Peanut Butter Hershey Kiss Cookies

Walk into any kitchen near the holidays and you will surely find a variety of snacks, goodies, and sweet treats. Whether you are into salty or sweet snacks near the holidays, classic cookie recipes are always a go-to activity for many people to share with their families. These Peanut Butter Hershey Kiss Cookies are no exception. They are a classic flavor combination that almost anyone loves. If you are looking for a simple, straightforward, and never-goes-out-of-style type of recipe to add to your holiday repertoire, this is one to include.

The best part about this cookie recipe? It’s not only limited to the holidays. Whereas some flavor combinations may be strictly holiday flavors or holiday flavor combinations, peanut butter and chocolate is a flavor combination you can make year-round and nobody will think anything of it.

This could be a Valentine’s Day cookie, a summer cookie, a birthday cookie, there really is no limit to when you can or should make this recipe and I promise that no one will ever complain when you do. 

This is a fairly basic cookie recipe, so whether you are new to baking or you have spent a large a large portion of your life baking goodies, this recipe is accessible for almost anyone.

What Ingredients Do I Need?

Flour– This is the base of almost any baked good.

Brown Sugar/Granulated Sugar – This is a cookie after all! We need both types to make them sweet and add texture.

Baking Soda/Powder – We want those cookies to rise and puff up a bit!

Salt– Contrary to popular belief, salt does not make sweets salty. It makes the sweetness stand out!

Vanilla extract– A classic flavor that rounds up the peanut butter cookie nicely.

Eggs– Not for scrambling. These bind the cookies together.

Softened Butter/Shortening – This is the fat in the cookie. It adds flavor, texture, and structure.

Peanut Butter – This is a peanut butter cookie!

Chocolate Kiss Candies – This is the chocolate part of the cookie and cannot be left behind!

Specific Ingredient Measurements

½ C. Brown sugar

½ C. Granulated sugar plus extra for rolling the cookies in

½ C. Peanut butter

¼ C. Shortening

¼ C. Softened butter

1 ½ C. All-purpose flour

1 large egg

1 tsp. Baking powder

1 tsp. Baking soda

3 Dozen Hershey kisses

Instructions

FIRST STEP: 

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix the brown sugar, granulated sugar, peanut butter, shortening, and softened butter until well combined. Add the egg, salt, and vanilla.

Slowly add in the flour, baking soda, and baking powder.

SECOND STEP: 

Once all ingredients are combined together, roll the dough into small balls, and roll the balls of dough in a shallow plate or bowl of granulated sugar all the way around.

a)

b)

c)

d)

THIRD STEP: 

Place the sugar-coated balls of dough onto a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.

Remove from the oven, and immediately place a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie.

a)

b)

FOURTH STEP: 

Stick the tray of cookies into the freezer.

Let the cookies cool and then serve.

Why Do I need to Stick the Cookie Tray of Baked Cookies Into My Freezer?

This helps keep the Hershey kisses from melting. The chocolate candies need to be placed into the cookie immediately in order to stick to it properly. But — the cookies are HOT. We do not want the kiss candies to melt when they meet the cookie, so sticking them in the freezer helps them keep their shape.

How Long do These Cookies Last?

If stored in an airtight container, these cookies will be fresh for three to five days. When you plan to store them and put them away for the next day, make sure that they are cooled. Storing warm cookies in an airtight container can lock in heat which, in turn, will lock in moisture that you do not want in the container.

If you are making the dough ahead of time, you can freeze the dough balls! The dough balls can last up to three months in the freezer. When it comes time to finally bake them, be sure to add a couple of minutes to your cooking time to make sure they are cooked all the way through. This time will depend on how long they have been in the freezer, but 2-3 minutes usually does the trick.

These cookies are a classic treat that almost anyone you invite over or make them for will surely enjoy. Even if you are making them for just yourself, as you should, I promise you will end up making this recipe again and again.