Oct 6, 2010

Pumpkin Spice Kissed Blossoms

Before I introduce you to these magical cookies, let's talk about the events leading up to their purchase. I was doing some blog stalking, when I read about Hershey's Pumpkin Spice Kisses on Brooke's blog. As I gasped with excitement, I gchatted Amanda: "Omg, did you see Brooke's pumpkin spice kisses?!" She replied, "Yes, I need those!" Duh! I commented on Brooke's blog about running to Publix on my lunch break for them but she posted on my Facebook wall saying they were exclusive to Target. People, this was serious business. The Pumpkin Spice Kisses conversation went from her blog, to Gchat, to Facebook. And rest assured, BBM was used later.


As soon as I got home from work, I told Boding we were going to Target. I no longer have to ask him to go to Target with me - it is understood that he always wants to go. On the way there, I saw the most magnificent looking creature - a giant poodle! Thank goodness for stop lights because I really needed to snap a photo of him. 
No big deal, just a giant fluff ball walking down Rifle Range Road. Boding called me the "Epic Creeper" because I snapped another one. I loved him!
Once we got to Target, I realized that the gym would not be in my future because baking was my priority. We browsed the fitness section in search of something I could work out with back at home. How about a shake weight?
 Probably not a good idea. 

 I realized I was wasting precious baking time, and we migrated to the Halloween section. And there they were. Those tiny seasonal gems that would soon be incorporated into a cookie!
I also picked up a bag of these for fun:
So then Boding wanted his favorite candy: Sour Patch Chillers. But....they were out.
Somebody was not happy.
 Once we got home, it was baking time. These Hershey's kisses have a very intense pumpkiny flavor with a creamy center. At first they are overwhelming, but once you bite into the kiss, the creamy filling balances out the spice and then you just want to moan. And eat the remaining 62 pieces in the bag. For that reason, I knew the cookies in which I'd be placing the kisses would need to be very simple. As previously discussed with Amanda, we agreed that a light cinnamon sugar cookie would be best.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • dash of salt
  • 2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 24 Hershey's Pumpkin Spice Kisses
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325*. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium high for about 30 seconds. Add powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla extract and continue to beat until combined. Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer, then stir in the rest with the cinnamon.

Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place on a cookie sheet. Please admire the runt cookie in the corner. I ran out of dough -- this should have made 24 balls but it only made 19 and a baby. I suppose I ate too much batter...
Using the bottom of your favorite glass, flatten balls. 

 
 Bake for 14 minutes or until bottoms are light brown. Meanwhile, start unwrapping the kisses. Yes, I am a bit anal retentive at times, and I like things in order. I wish this was true for the inside of my car.
 As soon as the cookies are done, immediately press a kiss into the center. Transfer to a rack and cool. Enjoy!
 
Has anyone else found any fun Halloween candy that's new to them this year? Apparently these kisses came out in 2008. Where was my head then? Also, are you dressing up for Halloween this year?

45 comments:

  1. No way. No WAY. Why have I not heard of these? And why am I sitting here while they are out there, ready for me to buy.

    As luck would have it, I drive right by a Target each morning. Breakfast!

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  2. Pumpkin spice kisses?? I think I just died. I must have some!

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  3. I saw these at Target a few days ago and ALMOST bought them!! I wasn't sure if I'd like the spice/chocolate combo though, so I decided to hold out...However, I consider your thumbs up a green light to go back and buy a bag (or two or three!). Is the caramel apple flavor any good?

    The cookies look yummy! Thanks for the recipe!

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  4. Yummy kisses! I wish you bought all the shake weights.

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  5. ahha a shake weight. I heard those are ridiculous, although I would buy one just for fun! =) Those cookies look delish! I had no idea they have pumpkin oness ughhh I need to buy some!

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  6. Those cookies are so cute! I hadn't heard about the kisses. They sound yummy. I totally want the apple ones now too.....I may need to stop at Target today. I wonder if the man regularly walks the giant poodle there haha. Are you dressing up for halloween this year?

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  7. I went CRAZY for those kisses last year....like ate the whole bag in a day kind of crazy. They are too amazing. I love the poof on giant poodles. They are pretty fabulous

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  8. Whoa whoa whoa. PUMPKIN Hershey kisses? WTF have I been missing?! Target, my love, I'm coming for a visit!

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  9. I knew Hershey's has a crazy amount of flavors these days, but had no idea they exist!

    Clearly I need to hit the candy aisle. But I'm trying to hold off and hit a maja' sale after Halloween for all the baking ideas floating around in my head... :)

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  10. MUST find those kisses! Thank you for sharing these with the world.

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  11. Yep...I'm making those...It's gonna happen. Also, I never dress up for Halloween...Not because I'm not fun, but more because my daughter's costumes always require serious makeup jobs. She's always something un-dead and I have to do things with stitches or wounds. She's kinda creepy sometimes. This year she's going to be a half dead fairy. I know, I know. I use real theatrical makeup on her, though, and she always ends up looking pretty awesome. The baby is going to be some kind of cute bug...You can always find cute bug baby costumes. Love it! Halloween = My favorite time of the year!

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  12. Laughing hystericaly that your "favorite glass" says "hot mess" on it! I'm dying for a cookie! Fatten me up before bootcamp tonight!!

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  13. they also have candy corn kisses at tar-jay which are amazing. they came out last year. i could also eat a bag in one sitting.

    thanks for this recipe! i will definitely have to try it out soon.

    oh and to answer your halloween costume question...i will be Snooki!

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  14. Ahhhh I love the Pumpkin Spice kisses. I actually went all out last year and stocked up when they went on sale (apparently no one else in my town buys em), and so I still have a stock pile in the pantry..so I won't need to buy any this year, although I still might! haha

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  15. haha i bought both of those flavors weeks ago!! the caramel apple is by far my favorite, but i can only imagine how good that cookie is!!

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  16. OMG I've never seen those flavors before! Kisses are amazing. I'm going t try and find those flavors this weekend and whip up something too (if I don't end up eating them all) ;)

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  17. I have never even heard of those kisses before! I need to get my hands on some candy corn...definitely my favorite fall candy!

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  18. are these real life? these are the ULTIMATE fall dessert! oh my goodness!!! I bet itd be good to make spice cake cookies out of spice cake mix and put these babies in there (which would be the lazy way out but thats how I roll) . but anyway these sound AWEEEESOME!

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  19. Funny you should post this today. My sister-in-law made these cookies and brought to our house last weekend! Yum!

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  20. OH man I need to hit up target so I can make these STAT!

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  21. My daughter is at Target at least 3 times a week - on my list now - I must have been under a rock!

    Can I just say how cheap your gas is?? $2.59? Ours just got DOWN to $2.88!

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  22. I've never seen those kisses but then again I don't buy the halloween candy in my house so I wouldn't even know haha. Those cookies look so good though!

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  23. Hey now, don't knock the shake weight. How else do you think I got these toned biceps... ;)

    OMG, OMG, OMG those cookies look frick-frackin' amazing! I hope they will still have these hershey's kisses out when my comp is over, because I'm going to be showing them some mad love!

    We don't know yet what we're doing for Halloween, but if we end up at a party, I'm going as the Progressive Girl, cuz she's flippin S-C-A-R-Y!

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  24. I had no idea about these candies. thank you for introducing me.

    I'm more enamored witht he exotic looking entrance to target that that poodle....

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  25. ha I have never heard of pumpkin kisses either! although, I was never a huge fan of pumpkin until last year!

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  26. I love the GLASS you used..."HOT MESS"....

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  27. Haha, I love your glass! It made me laugh for sure. And I think that if I continue to read your blog, I've really got to start working out more! Your foods look too good!! Haha, I don't know how you do it: bake and eat cookies and still look AMAZING! Go you!

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  28. Love it - the glass idea is clever and these are super halloweeny - heart!

    I'm trying to avoid dressing up - it's just not my thing and I wish it was!

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  29. Yumm! I haven't heard of these Kisses OR the SPK Chillers. WHAT?! Never thought I'd be so out of the loop with candy :)

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  30. um I have never even heard of these kisses! now I'm not going to the gym either :) Target after work today and then baking these for the office. Thanks!

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  31. My god they look good! BTW all of your posts are so funny I love reading them!!! xoxoxo Oh and yeah I don't how I am going to take on this Lodon Broil tonight hahaha it will be interesting!

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  32. Oh. My. God. Pumpkin Kisses!!! Jesus loves me, this I know :) Lol. I'm totally making these!

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  33. I WANT THOSE COOKIES IN MY MOUTH RIGHT NOW. kthanksloveyoubye.

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  34. I'm currently obsessed with all things pumpkin. Trader Joe's pumpkin butter, pumpkin spice granola, starbucks pumpking space latte.. these are right up my alley!

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  35. haha....what hilarious pictures! (what the heck's a shake weight?)

    ya know, they don't really celebrate halloween over here. they know what it is, but kids don't go trick or treating or anything. so what does that mean - no halloween candy. :( neaderthals, i tell ya.

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  36. Whaaat I've never heard of these kisses before! But they sound amazing! And they're only available at Target?! Why do we never get the good products here in Canada? :P

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  37. Ok, seriously I want to go to Target NOW! But it's too late!:(

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  38. You don't even know how badly I want those bags of kisses! I went to Buffalo around Halloween last year and stocked up...I even shared with the girls at work! I just can't understand why Canada only carries the everyday ho hum flavours. *sigh* Eat a few for me, K?? :)

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  39. Crazy... as soon as I told my mom about them she said "those would be delicious in a sugar cookie!" ha! Great minds think alike I guess! Target gets me everytime... I go for one item and walk out with at least 5.

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  40. Where oh where did you get that "Hot Mess" Glass????

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  41. Flatten the balls and creamy center---I love how diiiiiiirty you are! Get it Dirty....Xtina?? Holla!

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  42. I need to try those kisses!! How delicious are they??

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  43. Omigosh, that tumbler is EPIC! Where did you get it! I need it in my life!

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  44. It is a standard poodle and they are super smart. Way smarter than the miniature and toy poodles with the tiny brains. I can't imagine ever buying a poodle but if I did, it would be a standard.

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  45. HAA !! I thought they were new this year too??? I just had my first one today... I bought them 2 weeks ago, then went on vacation.

    I made something with them today... ;)

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