Apr 29
2010

Kiss & Hug Cookies

in Chocolate, Dessert, Family, Recipes by Type

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Kiss & Hug Cookies on a plate

My mom is an amazing cook, and I was spoiled to grow up eating her food.  Although she can whip up an amazing roast or stir fry, I’d venture to say that her specialty is baking.  My mom is the kind of cook that doesn’t understand why someone making a pie wouldn’t make their pie crust from scratch, because as she says, “It’s just so easy!”  If you watch her make a pie crust, it does look easy.  So many of my favorite desserts now, are things she made when I was a little girl—her deadly chocolate almond toffee, black bottom cupcakes, my favorite chocolate chip cookies, and her to-die-for Forgotten Cookies. Another cookie I remember her making often was Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies (often called Peanut Butter Blossoms)—the classic peanut butter cookie with a Hershey’s Chocolate Kiss pressed into it while it is still warm.  With Mother’s Day coming up, I thought I’d make these cookies, but with a little twist.  My “Kiss & Hug” cookies have a chocolate cookie base that hugs a milk chocolate kiss.

Push a chocolate kiss into warm cookies

Squirrel loved helping me roll the balls of cookie dough in sugar,

Squirrel is proud of her work

but loved taste testing the finished cookies even more.

Kiss & Hug Cookies have received the Squirrel Seal of Approval

The chocolate cookie isn’t overly sweet.  The flavor is reminiscent of an Oreo cookie, the cookie itself is firm and just the slightest bit chewy, and the milk chocolate kiss adds a wonderful creamy sweetness.  The cookies could be made without the chocolate kisses, and would make fabulous ice cream sandwiches, or homemade Oreos.  Because I can’t give Daylon real hugs and kisses, I’m sending him these virtual ones instead!

Kiss & Hug Cookies

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Kiss & Hug Cookies

Adapted from Hershey’s Kisses Peanut Butter Blossoms

Makes about 4 dozen cookies

48 Hershey’s Kisses Chocolates (pieces of milk chocolate can be substituted)
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup Nutella (chocolate hazelnut spread)
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Granulated sugar

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.  Remove the foil wrapping from the Kisses chocolates.

2. Beat the shortening and the Nutella in a large bowl until it is well blended.  Add the brown sugar and beat until the mixture is fluffy.  Add the egg, milk, and vanilla and beat well. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.  Gradually beat this mixture into the Nutella mixture.

3. Refrigerate the dough for at least one hour.  Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and then roll the balls in granulated sugar and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes.  Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie (the cookies will crack around the edges).  Remove the cookies from the cookie sheet and place them on a wire rack to cool completely.

{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }

Maria April 29, 2010 at 10:40 am

Family recipes are the best. I grew up baking with my dad. Recipes made with love just taste better:) Thanks for sharing this one. I am a cookie fanatic and can’t wait to try them. Again, love your photos. That Squirrel is just too cute!

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Terra April 29, 2010 at 10:41 am

How would we go about getting your mom’s recipe for pie crust? ;)

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Tracy April 29, 2010 at 10:44 am

Oh, these chocolate cookies look so delicious. I’m going to have to try these!!

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Sara April 29, 2010 at 10:46 am

Kiss & Hug cookies look so good!!! I can imagine they are extra tasty with the Nutella…yum! and can you send Squirell over to PA to help antie Sara too!!! :)

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Michelle April 29, 2010 at 11:06 am

“Kiss and Hug” cookies…such a cute name for a cookie and so appropriate too! The cookies looks delicious!

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Paula - bell'alimento April 29, 2010 at 11:44 am

xxxooo : )

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Chonna April 29, 2010 at 11:56 am

Wow! Mouthwatering goodness! I always love stumbling upon new sweet recipes to make for my family. These were a big hit in my household. Great job Rachael, keep up the good work!

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megan April 29, 2010 at 11:59 am

i love those peanut butter kiss cookies, and I bet these are just as good! I love the name too :)

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Steph April 29, 2010 at 11:59 am

that is one cute cookie taster!

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Jen @ How To: Simplify April 29, 2010 at 1:57 pm

These cookies look delicious. What a perfect name for a great Mother’s Day treat!

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Wizzythestick April 29, 2010 at 2:00 pm

I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t want a kiss and a hug? These are adorable.

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Josie - Daydreamer Desserts April 29, 2010 at 2:12 pm

Your cookies look gorgeous! If Squirrel is ever too tired or too busy singing to help taste test, just give me a call. :)

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LilSis April 29, 2010 at 3:27 pm

Beautiful cookies! And, I love the name, Kiss & Hug!

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Elle April 29, 2010 at 3:36 pm

Moms definitely do the most delicious food ever, right? And those cookies…wow…they’re to die for. Nutella + Hershey’s Kisses — How can something go wrong with this combination??? Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe with us :)

And Squirrel is the sweetest girl ever *_*

xxoo,

Elle

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IslandEAT April 29, 2010 at 6:05 pm

Hi, Rachael. I really like the idea of these – perhaps with chopped hazelnuts (filberts, for you who prefer that name…) to complement the Nutella and even some chocolate chips thrown in – I’m without Hershey’s kisses these days yet have everything else on hand right now….

Great post!

Dan

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Fuji Nana April 29, 2010 at 10:55 pm

Make cookies for your kids and you’ll have happy kids, but TEACH your kids how to make cookies, and you’ll have happy kids AND they’ll make cookies FOR you! Yum, daughter, I’m coming over for a kiss and a hug (or two or three)…

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A Cupcake for Moose April 30, 2010 at 3:27 am

My mom is the same way…”making pie crust from scratch is so easy.” I wish! I love my mom’s baking, too! These cookies look super good – can’t wait to try them out, hopefully this weeekend.

P.S. Squirrel is adorable eating her cookie!

Have a great weekend!
-Rachel from A Cupcake for Moose

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Elin April 30, 2010 at 5:20 am

Your Squirrel is so cute and she is a great helper. Wonderful decadent cookies to start the day.

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Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction April 30, 2010 at 6:29 am

Yum… I love peanut butter blossoms, but these look even better!

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Cookin' Canuck April 30, 2010 at 10:11 am

What a pretty cookie! It certainly looks as though they got the Squirrel stamp of approval.

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Vanille April 30, 2010 at 9:51 pm

Delicious cookies and a sweet little girl !

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Gaby May 1, 2010 at 5:54 pm

omg that face… I can’t get enough… she is just so cute!! I love family recipes… especially for cookies!

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Elaine from Cookware Help May 6, 2010 at 3:35 am

I saw this today and fell in love with the simplicity and cuteness of it all… and I made a batch tonight and they are sooooo good! Fresh out of the oven, the house smells like chocolate awesomeness! I’ll be making these again for a Tex-Mex bbq we are attending this weekend.

That girl look so cute!

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Katrina May 6, 2010 at 4:48 am

These are just the cutest!

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kirbie May 6, 2010 at 9:49 am

I love the name! and the cookies look tasty. I like how it uses nutella.

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Mardi@eatlivetravelwrite May 7, 2010 at 6:00 pm

The pictures of Squirrel are priceless. Love these cookies!

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Sara June 23, 2011 at 8:17 pm

Mouth watering cookies! Ahhh nothing like mom’s cooking huh?

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liz March 22, 2014 at 5:37 pm

so where is the nutritional info at???!

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