Description
These Hershey’s Red Velvet Blossoms are festive, soft red velvet cookies topped with a classic Hershey’s chocolate kiss. Perfect for holidays or any special occasion, they combine the rich flavors of red velvet and cocoa in a bite-sized treat with a sweet, melty chocolate center.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 7 tbsp butter (salted or unsalted, softened)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1/4 tsp red food coloring gel
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Topping
- 1/4 cup red sanding sugar
- 18 Hershey’s chocolate kisses
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside to ensure your cookies bake evenly and don’t stick.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a stand mixer, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. This helps create a tender texture in the cookies.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the egg yolk, vanilla extract, and red food coloring gel until fully combined, giving the dough its signature red velvet color and rich flavor.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt to the wet mixture. Mix just until the flour disappears to avoid overworking the dough and keep the cookies tender.
- Shape and Coat Cookies: Using a tablespoon, scoop out 18 equal-sized dough balls. Roll each ball between your palms to smooth it out, then roll them in the red sanding sugar to add a festive, sparkling coating.
- Bake Cookies: Arrange the cookie dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes until set.
- Add Chocolate Kisses: Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, press one Hershey’s chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie gently so it melts slightly without breaking the cookie.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes to set the chocolate and allow the cookies to firm up before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
- You can use either salted or unsalted butter depending on preference; reduce added salt if using salted butter.
- Be careful not to overmix the dough once the flour is added to maintain a tender crumb.
- Red food coloring gel gives a more intense color without adding extra liquid.
- Rolling the dough in sanding sugar adds a festive texture and sparkle perfect for holiday cookies.
- Letting the cookies cool on the baking sheet first helps the chocolate set firmly on top.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: red velvet cookies, Hershey's kisses cookies, holiday cookies, Christmas cookies, chocolate kiss cookies, festive cookie recipe
