Cocoa Kiss Cookies

Cocoa Kiss Cookies are another recipe that I love to make since I am an avid chocolate lover. This also comes from New Hampshire from an inn called The Darby Field Inn. It is a super simple cookie recipe that is great for gift giving (although these do not ship well either,but make great gifts packaged in decorative tins and given to friends and family locally. My family loves these as well and they were received well also when I brought them to work in one of my treat trays. I work in a happy place and like everyone who works there to be happy also during this time of year. The Hershey kiss on the top of each cookie remains soft after the cookie has cooled so it gives a great burst of chocolate when you bite into this cookie. Truly a chocolate lover's cookie!



Cocoa Kiss Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks)of butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup finely chopped walnuts (if desired)
1 package (9 oz) Hershey Kisses, unwrapped
Powdered sugar for sprinkling on top

Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl until smooth and creamy. Mix flour, cocoa, and salt in a small bowl. On low speed, beat into butter mixture. Add walnuts (if desired); beat until blended. Chill for 1 hour or until firm enough to handle. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Roll dough into balls, 1 tablespoon of dough each. Press unwrapped kisses into centers of balls. Place on ungreased or parchment paper lined baking sheets, spacing 1/2 inch apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool slightly on sheet on rack. Remove cookies to rack to cool. Dust with powdered sugar. If desired, dust with sugar again before serving. Store in airtight container.

Notes:
- I do not use nuts in my cookies, my family isn't really all that hot on nuts in cookies. I find they taste better without the nuts, but feel free if you like nuts in your cookies.