Peppermint Chocolate Cookies with Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses

Gosh, blogging and school-ing (when college is two weeks away from ending the semester) kind of seems impossible with all of the daunting papers, presentations and exams that are just waiting around the corner. But I just couldn't help myself when it came to the December Chocolate blog party ingredient. Peppermint (well mint at all I guess) and chocolate. YUM! 'Nuff said.

When I started discovering all of the wonderfully delicious different flavors of Hershey's kisses, I got so excited because that just meant endless possibilities for blossom cookies! The kisses are white chocolate with little beads of red peppermint in them, and a cute red swirl. These cookies are pretty tasty because the chocolate dough is peppermint as well. I was hoping to get them to look a bit more like crackle cookies by rolling them in powdered sugar (however, because the chocolate cookie dough wasn't quite dark enough, the sugar just kind of made this snow-like looking layer), as well as have them be a bit thicker (more like traditional short-fat-stout-blossoms).

I had made the dough before me and my roommates went out to our local movie theater that shows old movies for five bucks (They were playing LOVE ACTUALLY!!!! My absolute favorite holiday movie. Ever. I seriously start watching it November first straight all the way through Christmas-probably have already seen in this season like 15 times; I also got a hot chocolate with Baileys in it because they have a full bar at the theater. OH.so.yum.)

"Worse than the total agony of being in love?!"

She doesn't deserve his romantic-ness.

But back to the cookies: I left the dough in the fridge for a few hours, and baked them when I got back so they ended up spreading a little more in the oven than I thought they would (baking soda was a bit less reactive after already being moistened too early before baking I'm assuming). But hey...they taste pretty great so I guess that's what matters.

December also means ADVENT CALENDARS :D

These are the definite star ingredients in this recipe:

I used good quality dark Ghiradelli cocoa powder, peppermint extract (the original recipe called for oil...never used that before), and those yummy kisses!

So here's the recipe: (Somewhat adapted from: Cooks.com)

3/4 cup (1 and a half sticks) room temperature unsalted butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp peppermint extract
1 3/4 cup ap flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 bag Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses

In the bowl of a standmixer, beat the butter and sugars together until it is light and fluffy. Then mix in the egg and both extracts. In a separate small bowl, combine your dry ingredients and whisk together. With the mixer on low speed, add in the flour mixture until it all just comes together.



Scoop out the cookies with a tablespoon or a cookie scoop onto a prepared cookie sheet, and bake for 10-12 minutes. You can try doing the crackle-look by rolling each cookie in powdered sugar before baking, but I'd recommend using a recipe that has darker chocolate in it for that affect.

Let cool for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. Then push one kiss lightly into the middle of each cookie. And there ya go! Super yummy.

I freaking love the Holidays. Christmas is one of the only times of year where I get to see all of my siblings at once, and I can't wait for this year! Tons of baking will be scheduled with my two sisters I'm sure.  I just have to get through finals! Well, as a little sneaky hint for what I've been thinking about as my next post...just think holiday-ish ice cream! :) Can't wait.

And of course here's the link to the chocolate blog party if anyone is interested in reading about it: