Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
by Jessica | September 23, 2026 12:22 pm
These Candy Cane Kiss Cookies are one of those Christmas cookies that look way harder than they actually are.
You get a soft peppermint sugar cookie, little bits of crunchy candy cane, and a sweet Candy Cane Kiss right in the middle. Basically, it tastes like Christmas in cookie form.
And yes, they look cute enough for a Christmas cookie tray. But honestly? I’d make them even if nobody was coming over. 😂
They’re simple, festive, and perfect for cookie exchanges, holiday parties, or just keeping a little container of cookies on the kitchen counter.
Why You’ll Love These Cookies
There are plenty of Christmas cookies out there, but these are especially fun because you get a few different textures in one bite.
The cookie is soft and buttery. The crushed candy cane gives it a little crunch. Then you get that creamy peppermint chocolate in the middle.
And the best part?
You don’t need fancy decorating skills.
No piping bags. No complicated frosting. No trying to make cookies look like something from a bakery.
Just bake, press a chocolate kiss into the middle, and you’re done.
What You’ll Need
Here’s what goes into the cookies:
- Unsalted butter, softened
- Granulated sugar
- Large egg
- Vanilla extract
- Peppermint extract
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Milk
- Crushed candy canes
- Candy Cane Kisses
I like using peppermint extract along with the crushed candy canes because it gives the cookies that unmistakable holiday flavor.
Just don’t go crazy with the peppermint extract. A little goes a long way.
How to Make Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
Add the softened butter and most of the sugar to a large mixing bowl.
Beat until the mixture looks light and fluffy.
Add the egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract. Mix again until everything is combined.
At this point, your kitchen should already smell pretty good.
2. Mix the dry ingredients
In another bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.
Add the milk and crushed candy canes, then mix just until the dough comes together.
Don’t overmix it. Once everything is combined, you’re good.
Scoop out about a tablespoon of dough at a time and roll it between your hands to make little balls.
Roll each ball in the remaining sugar.
Place them on parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving some space between each cookie.
4. Chill the dough
This is the one step I wouldn’t skip.
Put the cookie sheets in the refrigerator and chill the dough balls for about 2 hours.
I know. Waiting for cookies is annoying.
But chilling helps the cookies keep their shape while they bake.
5. Bake
Preheat your oven to 375°F.
Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes, or until the centers look set.
You don’t want to overbake them. The cookies should still have a soft texture.
Let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes.
6. Add the Candy Cane Kiss
While the cookies are still warm, unwrap your Candy Cane Kisses and gently press one into the center of each cookie.
That’s it.
Let the cookies cool completely so the chocolate can set.
A Few Easy Tips
Don’t skip the chilling time.
The dough is much easier to work with after chilling, and the cookies are less likely to spread too much in the oven.
Crush the candy canes pretty small.
You want little peppermint pieces throughout the cookie, not giant chunks that make the cookies difficult to eat.
A zip-top bag and a rolling pin work perfectly if you don’t want to pull out a food processor.
Be gentle with the chocolate kisses.
You don’t need to push them all the way down. Just press them into the warm cookie until they sit nicely in the center.
Let them cool before moving them.
The melted chocolate needs time to firm back up.
If you move them too soon, things can get a little messy. And yes, I know this from experience. 😉
Can I Use Regular Hershey’s Kisses?
Absolutely.
If you can’t find Candy Cane Kisses, regular chocolate kisses will still work.
You can also try another Hershey’s Kiss flavor if you want to change things up.
The peppermint cookie works with chocolate really well, so you have some room to play around.
Can I Leave Out the Candy Cane Pieces?
Yes.
If you don’t love crunchy candy cane pieces, simply leave them out of the dough.
You’ll still have a soft peppermint cookie with a chocolate kiss in the center.
You could also make half the batch with candy cane pieces and half without them.
Can I Add Food Coloring?
Sure!
If you want these to look extra festive, add a tiny amount of red or green gel food coloring to the dough.
You don’t need much.
You can even divide the dough and make two different colors for a fun Christmas cookie tray.
Can I Add Sprinkles?
Definitely.
Roll the cookie dough balls in Christmas sprinkles before baking instead of plain sugar.
Red and green sprinkles would look adorable, or you can use white sprinkles for a snowy look.
How to Store Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
Keep the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
They should stay good for several days.
If you like cold cookies, you can also keep them in the refrigerator. I actually think the peppermint flavor is really nice when they’re chilled.
You can also freeze the baked cookies in a freezer-safe container for longer storage.
Just let them thaw before serving.
Can I Make These Ahead of Time?
Yes!
These are actually a nice cookie to make ahead for Christmas.
You can prepare the dough balls, chill them, and bake them when you’re ready.
You can also bake the cookies ahead of time and store them in an airtight container until you need them.
That makes them especially handy when you’re getting ready for a holiday party or cookie exchange.
What to Serve With Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
These cookies are made for a cozy drink.
Try serving them with:
- Hot chocolate
- Coffee
- Peppermint tea
- Warm milk
- Eggnog
And if you’re making a Christmas cookie tray, add a few different shapes and flavors around them.
The red-and-white peppermint look makes these cookies stand out without needing much decoration.
Christmas Cookie Exchange Idea
If you’re taking cookies to a Christmas cookie exchange, these are a fun choice because they look homemade but still have that festive little “wow” factor.
Put them in a simple holiday tin with parchment paper between the layers.
You can even make a double batch because, let’s be honest, cookies have a mysterious way of disappearing before the party starts.
Quick Recipe Notes
Texture: Soft and slightly chewy with crunchy peppermint pieces.
Flavor: Sweet, buttery, and pepperminty with creamy chocolate in the middle.
Best for: Christmas parties, cookie exchanges, holiday baking, gifting, and dessert trays.
Difficulty: Easy.
Prep ahead: Yes.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dough may not have been chilled long enough, or the butter may have been too warm.
Chilling the shaped dough balls before baking helps them hold their shape.
When should I add the chocolate kiss?
Add it after the cookies come out of the oven and have cooled for about 5 minutes.
The cookie should still be warm enough for the chocolate to settle into the center.
Yes. Let them cool completely, then store them in an airtight freezer-safe container.
What if I don’t have peppermint extract?
You can leave it out, although the peppermint flavor will be milder.
The crushed candy canes will still add some peppermint flavor.
How do I keep the Candy Cane Kiss from getting too soft?
After adding the chocolate kiss, let the cookies cool completely before stacking or storing them.
If your kitchen is warm, you can place the cookies in the refrigerator for a short time to help the chocolate set.
Final Thoughts
These Candy Cane Kiss Cookies are exactly the kind of Christmas cookie I love.
Nothing complicated.
No fancy decorating.
Just a soft sugar cookie with peppermint flavor, little crunchy candy cane pieces, and a chocolate kiss sitting right in the middle.
They’re pretty enough for a holiday dessert table but easy enough to make on a random December afternoon.
And if you have kids around, let them unwrap the kisses. That’s probably the most important job anyway. ❤️
Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
Servings: About 28 cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1¼ cups granulated sugar, divided
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons milk
- ½ cup crushed candy canes
- 28 Candy Cane Kisses
Instructions
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Beat the softened butter with 1 cup of the sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract. Mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture along with the milk and crushed candy canes. Mix just until combined.
- Scoop about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball.
- Roll each dough ball in the remaining ¼ cup of sugar.
- Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between them.
- Refrigerate the dough balls for about 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the centers are set.
- Let the cookies cool for about 5 minutes.
- Press one unwrapped Candy Cane Kiss into the center of each cookie.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely before serving or storing.
Enjoy!
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