If you love the classic combination of cherry and chocolate, these Cherry Kiss Cookies are a must-try! These delightful little cookies are soft, tender shortbread topped with Hershey’s Kisses and maraschino cherries. Perfect for festive occasions like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or a baby shower, these cookies also make a delicious everyday treat. Let’s dive into how to make these cherry-chocolate delights.
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Why You’ll Love Cherry Kiss Cookies
Cherry Kiss Cookies are not only adorable but are bursting with flavors that everyone will love. These cookies have a delicate shortbread texture, thanks to the use of confectioners’ sugar, which makes them melt in your mouth. The sweet cherry flavor from maraschino cherries, combined with the creamy chocolate of Hershey’s Kisses, creates the ultimate flavor duo. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or simply for an everyday snack, these cookies are sure to impress.
Ingredients for Cherry Kiss Cookies
To make these scrumptious Cherry Kiss Cookies, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Unsalted butter: Provides richness and creates the melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Confectioners’ sugar: This smooth, powdered sugar ensures a tender, shortbread-like texture.
- Salt: Enhances the flavor of the dough and balances the sweetness.
- Maraschino cherry juice: Adds that signature cherry flavor to the cookies.
- Almond extract: Complements the cherry flavor and adds a nutty aroma.
- All-purpose flour: The base of the dough, giving structure and consistency to the cookies.
- Red food coloring (optional): Adds a beautiful pink hue to the cookies, though it’s not necessary if you prefer a more subtle pink.
- Chopped maraschino cherries: These pieces give the cookies their signature cherry flavor.
- Hershey’s Kisses: These milk chocolate treats are placed on top of each cookie to add the perfect touch of chocolate.
Alternative Ingredient Suggestions
If you’re looking for some alternatives to customize the cookies, here are a few suggestions:
- Dark chocolate Hershey’s Kisses: Swap out milk chocolate for dark chocolate for a richer taste.
- Almond flour: If you’re following a gluten-free diet, you can substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour.
- Cherry extract: For a more concentrated cherry flavor, try using cherry extract instead of maraschino cherry juice.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making Cherry Kiss Cookies is easy and fun. Here’s how to do it:
- Cream the butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the unsalted butter, confectioners’ sugar, and salt together on low speed until combined. Increase to medium speed and continue to beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add flavorings: Mix in the maraschino cherry juice, almond extract, and red food coloring (if using). Stir until everything is well incorporated.
- Add cherries: Fold in the chopped maraschino cherries until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Mix in the flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour, beating on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Shape the dough: Scoop the dough into 1-inch balls, using about 1 ½ tablespoons per cookie. Place the dough balls on ungreased baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake the cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the bottoms of the cookies start to turn light golden brown.
- Add the Hershey’s Kisses: Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, gently press a Hershey’s Kiss into the center of each cookie. The cookies may crack slightly around the edges, which is perfectly normal.
- Cool the cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 2 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Tips & Tricks for Perfect Cherry Kiss Cookies
Here are a few tips to make sure your Cherry Kiss Cookies turn out perfectly:
- Don’t press the Hershey’s Kisses too hard: When placing the Kisses on the warm cookies, press them down just slightly. If you press too hard, the Kisses might lose their shape.
- Chill the dough: If you find the dough too sticky to handle, chill it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before scooping and baking.
- Use room temperature butter: To get that perfect smooth texture, make sure your butter is at room temperature before you start mixing.
Pairing Ideas and Variations
While Cherry Kiss Cookies are fantastic on their own, you can elevate them by pairing them with various sides or drinks. Here are some pairing ideas:
- Milk or hot cocoa: These cookies go perfectly with a glass of cold milk or a cup of warm cocoa.
- Ice cream: Serve these cookies alongside a scoop of vanilla or cherry ice cream for a double dose of cherry flavor.
- Gluten-free version: You can easily make these cookies gluten-free by using a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
Health Benefits of Cherry Kiss Cookies
Though Cherry Kiss Cookies are a treat, you can still enjoy them in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Cherries are a good source of antioxidants, which help protect your cells from damage. They also provide a small amount of vitamins and fiber, so you can feel good about enjoying a few of these cherry-chocolate delights!
Cherry Kiss Cookies are the perfect balance of sweet cherry and rich chocolate. With a soft, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread texture and a burst of fruity flavor, these cookies are ideal for any occasion. Follow this easy recipe to create a batch that will impress family and friends alike.
Conclusion: Enjoy Your Cherry Kiss Cookies!
Cherry Kiss Cookies offer the perfect blend of sweet cherry flavor and rich chocolate, all wrapped in a melt-in-your-mouth shortbread texture. Whether you’re making them for a festive occasion like Christmas or Valentine’s Day, or simply as a delicious treat for yourself, these cookies are sure to impress everyone who tastes them. The easy-to-follow recipe ensures you’ll have a batch of these delightful cookies in no time. Bake, share, and savor the joy of this irresistible cherry-chocolate duo!
FAQs About Cherry Kiss Cookies
Can I use dark chocolate Hershey’s Kisses instead of milk chocolate?
Yes, you can use dark chocolate Hershey’s Kisses in place of milk chocolate for a richer, more intense flavor. However, many find the combination of milk chocolate and cherry to be a perfect match. Experiment and see which version you like best!
Is red food coloring necessary in this recipe?
No, red food coloring is entirely optional. While it enhances the pink hue of the cookies, the maraschino cherries themselves already provide a subtle pink color. Feel free to skip the coloring if you prefer a more natural look.
How do I store Cherry Kiss Cookies?
Store your Cherry Kiss Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If you’d like to keep them fresh longer, you can freeze the cookies by placing them in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Make sure to let them cool completely before freezing.
More Relevant Recipes
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Cherry Kiss Cookies
- Total Time: 39 minutes
- Yield: 30 cookies 1x
Description
Cherry Kiss Cookies are a delightful treat that combines the rich flavor of cherry shortbread with the sweetness of Hershey’s Kisses. These cookies are tender, melt-in-your-mouth, and topped with a piece of chocolate, making them the perfect dessert for special occasions or a simple treat.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons maraschino cherry juice
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 6 drops red food coloring (optional)
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup chopped maraschino cherries
- About 30 Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter, confectioners’ sugar, and salt until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Mix in maraschino cherry juice, almond extract, and red food coloring (if using) until fully incorporated.
- Fold in chopped maraschino cherries.
- Gradually add the flour and mix on low speed until just combined.
- Scoop dough into 1-inch balls, using about 1 ½ tablespoons per cookie. Place the dough balls on an ungreased cookie sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the bottoms of the cookies are light golden brown.
- As soon as you remove the cookies from the oven, gently press a Hershey’s Kiss into the center of each cookie.
- Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Use room temperature butter for the best results.
- If you prefer a more subtle pink color, you can skip the red food coloring.
- For a richer flavor, try using dark chocolate Hershey’s Kisses instead of milk chocolate.
- These cookies can be frozen before baking. Shape the dough into balls, freeze them, and store in a zip-top bag for later use.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 35mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
