The 6-Ingredient Christmas Cookies I’ve Been Making for Over 20 Years
My absolute favorite Christmas cookies are those classics that evoke serious nostalgia. These are the cookies I learned from either my mom or grandma (looking at you applesauce cookies and snowball cookies), ones I grew up baking every December (hello, thumbprint cookies), or those brought home in a tin from my family’s annual cookie swap (love you, chocolate crinkles).
This year, I’m excited to introduce my son to a family favorite that my mom introduced me to a few decades ago: hidden treasure cookies (you might also know them as secret kisses or hidden kiss cookies). From the outside, these simple, soft, sugar-coated shortbread cookies look a little like snowballs, but take a bite and you’ll discover a chocolate kiss candy tucked away in the center.
Why You’ll Love It
The hidden chocolate center! Talk about a sweet surprise. All you need are those little foil-wrapped chocolate kisses.
There’s a short ingredient list of pantry ingredients. You only need six ingredients to make these cookies, and there’s a good chance you already have most of them on hand.
They can be made in advance. The unbaked dough balls can be frozen until solid, then stored in a zip-top bag in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to bake, let the dough balls sit on the baking sheet at room temperature while the oven is heating, and add one to two minutes to the bake time. You can also freeze the fully baked cookies without powdered sugar. When you’re ready to dig in, thaw at room temperature before coating twice in powdered sugar.
Key Ingredients in Hidden Treasure Cookies
Hershey’s Kisses: Milk chocolate candies are a classic option (and my personal favorite here), but feel free to have fun and switch it up with any of the other flavors. Peppermint chocolate kisses would be an especially festive way to go.
Unsalted butter: You’ll need two sticks, and do be sure to allow ample time for the butter to come to room temperature — it’ll make mixing the dough a lot easier.
Granulated sugar: There’s just enough to give the dough a very subtle sweetness, so the chocolate center and powdered sugar coating can be the stars.
Powdered sugar: The baked and partially cooled cookies get rolled in this not once but twice for a sweet outer coating.
How to Make Hidden Treasure Cookies
Mix the cookie dough. Cream the butter until light and fluffy, then beat in the granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Gradually beat in the flour until just combined and the dough comes together into a ball.
Chill the dough. Refrigerating the dough for 30 minutes allows it to firm up just enough that it’s easier to scoop.
Fill and shape the cookies. Scoop the dough out into 1-tablespoon portions. Press down in the center of a dough ball, add a chocolate kiss, and shape the dough around the chocolate. (If you’ve ever made stuffed meatballs, this step is very similar.) Repeat with the remaining dough balls.
Bake and coat the cookies. Bake until the tops of the cookies are set and the edges are golden brown. Cool slightly on the baking sheets, then, while they’re still warm, coat with powdered sugar. Cool completely on wire racks, then coat the cookies with powdered sugar again.
Hidden Treasure Cookies Recipe
They’re simple, yet super special and only require 6 ingredients.
Prep time 35 minutes
Cook time 20 minutes
Makes about 30 cookies
Ingredients
2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
30 Hershey’s Kisses chocolate candies (about 5 ounces), unwrapped
3/4 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
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Beat 2 sticks room temperature unsalted butter with the paddle attachment in a stand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Beat, starting on low speed and gradually increasing to medium-high speed and scraping down the sides of the bowl halfway through, until light and fluffy, about 1 minute total.
With the mixer on low speed, gradually add 2 cups all-purpose flour and beat until combined and the dough forms a ball, about 2 minutes.
Cover and refrigerate until firm but still easy to scoop, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, arrange 2 oven racks to divide the oven into thirds and heat the oven to 350℉. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Place 3/4 cup powdered sugar in a shallow bowl or pie plate.
Scoop the dough out into level 1-tablespoon portions (30 to 32). Roll into balls and place on one of the baking sheets.
Press your thumb into the center of a dough ball to create a well, then place 1 unwrapped Hershey’s Kiss in the well. Shape and pinch the cookie dough around the chocolate kiss to completely cover, then roll into a ball. Place on the baking sheet. Repeat filling the remaining dough balls, arranging them at least 1-inch apart on the baking sheets, 15 to 20 per sheet.
Bake for 10 minutes. Rotate the baking sheets between racks and from front to back. Bake until the tops of the cookies are set and the edges are golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes more.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes. While they are still warm, gently drop each cookie into the powdered sugar and toss to coat all over. Place on a wire rack; reserve the remaining powdered sugar. Let cool completely, about 15 minutes more. Coat again in the powdered sugar.
Recipe Notes
Make ahead: The dough balls can be frozen until solid, then stored in a zip-top bag in the freezer for up to 2 months. Let the dough balls sit on the baking sheet at room temperature while the oven is heating. Bake, adding 1 to 2 minutes to the bake time, and coat with powdered sugar. You can also freeze the fully baked cookies without powdered sugar; thaw completely at room temperature before coating twice in powdered sugar.
Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Forever Cookies
Meet the cookies that'll forever change your holiday baking. From the beloved recipes our families have made for decades to clever twists on classics, these are the keepers we turn to year after year.
Further Reading
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