Chocolate Peppermint Blossoms

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
3 tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt 
42 Peppermint Kisses

Directions:

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes 
- Mix in egg and vanilla until well blended
- On a low speed, beat in flour, cocoa and salt until blended
- Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place on a non-stick baking sheet about 2 inches apart
- Bake for 12 minutes
- Meanwhile, unwrap the Peppermint Kisses
- If you want the kisses to melt down (as shown in the picture), press a kiss into each cookie as they come out of the oven.  If you want the kisses to maintain their kiss shape, wait about 3 minutes before pressing a kiss into each cookie.

Flip it!

- Try using peppermint extract instead of vanilla!
- Use your favorite type of kiss!  (I have found the Peppermint Kisses to only be available around Christmas time.)
- Roll each dough ball in sugar before baking for a glittery effect!