Get ready to discover your new favorite holiday treat: Peppermint Kiss Chocolate Crinkles. These cookies are everything you want in a Christmas sweet. They feature a rich, fudgy chocolate cookie base with a delightful crinkled, powdered sugar exterior, all topped with a festive peppermint Hershey’s Kiss. This recipe is surprisingly simple, delivering bakery-quality results that will impress everyone at your cookie exchange. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, you’ll find these cookies a joy to make and even more of a joy to eat.
Generously coating the dough in powdered sugar is the secret to a beautiful crinkle.
Why You’ll Love This Peppermint Kiss Chocolate Crinkles Recipe
These cookies are a holiday dream for so many reasons. The texture is simply unbeatable—a slightly crisp edge gives way to a soft, brownie-like center. The deep chocolate flavor is perfectly complemented by the cool, refreshing peppermint kiss melted on top. Plus, their stunning black-and-white appearance with a pop of festive color makes them a beautiful addition to any dessert platter.
Perfectly Fudgy: Unlike dry, crumbly cookies, these have a moist, chewy texture that stays soft for days.
Simple Ingredients: You likely have most of the ingredients needed in your pantry already.
Visually Stunning: The classic “crinkle” effect is gorgeous and surprisingly easy to achieve.
Holiday Favorite: The combination of chocolate and peppermint is a classic flavor pairing for the Christmas season.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of these cookies comes from simple, high-quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to gather before you begin.
For the Cookies:
All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for the cookies.
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Use a good quality one for the richest chocolate flavor.
Baking Powder: This is the key leavening agent that helps the cookies puff up before crinkling.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolate flavor.
Granulated Sugar & Brown Sugar: A combination of both gives the cookies the perfect sweetness and moisture.
Vegetable Oil: Creates a wonderfully moist and fudgy cookie.
Eggs: Binds the ingredients together.
Vanilla Extract: Adds a layer of warm flavor.
For the Topping & Coating:
Powdered Sugar: For that beautiful snowy, crinkled coating.
Peppermint Hershey’s Kisses: The star of the show! Unwrap them while the cookies are in the oven.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Make Peppermint Kiss Chocolate Crinkles
Follow these simple steps to create the most delicious chocolate crinkle cookies. The process is straightforward and fun!
The perfect balance of rich chocolate and cool peppermint.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set this mixture aside.
Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract.
Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix. The dough will be very soft and sticky, similar to a brownie batter.
Chill the Dough: This is the most important step for success! Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. The dough must be firm enough to handle.
Preheat and Prep: When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the powdered sugar in a small, shallow bowl.
Roll and Coat: Scoop the chilled dough into 1.5-tablespoon-sized portions and roll them into smooth balls. Roll each ball generously in the powdered sugar, ensuring it’s completely coated.
Bake: Place the coated dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes. The cookies will puff up and crinkle. They should look set on the edges but still be soft in the center.
Add the Kiss: Remove the cookies from the oven. Immediately and gently press one unwrapped Peppermint Hershey’s Kiss into the center of each hot cookie. The heat will slightly melt the bottom of the kiss, helping it adhere.
Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. The kisses will soften but will firm up again as they cool.
Expert Tips for Perfect Crinkles Every Time
Want to ensure your Peppermint Kiss Chocolate Crinkles turn out perfectly every single time? Follow these tried-and-true tips.
Don’t Skip the Chill Time: Chilling the dough is non-negotiable. It solidifies the fat, preventing the cookies from spreading too much and making the sticky dough manageable.
Be Generous with Powdered Sugar: A thick, even coat of powdered sugar is essential for a pronounced crinkle effect. Don’t be shy!
Work Quickly: Roll the dough balls quickly to prevent them from becoming too warm from your hands. If the dough softens, pop it back in the fridge for 15 minutes.
Press the Kiss Immediately: Press the candy into the cookie the moment it comes out of the oven. This ensures it sticks properly without melting completely. If you’re looking for other festive cookie ideas, check out these easy Christmas cookie recipes.
Variations and Substitutions
While the classic recipe is a winner, feel free to get creative! Here are a few fun ideas to try:
Different Kisses: Try using milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or caramel-filled Hershey’s Kisses for a different flavor profile.
Add Espresso Powder: A teaspoon of instant espresso powder mixed with the dry ingredients will intensify the chocolate flavor without making the cookies taste like coffee.
Roll in Sprinkles: For extra holiday flair, roll the dough balls in festive sprinkles before baking. This is a great alternative if you can’t find peppermint kisses. For another fun crinkle cookie variation, try these red velvet crinkle cookies.
Storing Your Cookies
To keep your Peppermint Kiss Chocolate Crinkles fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the baked cookies for up to 3 months. For a quick treat, simply let them thaw at room temperature. For more dessert inspiration, browse these delicious holiday dessert recipes.
The secret to a perfect crinkle is twofold: well-chilled dough and a very generous coating of powdered sugar. Chilling the dough prevents it from spreading too quickly in the oven, allowing the surface to set and crack as the cookie bakes. A thick layer of powdered sugar absorbs moisture and helps create those beautiful fissures.
Yes, absolutely! This dough is perfect for making ahead. You can prepare the dough and store it, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to bake, just scoop, roll, and coat as directed.
Flat cookies are almost always a result of dough that wasn’t chilled long enough. The dough for chocolate crinkles is very soft, and it needs at least 4 hours (preferably overnight) in the fridge to firm up. Chilling solidifies the fat, which helps the cookies hold their shape and bake up thick and fudgy instead of spreading out.
To prevent the kisses from turning into a melted puddle, it’s crucial to press them into the cookies the moment they come out of the oven. The residual heat is just enough to melt the base of the kiss so it sticks, but it won’t be hot enough to melt the entire candy. Let them cool completely on the cookie.
For a deep, rich chocolate flavor, we recommend using a Dutch-processed cocoa powder. It has a smoother, less acidic flavor than natural cocoa powder and will give your cookies a darker color and fudgier taste. However, natural unsweetened cocoa powder will also work well in this recipe.
More Holiday Recipes to Explore
If you loved making these festive cookies, you’ll surely enjoy exploring our other holiday favorites. From show-stopping cakes to easy weeknight meals, we have something for every occasion this season. We hope you and your family have a delicious and memorable holiday!
Peppermint Kiss Chocolate Crinkles Recipe
FL Recipes
Peppermint Kiss Chocolate Crinkles: The Ultimate Holiday Cookie
These Peppermint Kiss Chocolate Crinkles are the ultimate holiday treat! A rich, fudgy chocolate cookie is rolled in powdered sugar and topped with a festive peppermint kiss. They are easy to make and perfect for cookie exchanges.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set this mixture aside.
In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract.
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix. The dough will be very soft and sticky.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or overnight, until firm.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the powdered sugar in a small, shallow bowl.
Scoop the chilled dough into 1.5-tablespoon-sized portions and roll them into smooth balls. Roll each ball generously in the powdered sugar to coat completely.
Place the coated dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the cookies are puffed and crinkled.
Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately press one unwrapped Peppermint Hershey's Kiss into the center of each hot cookie.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Nutrition
Calories: 95kcalProtein: 1gFat: 4gFiber: 1g
Notes
Do not skip chilling the dough! This is the most crucial step for preventing the cookies from spreading too much and ensures a fudgy texture. Be generous when rolling the dough balls in powdered sugar for the best crinkle effect. The Peppermint Kisses will soften when placed on the hot cookies but will firm up again as they cool.
Keyword chocolate crinkle cookies,Christmas Cookies,peppermint kiss chocolate crinkles
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Get ready for the ultimate holiday treat: Peppermint Kiss Chocolate Crinkles!
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
