Santa, Baby: Candy Cane Kiss Cookies

Christmas Day is almost here, and that means having milk and cookies ready for the Big Guy on Christmas Eve! These kiss cookies just might be the ideal treat for Old St. Nick—plus, the kids can help you with mixing the dough and topping each cookie with a kiss. And don't worry, the Man in Red won't mind if you sneak a few before he gets there ;-)

Candy Cane Kiss Cookies

Ingredients:
One bag candy cane kisses
One box chocolate cake mix
1/3 cup flavorless oil
2 large eggs

Unwrap kisses and set aside in a bowl. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, stir together cake mix, oil and eggs until fully combined. Roll 1/2 Tablespoons of dough into balls and place about 2 inches apart on lined baking sheets (you will have about 60 cookies total). Bake until set, about 10-12 minutes. As soon as cookies come out of the oven, place a kiss firmly on top of each. Let cookies cool completely before storing (kisses will stay soft for quite a while).

Notes: Yes, you've seen something like this from me before, but these cookies are so cute and easy, it was worth repeating! The candy stripes on the kisses are particularly festive, and the combination of peppermint and chocolate is a holiday classic. Again, use any mini-sized chocolate candies you have on hand to top these cookies, or roll the dough in sprinkles for extra color and crunch. The cookies themselves are even great plain!

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