time of year. I think it has something to do with all the cookies and fudge and candy that is always sure to be anywhere we go.
Yes, my sweet tooth gets a workout more than normal during the holidays. Thank goodness for weight and cardio workouts to keep me in check.
One thing that is an absolute must during the holidays is a cookie baking marathon. Just make sure you do NOT wrap your cookies in ziplock bags or saran wrap and put them on a tray INSIDE the oven.
Yes, that happened to us one year. We spent all day making peppermint snowball cookies, peppermint Oreo cookies, peppermint Oreo bark, and these Christmas kiss cookies.
We had to be somewhere later in the afternoon, so I bagged up the cooled cookies in a few Ziplock bags and left a few that were still cooling on the cookie sheets. I then proceeded to place all of the above items inside the oven.
You see, we had a dog who liked to steal goodies, so I thought I was being smart by hiding the trays and bags from her.
It turns out I'm not as smart as I think because we got home, and I decided to make a batch of peppermint brownie truffles that night. I turned the oven on and started to work on the cookie dough.
In a few minutes the smell of burning plastic had me running to the oven in a hurry and then a lot of crying may have happened.
Ever since then I have been a compulsive oven checker. I turn the oven on and open the door every.single.time now!
Ingredients Needed
Most of these ingredients are probably already in your pantry or fridge. So, just run out and buy a bag or two of the kisses and some colored sugars, so you can get baking.
- Butter - Set it out ahead of time, so it is easier to mix the cookie dough.
- Sugar - A mixture of granulated sugar and brown sugar sweetens the dough.
- Egg & Greek Yogurt - Adds moisture and binds the ingredients together.
- Baking Soda - Provides the lift as the cookies bake.
- Cocoa Powder - I like to use Hershey's dark cocoa powder to give these cookies a dark look.
- Flour - Thickens the dough. See how to measure flour correctly, so your cookies turn out right every time.
- Toppings - red and white sanding sugars and Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses give the kiss cookies a pretty holiday look.
How to Make Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
Make Cookie Dough
Beat the butter and sugars until the mixture is creamy. Add the egg and yogurt and mix it again.
Stir together the flour, baking soda, and cocoa powder. Slowly beat this into the butter mixture. Refrigerate the dough for 2 hours.
Scoop out 36 dough balls. Roll each one into a round shape. The dough is sticky, so you will need to spray your hands with nonstick baking spray to keep it from sticking to you while you roll the dough.
Bake & Decorate Cookies
Roll each dough ball in the sanding sugars and place on a baking sheet and bake. Remove and let the cookies cool on the tray for a few minutes.
Transfer the cookies to a sheet of parchment on your counter and top each one with an unwrapped candy cane kiss. The heat from the cookies will cause the kisses to "melt" and get soft.
Do not move the cookies until everything has cooled and the kiss has set back up again.
Storage Recommendations
Keep the cooled cookies in a tightly sealed container on the counter for 3-4 days. The chocolate kiss cookies can also be frozen in a freezer safe bag or container for 1-2 months. Thaw overnight on the counter.
More Easy Holiday Cookies
- Mint Truffle Kiss Cookies
- Shortbread Bar Cookies
- Peppermint Crunch Chocolate Cookies
- Peppermint Mocha Cookies
- Mint Chocolate Pudding Cookies
- Molasses Crackle Cookies
- Peppermint Meltaways
- Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Recipe
Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
These chocolate Candy Cane Kiss Cookies are rolled in red and white sugar and then topped with a candy kiss. They will be one of the first cookies to disappear off your holiday cookie tray.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ⅔ cup dark cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- coarse red and white sanding sugar
- 36 Candy Cane Kisses, unwrapped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap the kisses and place in a bowl in the freezer.
- Beat the butter and sugars until creamy. Add the yogurt and egg and beat again.
- Stir together the cocoa powder, baking soda, and flour. Slowly beat into the butter mixture. Refrigerate the dough for 2 hours.
- Roll the dough into 36 balls and roll in the red and white sugar. The cookie dough will be very sticky. Place on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 8-9 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes. Place on a cooling rack on the counter.
- Press a frozen kiss into the top of each cookie. Do not move the cookies until they are completely cool and the kiss has set back up.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 130Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 45mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 0gSugar: 16gProtein: 1g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post and recipe for these Chocolate Candy Cane Kiss Cookies was originally published on December 2013. It was updated and republished December 2018.
Jenn@eatcakefordinner
Candy Cane Kisses are the BEST EVER. Thanks for reminding me I need to get some. I love your paper lined napkin 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
And you are reminding me that I need to stock up before this month is over. The paper lined napkin was from the Dollar Spot at Target when school started...I kind of love them 🙂
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain
You're right - I could use a LOT of chocolate to get me through this Monday! teehee. I could easily eat half a dozen of these right now, Jocelyn. They taste even better when they're festive I bet. 😉
Jocelyn Brubaker
Chocolate always makes any day that much better! And yes, pretty cookies just seem to taste better too!!!
Stephanie @ PlainChicken
Love how the sugar looks on the chocolate cookies. Must give these a try!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Stephanie. I was so excited when they came out of the oven and you could still see the sugar!!!
Mary
these look so pretty! what a lovely holiday treat
Mary x
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Mary!
Renee @ Two in the Kitchen
Oh NO!! I cringed when you told that story. All that hard work gone to waste! But I love these cookies! A nice festive and minty twist on peanut butter blossoms. Very pretty!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Renee. It was definitely not a good day! But fun sprinkly cookies now make up for the pain of past years.
Lindsay @ Life, Love and Sugar
What a bummer to lose that hard work! These cookies look so tasty and festive though - yum! 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Lindsay! Nothing like doing something twice because I had a dumb moment. At least I learned to never store things in the oven.
Ashley | CenterCutCook
Oh my gosh, I can only imagine how awful that was! Not only the lost treats but the smell!! These cookies are so cute and festive!
Jocelyn Brubaker
The smell, the horrible feeling in my stomach...it was not a good day at all!
Beth @ bethcakes
Really loving all those chocolaty desserts! Your cookies are so cute and I want to eat all of them. 🙂 I love that you roll the cookies in red and white sanding sugar. Adds a little more color with that candy cane kiss! Those are definitely one of my favorite holiday candies to bake with.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Beth. I really did want to eat every cookie...it was a good idea to take them to a dinner we had.
Aimee @ ShugarySweets
Oh no!! I can only imagine that sick feeling knowing all that hard work was ruined. Boo.
These cookies are so fun and festive! LOVE the sugar sprinkles!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks. It was definitely a sad moment!!! I may have even cried!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor
Love these cute kiss cookies! They are so perfect for cookie swap and holiday events. Pinned to my cookies board!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you so much for the sweet comment and the pin love!!!
Katie Farmer @ThePrettyPartyShoppe
I love peppermint, and I love those Hershey Kisses! I may have to make these for my cookie exchange next week. 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yes, make them for every cookie exchange and let me know how you like them!
Katie Farmer @ThePrettyPartyShoppe
Ok, so I made them tonight and they are delicious! I just posted them on my FB page (TPPS page) and tagged you. I was not sure how big to make the balls *snicker*. Mine were definitely a little too big and I had to cook them 2 more minutes. I only got 28 out. These will be part of my teacher gifts! Two more cookies to make tomorrow. 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
I am glad you like the cookies! I roll the dough into 36 balls before I even bake any...that way I know they are pretty much the same size.
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent
Love how you rolled them in the red and white sugar! So cute with the kiss on top. I have the same dog issue so I hide stuff in the microwave... its a good trick because you dont have to preheat it... but sometimes it isnt large enough. So they go on top of the toaster. The toaster height gives enough she cant get to them I guess.
Jocelyn Brubaker
I do the same thing too. And on top of the refrigerator...never in the oven anymore 😉
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet
This is so fun! All of these desserts look amazing! I was obsessed with these hershey kisses last year and can not wait to start baking with them again this year! Your cookies look amazing!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Nancy! These are such good Hershey kisses...I should stock up for all year!
Shaina
Those Candy Cane Hershey Kisses are SO good!
Jocelyn Brubaker
I agree 100%!
Courtney M
How cool, my mom & I had this same idea 🙂 Everybody makes the standard peanut blossoms, so we figured chocolate cookies with candy cane kisses would be an awesome combo. The only drawback is having to give the cookies away....maybe we'll get gifted with some ourselves this year LOL
Jocelyn Brubaker
The chocolate cookies do look so fun with the candy cane kisses. I'm glad you guys had the same thought! I don't like giving cookies away either, but my hips and thighs thank me that I do 🙂
Joan@Chocolate and More
Jocelyn, I feel your pain with the burning plastic wrap in the oven but I can do you one better. How about a plastic serving tray? So glad my oven came with 3 racks! Even though I scrubbed that sucker clean for hours, I still swear I can smell the plastic any time I have to use that extra rack!
Your cookies look amazing. I'm in love with those peppermint Kisses, I think I ate a whole bag by my self. And I love how your sugar shows up on your chocolate cookie, so festive!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Oh, girl. That's bad! Thank goodness for extra baking racks! And those candy cane kisses are very dangerous to have around 🙂
Mary Frances @ The Sweet {Tooth} Life
Oh no! My kitchen blunder that has scarred me was putting foil in the microwave. I do not recommend. 🙂 I am loving the texture on these cookies! What a fun twist on kiss cookies! Pinned!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Mary! Yeah, foil in the microwave is bad too! I accidentally put a bowl that had a metal ring on it in the microwave too. Not good!
Erin | The Law Student's Wife
Yay for cookie bake dates! I feel you on the oven debacle...I once left dough to rise in a plastic bowl in the oven, then decided to preheat the oven and...you know where this is going. I love the crunchy sugar on the outside with the sweet mint on the inside. So fun!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Oh no! That's bad. I'm glad my treats weren't on a plastic tray too! Eeeiiikk! I can still smell that terribleness!
Taylor @ FoodFaithFitness
So, I just found your blog and I am so happy that I did! These cookies have everything good in the world, all in one bite. And, they are just so bea-yoo-tiful! They are almost too pretty to eat. But, only almost. Yum!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you so much Taylor. And I am so excited you "found' me too! I can't wait to check out your blog.
Kelly
Yikes, sorry to hear about the burnt saran wrapped cookies. I have left baked cookies that I forgot about in the oven before too but they weren't wrapped yet. They still ended up burning though and had to be tossed away hehe.
These cookies look incredible Jocelyn! These are one of my favorite holiday cookies - I love stocking up on these Peppermint Hershey Kisses 🙂 Love how pretty these cookies look with the colored sanding sugar 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
I'm glad I'm not the only one that forgets about storing things in the oven! Stocking up on holiday Hershey kisses sounds like a good idea.
Tanya
Where do i find the sanding sugar? Been to 3 stores with no luck. Any suggestions?
Jocelyn Brubaker
I bought it at Walmart in the season holiday baking aisle. I have seen it at Michaels and Hobby Lobby too. It is just a coarser sugar than table sugar.
Linda
Amazon has sugars and kisses