Buttery, orange shortbread dough with a sweet chocolate kiss in the center - perfect for Christmas because, after all, who doesn't deserve a little kiss at Christmas?

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I know, Orange Kiss-Me cookies sound more like a Valentine's Day cookie than a Christmas cookie. Suit yourself. Just make them. They are amazing.

NOTE: A couple of people have reported having problems with these. I have never had a problem with them spreading but I will make them again a couple of times and see if I can figure out what the problem is - stay tuned! Love, Marye - 12/17/2013

NOTE: I have made these cookies several times since the "spreading""spreading" problem was reported. Each time they came out just fine (see image below). I am guessing it is a difference in flour somehow but I am not sure what. I use Central Milling Company Unbleached Organic All Purpose Flour from Costco or King Arthur Unbleached Organic All Purpose flour. You might try baking at 350F. I don't know why some people are having problems. Love, Marye, March `10, 2014

These are your traditional "Blossom" type cookies with a Hershey's Kiss in the center but the dough is flavored with orange so that in each bite you get that orange-chocolate-crumbly-creamy-oh-my response from your mouth. This will require that your hand reaches to the plate again to repeat the process, and so on. Make no mistakes. These are good. I like to use an organic flavoring but use what you like best.

Also, they travel very well. I sent a batch to my son Chris, who is back in Iraq this Christmas (his third time!). He said that they were amazing and he is sworn to protect the United States with his life... would he lie?

Never mind about that math test in 1997....

Anyway, these are a beautiful addition to any cookie platter or cookie exchange and they freeze well, too. The texture is sort of like a chewy shortbread... hard to explain but very delicate and nice.

I love these. They stay a nice light color and the large, white sugar crystals are a wintery touch I think. You can use colored sugar to make them festive or melt a little white chocolate and flip it over the cookie with a fork. Lots of ways to make these look gorgeous.

If the Kiss doesn't seem to want to stay when you press it into the hot cookie just pop the pan back into the oven for a minute or two to help the chocolate get a little melty. Not enough to change the shape but just enough to melt to the cookie on the bottom.

📖 Recipe

Orange Kiss-Me Cookies

4.80 from 5 votes

Buttery, orange shortbread dough with a sweet chocolate kiss in the center - perfect for Christmas because, after all, who doesn't deserve a little kiss at Christmas?

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 15

Servings: cookies

Calories:98

Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375F
Rub the orange zest into the sugar with your fingers to disperse the oils
Beat the butter, orange extract, and sugar until light and fluffy
Blend in the flour and salt
Shape teaspoons of dough into balls and roll in sugar. You can use colored sugar if you like
Place on a silpat covered baking sheet
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden and puffy
Remove from oven
Immediately press a Kiss into the center of the cookie
Allow to cool completely. (HA! HA!)

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.