Holiday Baking: Coconut Kiss Cookies

Coconut Kiss Cookies

It’s nice to have cookies on hand for holiday get-togethers, and this year I started my baking with a recipe for Coconut Kiss Cookies from Thimbleberries Pattern Party by Lynette Jensen.  This is a new recipe for me.  My daughter and I will likely make some of our more traditional recipes in the next few weeks.

Balls of dough rolled in coconut

Cookies ready for the oven

Readying the Hershey's Kisses for the topping

Tray of Coconut Kiss Cookies

Coconut Kiss Cookies

1/3 c butter
3 oz cream cheese
3/4 c sugar
1 egg yolk
2 tsp almond extract
2 tsp orange juice
1-1/4 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
5 c flaked coconut, divided
48 Hershey Kisses

Cream together the butter, cream cheese, and sugar.  Add and beat the egg yolk, almond extract, and orange juice.  Add the flour, baking powder, and 3 cups of the coconut.  Chill the batter for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll them in the remaining coconut.  Bake 10 – 12 minutes.  Immediately after pulling from the oven, top with one Kiss per cookie.