Christmas Kiss Cookies - Recipe Kitchen

There's something magical about baking during the holiday season, and these Christmas Kiss Cookies bring that enchantment right to your kitchen. Combining rich chocolate cookie dough with festive sprinkles and topped with a sweet Hershey's Hug, these cookies are the perfect balance of chocolatey goodness and holiday cheer. Whether you're preparing for a cookie exchange, creating homemade gifts, or simply making memories with family, these Christmas Kiss Cookies will quickly become a treasured part of your holiday traditions.

The beauty of these Christmas Kiss Cookies lies in their simplicity paired with their impressive appearance. The dark chocolate base provides the perfect canvas for colorful holiday sprinkles, while the chocolate-striped Hershey's Hug creates an eye-catching centerpiece. Best of all, they're straightforward to make, even if you're baking with little helpers!

What Makes This Recipe Special

Perfect balance of rich chocolate and sweet candy

Festive appearance makes them ideal for holiday cookie plates

Simple enough for beginners but impressive enough for cookie exchanges

Customizable with different sprinkles and Hershey's candy varieties

Make-ahead friendly for busy holiday schedules

Kid-friendly recipe that creates lasting memories

Gather Your Ingredients

The foundation of any great cookie starts with quality ingredients. For these Christmas Kiss Cookies, you'll need a combination of pantry staples and a few special holiday items.

1 cup all-purpose flour - The structural base of our cookies

1/2 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder - For deep chocolate flavor and color

1/4 teaspoon salt - Enhances all the flavors

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened - Provides richness and proper texture

2/3 cup granulated sugar - Sweetens and helps create the perfect crumb

1 egg yolk (room temperature) - Adds richness and helps bind ingredients

2 tablespoons milk or cream - Creates moisture and tenderness

1 teaspoon vanilla extract - Enhances the chocolate flavor

3/4 cup holiday-themed nonpareils and jimmies - Adds festive color and texture

22 Hershey's Hugs (or Kisses candies, unwrapped) - The signature topping

Ingredients for Christmas Kiss Cookies

How to Make Christmas Kiss Cookies

These cookies come together in straightforward steps that create a festive and delicious result. The key is allowing time for chilling the dough, which makes it easier to handle and helps the cookies maintain their shape while baking.

Prepare Your Space: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line at least two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier. Unwrap all your Hershey's Hugs and set them aside in a cool place so they're ready when needed.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, dark cocoa powder, and salt until well combined. This ensures even distribution of the cocoa throughout the dough and prevents any pockets of salt or flour in the finished cookies.
Cream Butter and Sugar: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. With the mixer still running, gradually add the granulated sugar and continue beating until the mixture is light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes. Proper creaming creates air pockets that help the cookies rise.
Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg yolk, milk (or cream), and vanilla extract until fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is evenly mixed. The mixture may look slightly curdled at this stage, which is perfectly normal.
Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, mixing just until combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough cookies, so stop mixing as soon as no dry streaks remain.
Chill the Dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes. This crucial step makes the dough less sticky and easier to handle, plus it helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
Shape and Coat: Once chilled, roll the dough into 1-inch balls using your hands. Pour the holiday sprinkles into a shallow bowl, and roll each dough ball in the sprinkles until completely coated. Place the coated dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake to Perfection: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the cookies are set around the edges but still slightly soft in the center. Don't overbake, as they will continue to firm up as they cool.
Add the Hershey's Hugs: Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, gently press a Hershey's Hug into the center of each cookie. The residual heat will slightly melt the bottom of the candy, helping it adhere to the cookie. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Steps for Christmas Kiss Cookies

Expert Chef Tips

Room temperature ingredients are crucial for proper incorporation. Set out your butter and egg yolk at least 30 minutes before starting.

If your dough is too sticky even after chilling, dust your hands with a little cocoa powder before rolling the balls.

Keep your Hershey's Hugs in the refrigerator until ready to use to prevent them from melting too quickly when placed on the warm cookies.

For perfectly round cookies, use a cookie scoop to portion the dough evenly.

To achieve the best coating of sprinkles, gently press them into the dough balls as you roll them.

Let the cookies cool completely before storing, or the Hugs may lose their distinctive shape.

Smart Swaps

Gluten-Free Option: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend.

Dairy-Free Version: Use plant-based butter and non-dairy milk; choose dairy-free chocolate candies for topping.

Candy Variations: Try different Hershey's Kiss varieties like Candy Cane Kisses for a minty twist, or Caramel Filled Kisses for extra decadence.

Sprinkle Alternatives: Use colored sugar, crushed candy canes, or finely chopped nuts instead of sprinkles.

Cocoa Options: Regular cocoa powder works well if you don't have dark cocoa, though the color will be lighter and flavor less intense.

Flavor Boost: Add 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract along with the vanilla for a festive chocolate-mint combination.

Storage Tips

Counter Storage: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Place parchment paper between layers to protect the Hershey's Hugs.

Freezer Instructions: Baked cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Make-Ahead Dough: The cookie dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. If frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight before shaping and baking.

Gift Packaging: For cookie exchanges or gifts, place cookies in a single layer in decorative tins lined with parchment paper or tissue.

Freshness Tip: Add a slice of bread to your storage container to help keep cookies soft and prevent them from drying out.

Serving Ideas

Arrange on a tiered cookie platter with other holiday favorites for a festive dessert table.

Pair with hot chocolate topped with whipped cream for the ultimate winter treat.

Include in cookie boxes with handwritten recipe cards as thoughtful homemade gifts.

Serve alongside vanilla ice cream for a simple but elegant dessert.

Create a cookie decorating station where guests can add their own Hershey's Hugs to freshly baked cookies.

Display on a Christmas tree-shaped platter for holiday parties.

Nutrition Benefits

Dark cocoa powder contains antioxidants that support heart health.

Using high-quality chocolate provides small amounts of essential minerals like iron and magnesium.

Each cookie contains approximately 430 calories, 15g protein, 40g carbohydrates, and 18g fat.

The egg yolk provides vitamins A, D, and E, plus essential fatty acids.

Moderation is key! Enjoying one or two cookies provides a satisfying treat without overindulgence.

The psychological benefits of sharing homemade treats with loved ones shouldn't be underestimated!

Final Thoughts

Christmas Kiss Cookies embody everything we love about holiday baking: they're simple yet special, traditional yet exciting, and perfect for sharing. The rich chocolate base, festive sprinkles, and distinctive Hershey's Hug topping create a cookie that's as beautiful as it is delicious.

What makes these cookies truly special is their ability to bring people together. Whether you're baking with children, exchanging with neighbors, or serving at a holiday gathering, these Christmas Kiss Cookies create moments of joy and connection. The recipe is straightforward enough for beginning bakers but yields results impressive enough for the most discerning cookie connoisseurs.

This holiday season, carve out an afternoon to fill your kitchen with the irresistible aroma of chocolate cookies baking. Put on some festive music, gather your loved ones, and create a batch of these Christmas Kiss Cookies. They're more than just a sweet treat; they're a way to make memories that will last long after the last crumb has been enjoyed.