Description
Festive peppermint red velvet blossom cookies bring holiday cheer with rich cocoa and cool mint flavors. Chocolate kisses nestled atop crimson cookies create perfect seasonal sweetness you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
Flavor and Color Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon red food coloring (gel recommended for vibrant color)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon milk
Finishing and Binding Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 24 peppermint Hershey’s Kisses (unwrapped)
- Granulated sugar (for rolling, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the baking environment by warming the oven to 350F (175C) and covering two baking trays with parchment paper for optimal cookie performance.
- Construct the dry foundation by thoroughly whisking flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium mixing vessel, then reserve to the side.
- Create a creamy base by vigorously blending butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar using an electric mixer until achieving a light, airy texture. Introduce egg, vanilla extract, red food coloring, and milk, mixing until harmoniously incorporated.
- Merge the dry and wet components gradually, stirring until just combined. The resulting dough should feel supple yet maintain structural integrity. If the mixture feels overly soft, chill for 15-20 minutes to enhance manageability.
- Form uniform spherical portions by rolling dough into compact 1-inch balls. Optionally coat each ball in granulated sugar for enhanced texture and visual appeal. Arrange the orbs on prepared baking sheets, maintaining approximately 2 inches of separation.
- Bake the cookie spheres for 8-10 minutes, ensuring edges appear firm while centers retain a delicate softness. Remove from heat and allow a brief 2-minute stabilization period.
- While cookies remain warm, delicately nestle a peppermint Hersheys Kiss into the center of each cookie, creating a smooth indentation. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack, permitting the chocolate topping to solidify completely.
Notes
- Chill the dough for better texture and prevent spreading, ensuring your cookies maintain a perfect round shape with crisp edges.
- Avoid overmixing the dough to keep cookies tender and prevent them from becoming tough or dense.
- Use gel food coloring for a more vibrant red color without adding extra liquid that might affect the cookie’s consistency.
- For a gluten-free version, swap all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, maintaining the same measurements.
- Press Kisses gently and quickly into warm cookies to create a smooth, glossy chocolate center without melting completely.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Create a festive twist by using seasonal Kiss flavors like candy cane or chocolate mint during holiday baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 143
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 56 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg