Simple Savory & Satisfying: Christmas Kiss Cookies

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Christmas Kiss Cookies

These Hershey's Kiss cookies are a holiday tradition in my family. We've had them every Christmas for as long as I can remember and they always were--and still are--my all-time favorite Christmas cookies. My brother and I would unwrap all the Kisses, my mom would wrap them in the cookie dough then we would decorate them with colored sugar, sprinkles or frosting. These cookies are delicious with milk chocolate Kisses, heavenly with Hugs, and totally ambrosial with caramel Kisses. Hershey's makes so many different types of Kisses--almond, dark chocolate, candy cane, cherry, and many, many more--that it is easy to change this recipe up. But I like them best with good old milk chocolate Kisses.

Ingredients:
36 Kisses
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar--packed
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 2/3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

On medium speed, cream the shortening, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy. Add vanilla and egg and mix well. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the shortening mixture, mixing on medium speed. Mix well but be careful not to over beat. Wrap approximately 2 tablespoons of dough around a Kiss. Dip the cookie in sugar or sprinkles. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 6 to 7 minutes. Only the bottoms of the cookie will brown. Cool on a wire rack. If you want to use the whole package of Kisses, double the recipe.