Preheat your oven to 350°F. This is the perfect temperature for baking, ensuring that your cookies become golden on the outside while remaining soft and chewy inside. Make sure to clear some space in your refrigerator or freezer for your cookie sheet, as it will come in handy later.
In a large mixer bowl, combine powdered sugar, butter, egg, and the optional peppermint extract and vanilla extract. Using an electric mixer, beat these ingredients at medium speed for about 2 to 3 minutes. The mixture should become creamy and well-blended, with a smooth texture. Remember to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is mixed thoroughly.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. This step ensures that all the dry ingredients are evenly mixed, which helps with the overall texture of your cookies.
Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients. Beat again at medium speed, scraping the bowl often until the mixture is well blended. It might seem a bit crumbly at this stage, but that’s perfectly normal.
Stir in the finely chopped Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses. This will give your cookies an added crunch and minty flavor. Make sure they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Next, shape the dough into 3/4-inch to 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in granulated white sugar to give them a sparkling finish. It's a simple but effective way to add sweetness to the exterior of the cookies.
Place the dough balls about 1 inch apart on the cookie sheet. This spacing is important as the cookies will spread while baking, so give them ample room.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. The cookies should be set but still soft. Keep an eye on them, as oven temperatures can vary. You want them light golden brown around the edges.
As soon as they come out of the oven, immediately press a Candy Cane Kiss into the center of each cookie. They will crack slightly around the edges, which is fine. Use your fingers to gently hold the cookie together while pressing the kiss inside.
To set the kisses quickly, place the cookie sheet in the freezer (preferred) or refrigerator for a few minutes. This helps the kisses maintain their shape and not melt too much. If you’re quick, you’ll end up with perfectly shaped kisses on your cookies.
Once they’re set, store your cookies in a covered container at room temperature for up to a week. If you want to keep them longer, they can last in the freezer for a couple of weeks.
