Thumbprint Cookies with Candy Cane Kisses
Soft Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies
Original Thumbprint Cookies made with jam in the center and they are a classic Christmas cookie. These cookies originated in Sweden but quickly became holiday staples here, in US.
When making classic thumbprint cookies, you would make a small dip or a well in the cookie dough, fill the well with some jam, and bake them. These cookies are soft, buttery, and just heavenly with a little touch of sweet jam.
Every year, I make a holiday version of thumbprint cookies and fill them with candy cane Hershey’s kisses. I add a small amount of peppermint extract to the cookie batter to compliment the kisses.
They are great, easy peppermint cookies for the season.
Tips For Making Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies
- Don’t get scared that the dough looks very thick, it’s supposed to. It’s shortbread-like cookie dough, so it is firm. If the dough it not firm enough, it will spread and you won’t get the perfect round cookie balls.
- Don’t make a well when making these cookies, just roll a cookie dough ball and bake it.
- Gently press the Candy Cake Kiss into the center of the baked cookie as soon as you take them out of the oven, while they’re still hot.
- Transfer the cookies onto a wire rack to cool.
- This cookie dough can be used in other thumbprint cookies, just take out the peppermint extract from the recipe.
More Cookie Recipes To Make
- Nutella Cookies
- Orange Sugar Cookies
- Maple Pecan Cream Cheese Cookies
- Red Velvet Cream Cheese Cookies
- Shortbread Cookies with Chocolate
Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 2 egg yolks from large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp peppermint extract
- Salt
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 20-22 candy cane Hershey’s kisses (more if you want to decorate them)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Beat butter on medium-high speed for about a minute. Pour in sugar and beat butter and sugar for a couple more minutes.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition.
- Add peppermint and vanilla extracts and salt.
- Turn down the mixer to stir and add flour. Stir it in until combined. You may need to use rubber spatula at the end.
- Use #40 or #50 cookie scoop to scoop out even amounts of cookie dough. Roll cookie dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet 1 or 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes.
- Gently press in a candy cane kiss in the center of each cookie immediately after you take the cookies out of the oven. Cool cookies on a wire rack.
- To make decorative “snow,” simply grate candy cane kisses on a fine cheese grater over cookies.
Notes
Nutrition
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Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.
Yum!
Kisses melt as soon as you put them in the middle of the cookie why?
Hi Cheryl, I would let the cookies cool slightly so that they are still soft but not hot.
You can and I would cook them just a minute or 2 longer.
Can you freeze the cookie balls before baking them! Is the time and temp the same? Thank you.
How much salt am I supposed to add?
Hi, Amy, you add a pinch of salt.