Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Peanut butter blossoms (these “kiss cookies") are a holiday cookie tray must, and for good reason. The base is a soft, sugar-rolled peanut butter cookie that gets crowned with a Hershey’s Kiss seconds after it comes out of the oven. The hot cookie melts the bottom of the chocolate just enough to fuse the two together while the kiss itself stays intact and holds its iconic shape.

The technique is more precise than it looks. Bake the cookies for the full 12 minutes until they’re set but not browned, pull them from the oven, and press an unwrapped kiss firmly into each one’s center while they’re still soft. The cookie cracks slightly around the kiss, creating that signature flower-petal “blossom” effect. Wait too long to add the kiss and the cookie sets up too firm; press too early and the kiss melts entirely.

The sugar coating before baking is the small detail that distinguishes blossoms from regular peanut butter cookies. The granulated sugar bakes onto the surface, giving each cookie a sparkly, slightly crunchy exterior that contrasts beautifully with the soft interior and the smooth chocolate kiss on top.

Pro Tips

• Unwrap the kisses while the cookies bake. You need to press them in fast, and unwrapping them after the cookies are out of the oven costs precious minutes of softness.
• Don’t flatten the dough balls before baking. They need to retain their puff so the kiss can cause the proper “blossom” cracking effect.
• Use granulated sugar for rolling, not powdered. Granulated bakes onto the cookie surface; powdered just dissolves and disappears.
• Store cooled cookies in a single layer or with parchment between layers. Stacking warm or recently-set cookies makes the kisses smear or stick.

Variations

• Swap the peanut butter for almond butter and use almond extract instead of vanilla for a different nutty profile.
• Try Hershey’s Hugs (white-chocolate striped kisses) for a different look and a creamier finish.
• Roll the dough balls in colored sugar (red, green, or rainbow) for holiday or birthday party cookies.