Red Velvet Kiss Cookies

5 from 3 votes

These soft Red Velvet Kiss Cookies are a perfectly sweet way to bake something special for your Valentine this year! Perfect for Valentine's Day class parties and sharing with friends, these cookies have a buttery red velvet flavor with a chocolate boost from the candy on top.

Prep Time12

Cook Time10

Total Time22

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: cookies

Calories: 143kcal

Author: Amy Nash

Ingredients

⅔ cup granulated sugar
½ cup salted butter, softened
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon red gel food coloring (I used Wilton no-taste red)
1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour (234g)
1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
18 unwrapped Hershey's Kisses or Dove Hearts

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place unwrapped chocolate Kisses or hearts into the fridge or freezer while preparing the cookie dough.
In a larger mixing bowl, beat sugar and butter until light.
Add egg, vanilla, and red food coloring. Mix again, stopping to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.
Add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix again on low speed until combined.
Scoop heaping tablespoonfuls of dough onto prepared baking sheets and roll into smooth balls. Space them about 2 inches apart so they have room to spread while they bake.
Bake in center of oven for about 10 minutes, until edges are set, but centers are still soft.
Remove from oven and press an unwrapped heart into the center of each cookie.

Notes

Tip for Dove Hearts: The Dove Hearts don't always hold their shape quite as well as the Hershey's Kisses do. It helps to refrigerate or freeze the chocolate hearts before putting them on the cookies. It slows down the chocolate getting soft while the cookie is hot, and they’re less likely to lose shape.
Storage: Keep these in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days. These cookies stay soft & chewy for about 4-5 days in an airtight container on the counter at room temperature.
Freezing: You can freeze the cookies once they have cooled in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Let them thaw on the counter at room temperature for an hour or two or pop them in the microwave to enjoy.

Nutrition