Soft & Chewy Mint Blossom Cookies with Hershey’s Kisses

• Unsalted butter: Make sure it’s nice and soft so it creams easily with the sugars and gives the cookies that tender, bakery-style texture.

• Brown sugar: This adds moisture and a little richness that keeps the cookies soft and chewy.

• Granulated sugar: Helps balance the brown sugar and gives the cookies just the right amount of sweetness.

• Egg + egg yolk: The extra yolk adds richness and helps create that soft, slightly chewy center everyone loves.

• Peppermint extract: Start on the lighter side and adjust to taste since a little goes a long way with mint.

• Green gel food coloring: Just a squeeze gives the cookies their festive look without thinning the dough.

• All-purpose flour: This forms the base of the dough and keeps the cookies sturdy but still soft.

• Salt: A small amount makes all the flavors pop and keeps the sweetness from being overpowering.

• Baking powder: Gives the cookies a gentle lift so they bake up soft instead of dense.

• Hershey’s Kisses: Pressed into the warm cookies, these create that classic chocolate center everyone looks forward to.

Step-by-Step Instructions

You can find a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set it aside for later.

2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugars together for 1 to 2 minutes. The mixture will look a bit crumbly, and that’s totally fine.

3. Add the egg, egg yolk, peppermint extract, and a generous squeeze of green gel food coloring. Mix until everything is well combined.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder.

5. Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix again until just combined. The dough will still be crumbly.

6. Use a 1½-inch cookie scoop to portion out the dough, then gently press each scoop together with your hands to form a ball.

7. Place the dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart.

8. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes, until the cookies are just set.

9. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool for 1 to 2 minutes.

10. Gently press a Hershey’s Kiss into the center of each cookie, then let the cookies cool for another 5 minutes.

11. Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and chill in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes so the chocolate can fully set.

Tips for Perfect Mint Blossom Cookies

• Don’t overmix the dough: Once the flour goes in, mix just until everything comes together so the cookies stay soft and tender.

• Go easy on the peppermint at first: Mint can be strong, so start with less and add more only if you want a bolder minty flavor.

• Use gel food coloring, not liquid: Gel gives you that bright green color without thinning out the dough.

• Bake just until set: The cookies should look slightly underbaked in the center when they come out, since they’ll firm up as they cool.

• Press the Kisses in gently: Let the cookies cool for a minute or two first so they don’t crack around the edges.

• Chill after adding the chocolate: A quick rest in the fridge helps the Kisses set neatly and keeps them looking picture-perfect.

• Use a cookie scoop: Even-sized dough balls bake more evenly and make the cookies look extra polished.

Get Creative!

• Swap the chocolate: Try dark chocolate or caramel-filled kisses if you want to mix things up a bit.

• Play with the color: Go classic green, add a drop of red for a deeper shade, or skip the coloring entirely for a more subtle look.

• Dial the mint up or down: Love a strong mint flavor or prefer it mild? Adjust the peppermint extract to match your taste.

• Add a little sparkle: Roll the dough balls in colored sugar before baking for a fun, festive finish.

• Make them extra chocolatey: Sprinkle a few mini chocolate chips into the dough for even more chocolate in every bite.

• Change the size: Make smaller cookies for trays and swaps, or slightly larger ones if you want a bakery-style feel.

Serving & Storing

• Serve once the chocolate is fully set: Letting the Kisses firm up keeps them neat and makes the cookies easier to handle.

• Perfect for sharing: These cookies look great on holiday trays, dessert boards, or packaged up for gifting.

• Store at room temperature: Keep them in an airtight container for up to 4 days so they stay soft and fresh.

• Layer with parchment: If you’re stacking them, a sheet of parchment between layers helps protect the chocolate tops.

• Great for making ahead: You can bake these a day or two early and they’ll still taste just as good.

• Freezer-friendly option: The baked cookies freeze well, just thaw at room temperature before serving.