Description
These Red Velvet Blossom Cookies are a delightful twist on the classic cookie, made with a red velvet cake mix base and topped with a melty chocolate kiss in the center. Soft, chewy, and perfectly sweet, they’re an easy and festive treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 box red velvet cake mix (15.25 oz.)
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp espresso powder (optional)
Coating and Topping
- 1 cup regular or coarse sugar
- 24 Hershey’s Kiss candies or other mini chocolate candies
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract until well combined. Add the red velvet cake mix and optional espresso powder, stirring until the mixture forms a uniform dough.
- Chill the dough: Cover and refrigerate the dough for about 30 minutes to firm up, making it easier to handle and roll into balls.
- Form and coat balls: Once chilled, roll the dough into 1½ inch balls. Roll each ball in sugar to fully coat the exterior, giving the cookies a sugary crust.
- Bake the cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the sugar-coated dough balls on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes until the edges are set, the cookies have puffed up, and they just begin to show slight crinkling on the surface.
- Add the chocolate center: Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately press a Hershey’s Kiss or other mini chocolate candy into the center of each cookie. Allow the cookies to cool completely so that the chocolate sets.
- Optional cooling step for Hugs candy kisses: If using Hugs candy kisses, which tend to melt into the cookie, refrigerate or freeze the cookies until the chocolate hardens to maintain their shape.
Notes
- Chilling the dough helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- Using espresso powder is optional but enhances the chocolate flavor subtly.
- If you want a sharper contrast in texture, use coarse sugar for rolling the dough balls.
- Regular Hershey’s Kisses hold their shape better than Hugs during cooling.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate to extend freshness.
