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These Red Velvet Kiss Cookies just might be the most fun, delicious, festive and romantic cookies that you'll ever have the pleasure of meeting!
Romantic? It's funny but it seems there's something unexplainably romantic, perhaps even a bit magical about anything labeled "red velvet", whether it's cake, cupcakes, fudge, brownies, ice cream etc. I've noticed that often, people's eye's light up when "red velvet" is mentioned? At the fancy cupcake shops, it's usually the red velvet variety that sells out first. If you don't believe my assessment, whip up a batch of these delicious Red Velvet Kiss Cookies and you'll see exactly what I mean as they disappear right before your eyes!
A while back, I tried a recipe from Cooks Illustrated for Chocolate Sugar Cookies. They were some of our favorite cookies ever with a double dose of delicious chocolate, deep crackly surfaces, chewy centers and crisp, sugary exteriors. I had some fun with that recipe, adapted it with just a few minor changes to make these pretty, Red Velvet Kiss Cookies.
A splash of red food coloring and a coating of red sanding sugar transform the chocolate cookies into red velvet beauties. Although red food coloring is not on my list of frequently used ingredients, I'm okay with some rules going out the window for special, occasional splurges.
A Hershey's Kiss in the center of each cookie makes a tasty and attractive finishing touch. I've used the traditional Hershey's Hugs Kisses, as well as their Candy Cane Kisses with delicious results.
These Red Velvet Kiss Cookies are a fun project to do with kids as there are lots of steps along the way that they can help with. If the children are a little older, this is an easy enough recipe that they can do it on their own with just a bit of supervision.
If you enjoy giving gifts from the kitchen these cookies are perfect. They make a beautiful presentation in a fancy little gift box or on a pretty disposable plate enclosed with cellophane and tied with festive ribbons. I love to serve these Red Velvet Kiss Cookies on an elegant cake stand as part of a dessert buffet.
Go ahead, whip up a batch of these Red Velvet Kiss Cookies! You'll see exactly what I mean about fun, festive, delicious and romantic!
P.S. If you like Red Velvet, we've got some crazy good fudge to share with you too: Winter White Red Velvet Fudge. It's perfect for dessert platers gift giving and holiday celebrations.
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- 14 tablespoons butter
- 1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
- ¾ cup cocoa powder, (use regular, not the extra dark cocoa)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¾ cups brown sugar (packed)
- 1 large egg plus one egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon red liquid food coloring
- 1 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup red sanding sugar*
- 1 12- ounce bag Hershey's Hugs**, for topping (you can use either the milk chocolate stripped Hugs or the red an white peppermint striped ones which are available around the Christmas holidays)
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.
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In a large bowl, melt 10 tablespoons of the butter in the microwave. Cut the remaining 4 tablespoons butter in to 6-8 pieces, add to the melted butter and stir (this helps to cool down the melted butter so it won't be too hot later when the eggs are added). Set aside.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and baking powder.
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Add the brown sugar, vanilla, red food coloring and salt to the melted butter. Stir well to combine. Add the egg and egg yolk and stir until smooth.
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Add flour mixture and stir with a wooden (or sturdy) spoon just until combined and flour is incorporated. Add chocolate chips and mix just until incorporated.
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Put red sanding sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll the dough into balls, about 1 ½ tablespoons for each cookie. Roll the balls in the sanding sugar until well coated and place on prepared baking sheets.
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Bake the cookies, one sheet at a time, until they have puffed and have cracks running through the top, about 12-14 minutes. Be careful not to over bake the cookies or they will be dry. As soon as the cookies emerge from the oven place a Hershey's hug in the center of each cookie. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
* Sanding sugar is just the red colored sugar you see at the grocery store. It’s especially popular around Christmas time. Most larger grocery stores will carry this in the baking aisle.
** If Hershey's hugs are not available where you live, substitute some other type of fun candy in the center of the cookies.
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