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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.
Squirrel loved helping me roll the balls of cookie dough in sugar,
but loved taste testing the finished cookies even more.
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!
Print This Recipe
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 }
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!
How would we go about getting your mom’s recipe for pie crust? ;)
Oh, these chocolate cookies look so delicious. I’m going to have to try these!!
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!!! :)
“Kiss and Hug” cookies…such a cute name for a cookie and so appropriate too! The cookies looks delicious!
xxxooo : )
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!
i love those peanut butter kiss cookies, and I bet these are just as good! I love the name too :)
that is one cute cookie taster!
These cookies look delicious. What a perfect name for a great Mother’s Day treat!
I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t want a kiss and a hug? These are adorable.
Your cookies look gorgeous! If Squirrel is ever too tired or too busy singing to help taste test, just give me a call. :)
Beautiful cookies! And, I love the name, Kiss & Hug!
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
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
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)…
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
Your Squirrel is so cute and she is a great helper. Wonderful decadent cookies to start the day.
Yum… I love peanut butter blossoms, but these look even better!
What a pretty cookie! It certainly looks as though they got the Squirrel stamp of approval.
Delicious cookies and a sweet little girl !
omg that face… I can’t get enough… she is just so cute!! I love family recipes… especially for cookies!
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!
These are just the cutest!
I love the name! and the cookies look tasty. I like how it uses nutella.
The pictures of Squirrel are priceless. Love these cookies!
Mouth watering cookies! Ahhh nothing like mom’s cooking huh?
so where is the nutritional info at???!