Name: Candy Cane Kiss Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 2 h 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ½ cup unsalted butter softened; 1¼ cup white sugar divided; 1 large egg; 1 tsp vanilla extract; ½ tsp peppermint extract; 2 cups all-purpose flour; ¼ tsp baking soda; ¼ tsp salt; 2 tsp milk; ½ cup crushed candy canes; 28 Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses

There’s something delightfully nostalgic about biting into a treat that marries minty freshness with classic chocolatey goodness. The Candy Cane Kiss Cookies Recipe is exactly that kind of joy — a festive twist on traditional cookies that’ll light up your kitchen with aroma and your heart with holiday spirit.

The image shows many round cookies on a metal cooling rack. Each cookie has two layers: the base layer is light beige with a slightly cracked and soft texture, speckled with tiny red bits inside the dough. The top layer is a round candy sitting right in the middle of the cookie, striped with red and white swirls, smooth and shiny. The cookies are closely placed next to each other, and a few wrapped candies with shiny red and silver wrappers are scattered among them. The background is a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Candy Cane Kiss Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Candy Cane Kiss Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Candy Cane Kiss Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Sharing this recipe feels like passing on a little piece of holiday magic. The Candy Cane Kiss Cookies Recipe blends the crunch of peppermint candy canes, that iconic Hershey’s Kiss center, and a buttery cookie that actually melts in your mouth. It’s a combo you didn’t know you needed — until now.

Magical Flavor Fusion: Peppermint and chocolate kiss perfectly complement a soft, buttery cookie base.
Festive and Fun: The crushed candy canes in the dough add a festive pop of color and a subtle crunch.
Simple Yet Impressive: It’s an easy recipe, but the end result looks and tastes like a bakery treat.
Great for Gifting and Parties: Everyone loves a cookie with a surprise inside, and these are perfect for holiday cookie exchanges.

A close-up view of a small round cookie with a light beige color and crumbly texture, held by a woman's hand at the bottom left. The cookie has small red bits mixed in the dough and a white and red striped chocolate drop placed upright in the center on top. The cookie is partly bitten, revealing a soft inside, and the background is filled with more similar cookies out of focus on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient plays a role in making these cookies the perfect holiday snack. From the buttery base that gives softness to the candy canes lending just the right amount of peppermint zing, every element is easy to find but blends beautifully for that classic wintry flavor.

Flat lay of a half cup of unsalted butter softened in a small white ceramic bowl, a small white bowl of white granulated sugar, a single large brown egg with clean shell, a tiny white bowl with clear vanilla extract, a tiny white bowl with clear peppermint extract, a simple white ceramic bowl filled with all-purpose flour, a small white bowl with baking soda, a small white bowl with salt, a small white bowl of milk, a small white bowl containing crushed red and white candy cane pieces, and a neat pile of red and white peppermint Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses chocolates, all arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted butter: Using unsalted allows you to control the saltiness and gives a rich buttery flavor.
White sugar: Dividing it gives the dough sweetness and also helps with the sugar coating on the outside for a slight crunch.
Egg: Binds everything together and adds moisture.
Vanilla extract: A warm base note that balances peppermint and chocolate.
Peppermint extract: The key to that festive “minty” flavor that pairs so well with candy canes.
All-purpose flour: Gives structure to the cookie without it being too dense.
Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise just a bit to stay soft.
Salt: Enhances all the sweet flavors — don’t skip it!
Milk: Adds just a touch of moisture to keep the dough tender.
Crushed candy canes: Adds crunch and festive color, plus that lovely peppermint burst in every bite.
Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses: The star center — gooey chocolate surrounded by a peppermint twist for pure holiday delight.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

While I stick pretty close to this recipe for its perfect balance, I love playing with a couple of tweaks depending on the mood or occasion. Don’t be afraid to personalize it — that’s part of the fun and what makes a recipe your own!

Variation: I sometimes swap out a few tablespoons of all-purpose flour for almond flour for a nuttier texture, and it turns out wonderfully. The cookies stay tender but with an extra dimension of flavor.
Dairy-free option: You can replace butter with a plant-based alternative and use a non-dairy milk like oat milk. Just be sure to keep the peppermint extract for that holiday kick.
Extra crunch: For a crunchier cookie, add finely chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts along with the candy canes.
Chocolate lovers: Add mini chocolate chips to the dough — because why not double down on chocolate?

Step-by-Step: How I Make Candy Cane Kiss Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Creaming the Butter and Sugar

Start by softening your butter — room temperature is key here so it creams nicely. Using a handheld mixer on medium-low speed, I beat the butter with 1 cup of sugar until it’s fluffy and pale, about 1-2 minutes. This step traps air in the mixture, making for those light, tender cookies you’ll love.

Step 2: Adding Egg and Extracts

Next, crack in the egg and stir in vanilla and peppermint extracts. Mixing about a minute until everything is smooth ensures that minty flavor distributes evenly through the dough — don’t rush this part for best results!

Step 3: Mixing Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This helps keep everything uniform so the baking soda works evenly, and you avoid little pockets of salt.

Step 4: Combining Dry and Wet Mixtures

Add your dry mix to the wet, pour in the milk, and toss in those crushed candy canes. Beat just until mixed — about 30 seconds. Over-mixing can lead to tougher cookies, so keep an eye.

Step 5: Forming and Coating the Dough Balls

Using about a tablespoon of dough per cookie, roll each into a smooth ball with your hands. Then, roll those balls in the remaining ¼ cup of sugar — this creates a nice sparkly coating that bakes into a slight crisp shell.

Step 6: Chill Before Baking

This is a game-changer step in my experience. Place the sugar-coated dough balls about 2 inches apart on parchment-lined sheets, then refrigerate for 2 hours. Chilling firms up the dough so the cookies bake evenly without spreading too thin or losing that soft center.

Step 7: Baking and Adding the Kiss

While chilling, preheat your oven to 375°F. Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes — you want the center set but still soft. Let them cool for 5 minutes before gently pressing an unwrapped Hershey’s Candy Cane Kiss right into the center. It melts slightly but keeps its shape beautifully, creating that signature “kiss” effect.

Top Tip

From my many baking adventures with this recipe, I’ve learned that patience with chilling is the secret to perfect texture and preventing cookie spread—don’t skip it, even if you’re tempted!

Chilling Matters: Letting the dough chill for the full 2 hours is crucial to keep the shape and texture just right.
Don’t Overmix: Mixing dry ingredients into wet just until combined keeps the cookies tender and soft.
Roll in Sugar: Coating dough in sugar before chilling adds an irresistible crunch and sparkle on the outside.
Add the Kiss at the End: Pressing in the chocolate after baking keeps it from fully melting and creating a gooey, decorative center.

How to Serve Candy Cane Kiss Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

I find a light dusting of powdered sugar on top just before serving makes these cookies look like they’ve been dusted with fresh snow. Sometimes, I also sprinkle a few extra crushed candy canes around the serving plate for a festive touch — looks gorgeous and amps up that peppermint vibe!

Side Dishes

Pair these cookies with a warm cup of hot chocolate or peppermint mocha to double down on that winter cozy feeling. They’re also a hit alongside vanilla or peppermint ice cream for dessert spreads.

Creative Ways to Present

At holiday parties, I like arranging these cookies in a wreath shape on a platter, nestled among pine branches and red berries for a stunning centerpiece. Wrapping small stacks with clear cellophane tied with festive ribbons makes for thoughtful, homemade gifts that everyone appreciates.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover Candy Cane Kiss Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature; they stay soft and delicious for up to a week. Just make sure the container is sealed tightly to keep the peppermint from becoming stale.

Freezing

Freezing the dough balls before baking is a wonderful time-saver. Just freeze them on a tray, then transfer to a ziplock bag. When you want fresh cookies, bake straight from frozen adding a couple of minutes to the baking time.

Reheating

To enjoy leftovers warm, I pop them in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes — it refreshes the texture without melting the Kiss completely. A quick microwave zap works too if you’re in a hurry, but watch carefully to avoid soggy cookies.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use regular Hershey's Kisses instead of Candy Cane Kisses?

Regular Hershey's Kisses will work, but you’ll miss the signature peppermint flavor inside the cookie. For that classic mint-chocolate combo, Candy Cane Kisses are the best choice.

Is chilling the dough really necessary?

Yes, chilling the dough is crucial. It helps the cookies maintain their shape during baking and prevents them from spreading too thin. It also enhances texture, making the cookies soft yet slightly crisp on the outside.

Can I make these cookies gluten-free?

You can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend designed for baking. Just check that your baking soda and other ingredients are gluten-free as well. Texture might vary slightly, but they’ll still taste delicious.

How should I store these cookies for gifting?

For gifting, store cookies in a single layer inside an airtight container, separated by parchment paper if stacking. Wrap the container in festive paper or place in a decorative tin to keep them fresh and looking pretty.

Final Thoughts

These Candy Cane Kiss Cookies Recipe hold a special place in my heart for their perfectly nostalgic holiday flavor and simple ingredients. They bring out smiles every time I serve them, and I hope you’ll find them just as joyful and easy to share. So grab your mixer, break out those candy canes, and make some magic in your kitchen — I promise it’s worth every delicious bite!