The Cookies Of Christmas-Chocolate Kiss Thumbprints
Thumbprints
Over the next few days I plan on posting recipes for cookies, specifically cookies that I will be including in my gift boxes this year. I have basically the same repertoire every year although sometimes I will skip some and add another just to change it up a bit.
I accidentally bought a bag of these lovely striped Hershey’s kisses, I thought they were the plain chocolate but when I opened one I was surprised to see this creamy white striped kiss. It is quite delicious and so pretty I was inspired to make these chocolate thumbprint cookies and top with a kiss, it will be added to my cookie gift boxes. I have no idea where I got these recipe, I have it written down and stored in a huge pile of recipes that I don’t know what to do with, I mean a huge binder of clippings and recipes I printed from the internet, hand written family recipes, some are decades old. My mantra is that one day I will scan and organize but years later it’s still sitting in my bookshelf with my cookbooks, unorganized. I tend to rotate certain recipes and I think it’s been a few years since I’ve made these, I love thumbprints, you can be creative with what to put in the indent, one year I put a maraschino cherry and drizzled with ganache, another year apricot jam (delicious with chocolate). They are such cute little bites and very easy to make.
Chocolate Thumbprints
Makes 36-48 cookies
2 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup butter room temperature (soft)
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4-1/2 cup sugar in bowl to roll cookies in.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat 1 cup each butter and sugar on medium-high until light and fluffy, 3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla; beat to combine. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture and beat to combine. Refrigerate the dough for an hour before baking. It did not say this in the recipe but I find it works best when the dough has been chilled.
Pre heat oven to 350 degree’s. Use a small scoop (so they are uniform in size) and roll in your hands into a ball, place dough in the bowl of sugar and make sure its completely covered, place on parchment or silpat lined baking sheet. Using your thumb make an indent on top of each ball. You can fit 1 dozen on a baking sheet, cookies should be at least an inch apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes no longer please, it really depends on your oven, when you remove them they will be soft,my first batch I kept in almost 10 minutes the second batch 8 minutes, I like them better when left in for 8 minutes. Remove from oven, let sit for 5 minutes on baking sheet and then place a kiss in the center of each cookies. Place on cooling rack. The kiss will soften but should retain it’s shape.
Cute
apuginthekitchen 
I personally like the striped kisses the most, Suzanne; these look so simple to make and all the more simple to gobble up one after another.
Not that I know anything about that lol Great job 😀
This was the first time I tasted them and I really liked, they are delicious on these little bites, neither one of us know anything at all about gobbling up those cookies, much to restrained. LOL, thank you so much,
We don’t have these over here, or at least I’ve never seen them. Nor do we have Hershey sweets/candy – not that I would notice as I never buy sweets. Chocolate, on the other hand…always by my bed. A little bit helps me sleep. No idea why. Anyway, love these thumbprint cookies. And, as you say, they could be filled with so many different combinations.
Hershey’s kisses have been around a very long time, I love them and I can totally see how a little bit of chocolate would help you sleep, I often make hot cocoa in the winter. Thank you, these little cookies are delicious and you can place anything in the center, they are so festive. Thanks Johnny.
I love these cookies! And the peanut butter version. My girlfriend makes a cookie that might be one of the best EVER . . . Salted Nutella Thumbprints. It’s basically a chocolate cookie (like yours) but salted and with some Nutella piped on top of it after baking. DIVINE.
Oh wow, that sounds fantastic, maybe I’ll try that with the rest of the dough I didn’t use. Thank you it sounds wonderful.
Oh my goodness those cookies looks toothsome. .. just love love love it and those striped kisses looks super cute on cookies…. yummmm
Thank you so much Chitra, they are really nice little cookies, the kisses in the center are a really delicious treat.
The perfect combination — delicious and cute! Adorable little cookies. Many hugs (to go with all those Hershey kisses! 🙂
Thanks Teagan, aren’t they too cute. I just love a kiss, hershey’s that is.
Love these! I am so old-fashioned and missing my Scottish Mom that I still – slightly – favor these with raspberry jam. But, hey – you are invited to San Diego to share cookies any time! And we need to do that. xo Liz
I love them with jam in the middle, its classic and will always be my favorite. I do like to mix it up sometimes and these little bites are really good. Liz, one day I would love to come visit you in
San Diego!!
I love how “dressed up” these cookies look with the striped kisses. The chocolate cookie base sounds great. I was actually looking for a chocolate cookie recipe to use up caramel filled kisses I bought (also on accident). Thanks for providing a delicious recipe!
Ha, I also bought a caramel by accident, that was my first, the second time I came home with the stripes so I have 2 bags of kisses to use. The caramel are really sweet. I learned that it doesn’t pay to shop when you are in a hurry, I tend to not stop and read the package I just grab and go, Oh well, these little cookies are good and I really like the striped kiss, it looks pretty, Thank you so much Nancy.
These look sooo yummy Suzanne! I love the striped kisses, I’ve never seen them before (we don’t have kisses in the UK so that doesn’t say much haha). I’m very jealous of the lucky people getting those cookie gift boxes!
I am so surprised they don’t have Hershey’s kisses in the UK, they are so wonderful. Just a perfect little bite of chocolate. Thank you so much.
We don’t have Hershey’s at all in the UK, except for sometimes in the “USA” aisle where they have a few way overpriced imported things from America. Personally I really don’t like Hershey’s milk chocolate, but I like their dark chocolate and I think I’d like these ones, especially in a cookie!
Hi Suzanne, I do need to get on the ball and start baking some cookies, I now have this recipe marked to add to my collection. Thanks for sharing!
I am having a very slow start, by now I would have enough cookie dough for many many dozens of cookies and I’m afraid I have been so busy with work I haven’t done it yet. This was a start but need to do more. The thumbprints are so festive thank you so much.
The stripped kisses definitely dressed up this cookie. I love thumbprints, and can’t imagine anyone resisting these cookies!
Thank you so much Julie!
I am adding these to my list of cookies to make this week. They look delicious! You are so awesome!!
Thanks so much Michelle, I have to get baking!!
Your thumbprints look perfect Suzanne – I’ve never made chocolate ones. Looking forward to seeing the rest of your cookie collection too.
They are really nice, I love thumbprints, have a recipe for brown butter thumbprints I have to try. Love your gingerbread, making that this year.
Hope you love it Suzanne – it’s been a family favourite for generations.
I have to start on these asap, I am desperately behind in my baking, Will let you know but I am certain I will love.
Your special cookies look very tasty! I never tried one of these before! I must change that! x
Thank you so much!
Yum, those striped Hershey’s kisses are gorgeous! They look stunning on top of the thumbprint cookies 🙂 Ah, the people getting your gift boxes are ridiculously lucky (send me one? Just kidding! Love the idea though!) xx
I wish it weren’t so expensive to send to the Australia, I would I really would. Thanks so much Laura.
I know what you mean, I’ve sent a few things to America and it’s about $60 Aussie a pop! Yikes. No, I’m happy just to look at your beautiful images for now Suz. And one day (I was just writing to Azita!) I will make it over there to see you. Hugs xxxxx
Wouldn’t that be wonderful, would just love to meet you, Did you know Azita and I are only 3 houses apart on the same block. love her!! Thanks Laura.
These look lovely! I don’t think I could buy Hersheys kisses over here although they do sell other products in the American section of my local supermarket – I’ll have to look a bit more closely at what’s there.
It’s amazing how just by adding the striped kiss it looks really festive, and I love your idea of the maraschino cherry in the middle 🙂
It really is amazing right, kind of wish it were mint, I have to look for that also. Thanks so much.
I can’t wait to read (and use!) this series of posts Suzanne – I was actually eyeing off a few Cookie Cookbooks in the library today, trying to find some extra inspiration for Christmas baking – so this post and the ones to come will be very much welcome! These look so fun and festive!
I also have been searching for inspiration, I get in a cookie rut making the same ones every year. They are really good but I like to change it up a bit. Thanks so much Margot.
They look fantastic
Thank you so much!
These are delicious!! We make these too every year 🙂 Merry Christmas Suzanne!!
I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas this year time has gotten away from me. Merry Christmas!
These are great thumbprints! Love the striped kisses 🙂 Oh do I want these now. Can’t wait to see what you’ve got coming.
I do too, the striped kisses are so cute on the cookie and look really festive. Thank you so much.
I’m getting ready to start my cookie baking this weekend. These will be a great addition, thanks for sharing!
These are really good, I added an additional note that I prefer them baked for 8 minutes and no longer, It depends on the oven I guess but at 8 minutes they were softer. Thanks so much.
The chocolate cookie base sounds yummy, and I love it how you have added those striped kisses. Gorgeous! 🙂
Thanks Fae, thought it would look festive for the holidays.
This thumb print cookies look incredible!!! lovely bitesize chocolate cookies.. Oh how I wish I had some of these cookies with me.. YUMMM!!! 🙂
Thank you so much, they are lovely little bites.
Thumbprint cookies are so cute. I would love to get a box of these for the holidays!
Would love to send you some!!! Thanks so much.
These look absolutely delicious Suzanne! I love the striped kisses….makes them more festive and pretty like that. I have never made thumbprint cookies before, but see them all the time. I really need to create some. These are perfect looking.
I bet you would come up with a wonderful vegan thumbprint that would be amazing. thank you so much Brandi.
These are absolutely adorable! I love that you used the stripped kisses–so festive!
Thanks Melissa, I really love those kisses.
Suzanne, these cookies are on my list to do! This week and may be super soon! Will keep you posted! Awesome awesome awesome.
They are really nice cookies, love the kisses, thanks Sonal!!
yum! Your gift box recipients are lucky folk 🙂
Thanks Liz. Running so behind this year, yikes!!
Those cookies are amazing Suzanne! They seem just came out from a pastry shop oven!
Oh, to be on your gift list! These look delicious. 😉
Guess what cookies my kids’ teachers are getting this year…