Introduction
These Christmas Kiss Cookies are a festive collection of six soft, buttery cookies topped with chocolate or peppermint KISSES. The six flavors shown are Peanut Butter, Cherry Blossom, Double Chocolate, Peppermint, Gingerbread, and Red Velvet. They are perfect for Christmas cookie trays, holiday parties, edible gifts, and cozy family baking.
The classic peanut-butter version is especially well known as the Peanut Butter Blossom, traditionally finished by pressing a chocolate Kiss into the warm cookie immediately after baking.
Origin and Cultural Significance
The original Peanut Butter Blossom has a strong connection to American holiday baking. It traces back to the 1957 Pillsbury Bake-Off, where Freda Smith entered an early version of the cookie. The combination of peanut butter and chocolate later became closely associated with HERSHEY’S KISSES.
Today, Kiss cookies are popular on Christmas cookie platters because they’re easy to customize with different dough flavors and chocolate varieties.
🍪 Ingredients — Base Dough
Makes about 36–40 cookies
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (125 g) creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 36–40 chocolate or peppermint KISSES
- ¼ cup extra granulated sugar, for rolling
The classic peanut-butter formula is based on the familiar combination of peanut butter, butter, sugars, flour, egg and chocolate KISSES used in established Peanut Butter Blossom recipes.
🎄 Six Flavor Variations
1. 🥜 Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Use the base dough as written.
Roll each dough ball in granulated sugar and finish with a milk-chocolate Kiss.
2. 🍒 Cherry Blossom Kiss Cookies
Add:
- ½ cup finely chopped maraschino cherries
- 1–2 tbsp cherry juice
- Optional: a few drops of red food coloring
Top with a chocolate Kiss or white-chocolate Kiss.
3. 🍫 Double Chocolate Kiss Cookies
Add:
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp extra flour if needed
- Chocolate KISSES for the center
For an especially chocolate-rich version, cocoa can be incorporated into the cookie dough; chocolate-peanut-butter blossoms are also a recognized variation.
4. 🍬 Peppermint Kiss Cookies
Add:
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- ¼ cup crushed peppermint candy
Top with peppermint/candy-cane KISSES.
5. 🎄 Gingerbread Kiss Cookies
Add:
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- 2 tbsp molasses
Top with a chocolate or white-chocolate Kiss.
6. ❤️ Red Velvet Kiss Cookies
Add:
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1–2 tsp red gel food coloring
- ½ tsp vanilla
- Optional: ½ tsp vinegar for a subtle red-velvet tang
Top with white chocolate or candy-cane KISSES.
✨ Optional Additions
For an extra festive appearance, try:
- Christmas sprinkles
- Colored sanding sugar
- Crushed candy canes
- White chocolate drizzle
- Mini chocolate chips
- Chopped pecans or walnuts
- Red and green sugar crystals
- Cream cheese-flavored chips
- Chocolate or peppermint KISSES
👩🍳 Tips for Success
- Use room-temperature butter so the dough mixes evenly.
- Don’t overmix after adding the flour.
- Make the cookies approximately the same size so they bake evenly.
- Leave about 2 inches between cookies on the baking sheet.
- Don’t overbake—remove them when the edges are just set.
- Press the Kiss into the cookie immediately after removing it from the oven. This is the key technique used in classic Blossom recipes.
- Let the cookies cool completely before storing so the chocolate can firm up.
- For cleaner-looking cookies, chill the dough for about 20–30 minutes if it feels too soft.
🥣 Instructions
Step 1 — Prepare
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Unwrap all of your KISSES before baking so they’re ready to use immediately.
Step 2 — Make the Dough
Beat the softened butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and creamy.
Add the egg and vanilla and mix until combined.
Step 3 — Add Dry Ingredients
Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix just until a soft dough forms.
Step 4 — Choose Your Flavor
Divide the dough into portions and prepare each variation:
Peanut Butter: use as is.
Cherry: fold in cherries and cherry juice.
Double Chocolate: add cocoa powder.
Peppermint: add peppermint extract and crushed candy.
Gingerbread: add spices and molasses.
Red Velvet: add cocoa and red coloring.
Step 5 — Shape
Roll the dough into approximately 1-inch balls.
Roll each ball in granulated sugar and place on the prepared baking sheet.
Step 6 — Bake
Bake for approximately 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the cookies are just set. Classic Hershey’s Peanut Butter Blossoms use a similar 8–10 minute baking window at 375°F.
Step 7 — Add the Kiss
Immediately press one Kiss into the center of each hot cookie.
The cookie will naturally crack slightly around the chocolate.
Step 8 — Cool
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack.
Cool completely before packaging.
🍪 Description
These Christmas Kiss Cookies are soft, tender and festive, with six different flavors offering something for everyone. The peanut butter version gives you the classic sweet-and-salty combination, while cherry adds fruity sweetness, double chocolate delivers intense cocoa flavor, peppermint brings a refreshing holiday note, gingerbread adds warm spices, and red velvet creates a beautiful Christmas-red cookie.
📊 Nutritional Information
Approximate per cookie, depending on the variation and type of Kiss:
- Calories: 100–130 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 13–17 g
- Protein: 1–3 g
- Fat: 5–7 g
- Saturated fat: 2–3 g
- Sugar: 8–11 g
- Sodium: 60–100 mg
For comparison, the official HERSHEY’S classic Peanut Butter Blossom recipe lists about 90 calories per cookie for its specific formulation and serving size.
These numbers are estimates and will vary significantly with the size of the cookies and the particular chocolate/candy used.
🎁 Conclusion
These 6 Christmas Kiss Cookies are a wonderful way to turn one basic cookie concept into an entire holiday assortment. Their colorful appearance and variety of flavors make them ideal for Christmas cookie exchanges, dessert tables, gift boxes and family baking days.
⭐ Recommendation
For a Christmas cookie platter, I recommend making all six flavors and arranging them together in red, green and white colors. The contrast between the chocolate, peppermint, gingerbread and red velvet varieties makes the tray look especially festive.
❤️ Embracing Healthful Indulgence
Holiday cookies are meant to be enjoyed, so the goal doesn’t have to be eliminating treats—it can be mindful indulgence. Enjoy one or two cookies alongside fruit, nuts, yogurt or a warm unsweetened drink, and savor them slowly. For a lighter option, make smaller cookies and keep the portions modest while still enjoying the flavors and traditions of Christmas.