Description
These festive Christmas cookies feature a rich chocolate base and a bright red candy melt center. Perfect for your holiday cookie trays!
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
3/4 cup salted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup dark cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
32 red candy melts
Instructions
In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until light and fluffy.
Add sugar and beat until well combined.
Mix in the egg and vanilla until fully incorporated.
On low speed, add flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder. Mix just until combined.
Divide dough in half, flatten each into a disk (about 3/4 inch thick), wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Roll out dough between two sheets of parchment to 1/4 inch thickness.
Use a round cookie cutter (about 1 inch in diameter) to cut out shapes.
Place cookies on baking sheet and press one red candy melt into the center of each.
Bake for 12 minutes.
Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 full minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Repeat rolling and cutting process with remaining dough.
Notes
Do not skip the full 10-minute cooling time on the baking sheet—it helps the cookies set properly around the candy melt.
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
You can use colored candy melts for other holidays too—green for St. Patrick’s Day or pink for Valentine’s!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Cookies, Holiday Baking, Christmas Recipes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
