Almond Butter Kiss Cookies

Effortless 4-Ingredient Gluten-Free Almond Butter Blossom Cookies: Sweet, Soft, and Simple

Indulge in the pure delight of these Almond Butter Blossom Cookies – sweet, incredibly soft, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. What’s more, they’re naturally gluten-free and require only four simple ingredients, making them one of the easiest cookie recipes you’ll ever bake.

Almond Butter Blossom Cookies on a white tablecloth

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There’s a special joy in discovering a recipe that is both incredibly simple to prepare and undeniably delicious. These almond butter blossom cookies perfectly embody that ideal. They offer a delightful treat that satisfies sweet cravings without demanding hours in the kitchen, making them a go-to for busy bakers and families alike.

The simplicity of these gluten-free almond butter blossoms also makes them a fantastic activity for kids. My own children have been eagerly helping me bake these cookies since they were just toddlers, proving that baking delicious treats can indeed be a fun and accessible family affair. It’s a wonderful way to introduce them to the joy of cooking and the satisfaction of homemade goodies.

These 4-ingredient almond butter cookies are especially popular in our home during the holiday season. When you’re looking for a tasty, homemade treat to share, but time is short, this easy recipe comes to the rescue. They provide that comforting, celebratory feeling without all the usual holiday baking fuss. I often find myself craving and making these cookies throughout the cooler winter months, and I’m confident they’ll become a beloved staple in your home too, whether for special occasions or just a sweet everyday indulgence.

Making almond butter blossoms #almondbutterblossoms

What Exactly Are Blossom Cookies? The Almond Butter Twist

Blossom cookies, affectionately known as “kiss cookies,” are a beloved classic in the baking world. Their signature feature is a chocolate kiss (typically a Hershey’s Kiss) pressed into the center of a freshly baked cookie, creating a distinct “blossom” effect. The most traditional and widely recognized version is the peanut butter blossom, a staple at holiday cookie exchanges and family gatherings for generations.

However, this recipe takes that cherished concept and gives it a delightful twist by using almond butter instead of peanut butter. My almond butter blossom cookie recipe is a personal adaptation of a classic peanut butter recipe that I perfected over the years. While the peanut butter version is undoubtedly fantastic, I’ve grown to adore the unique flavor profile and slightly more nuanced taste that almond butter brings to these soft, chewy cookies.

Beyond taste, almond butter offers a wonderful alternative for those looking for a different flavor or even certain health benefits. While both nut butters are nutritious, almond butter often contains more vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It also offers a refreshing change from the classic, providing a unique and equally satisfying experience. This simple substitution opens up a new world of flavor for a beloved cookie, making it a favorite for many.

For a detailed comparison of the health benefits of almond butter and peanut butter, click here.

Why This Easy Almond Butter Blossoms Recipe Will Become Your Favorite

There are countless reasons why these gluten-free almond butter blossom cookies deserve a permanent spot in your recipe collection. From their effortless preparation to their crowd-pleasing taste, they truly stand out:

  • Effortlessly Easy to Make: Forget complicated techniques or specialized baking equipment. This recipe for almond butter blossoms is designed for simplicity. The steps are incredibly straightforward, involving minimal mixing and no fussy chilling times. You can whip up a batch of these delectable cookies in just 15-20 minutes from start to finish, making them perfect for last-minute treats or when you just want something sweet without a lot of effort.
  • Minimal and Common Ingredients: You’ll be amazed that such delicious cookies require only four basic ingredients! We’re talking about staples that most likely already reside in your pantry and refrigerator. This minimalist approach not only saves you a trip to the grocery store but also highlights the quality of each component, allowing their natural flavors to shine through beautifully.
  • Naturally Gluten-Free: One of the best features of these almond butter cookies is that they are completely flourless. This makes them an excellent choice for anyone following a gluten-free diet, or for those simply looking to reduce their gluten intake. You don’t need any special gluten-free flours or complex substitutions; the almond butter itself provides the perfect structure and richness, resulting in a naturally delicious and safe treat for everyone.

If you’re an almond butter enthusiast, you’ll definitely want to try this recipe for No Churn Banana-Almond Butter Ice Cream!

Essential Ingredients for Your Almond Butter Blossoms

Gathering your ingredients for these simple almond butter blossoms is half the fun, primarily because you likely have most of them on hand. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and some tips for selection:

Sugar, Hershey's kisses, almond butter and egg
  • Almond Butter: The star of our show! For the best results, opt for natural almond butter that lists only almonds as an ingredient, or almonds with a touch of salt. Avoid varieties with added sugars, oils, or preservatives, as these can alter the texture and sweetness of your cookies. If your almond butter has separated, be sure to stir it thoroughly until smooth and creamy before measuring.
  • Sugar: You have flexibility here. Classic granulated white sugar works perfectly, yielding a traditional sweet cookie. For a slightly less refined option or a deeper, caramel-like note, coconut sugar is an excellent substitute and works beautifully in this recipe, maintaining the same texture.
  • Egg: Just one large egg acts as the binder in this flourless cookie recipe, holding everything together and contributing to the tender, soft texture. Ensure your egg is at room temperature for easier incorporation into the dough.
  • Hershey’s Kisses: These iconic chocolates are what give blossom cookies their charming appearance and name. Many stores now conveniently sell bags of unwrapped Hershey’s Kisses, which saves a lot of time. However, if you can only find the wrapped ones, they work just as well – simply enlist some helpers to get them ready while the cookies bake!

 

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Perfect Almond Butter Blossom Cookies

Creating these delightful 4-ingredient almond butter blossom cookies is incredibly simple. Follow these easy steps for a batch of perfectly soft and sweet treats:

Dough for almond butter blossoms on cookie sheet
Kids making almond butter cookies #almondbuttercookies #almondbutterblossoms
Those are little 5 year old and 3 year old hands helping with the cookies.

1. Prepare for Baking

  • Kick things off by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures your oven is at the correct temperature for even baking.
  • Next, prepare your baking sheet. Line it with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This prevents sticking and makes for easy cleanup, ensuring your cookies slide right off.

2. Prepare the Simple Cookie Dough

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of creamy almond butter and 1 cup of your chosen sugar (granulated or coconut sugar). Mix these two ingredients thoroughly until they are well combined and form a cohesive, slightly crumbly mixture.
  • Now, add one large egg to the mixture. Continue stirring until the egg is fully incorporated and the dough comes together into a smooth, slightly sticky ball. This will happen quite quickly!

3. Bake to Golden Perfection

  • Using a small cookie scoop or a tablespoon, form the dough into uniform one-inch balls. Place these dough balls onto your prepared baking sheet. Don’t worry too much about spacing; these flourless cookies don’t spread much during baking, so you can place them relatively close together without them merging.
  • Carefully place the baking sheet into your preheated oven. Bake for approximately 8-10 minutes. You’re looking for the edges to be just lightly golden, and the centers to appear set but still soft. Avoid overbaking to maintain their signature melt-in-your-mouth texture.

4. Add Hershey’s Kisses for the “Blossom”

  • While your cookies are baking, take the opportunity to unwrap the necessary amount of Hershey’s Kisses. You’ll need one for each cookie, so prepare about 22-24 kisses depending on your cookie yield.
  • As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, while they are still warm and pliable, immediately and carefully press one Hershey’s Kiss into the center of each cookie. The edges may crack slightly around the chocolate – this is perfectly normal and adds to their rustic charm!

5. Cool and Savor!

  • Allow the freshly “blossomed” cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. This initial cooling period helps them firm up a bit.
  • After 5 minutes, gently transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. The more they cool, the less crumbly they will be. Though, we often can’t resist enjoying them warm, when the chocolate is perfectly soft and melty!

How to Serve Your Almond Butter Blossoms

These almond butter blossom cookies are truly versatile and delightful in any setting. While they are wonderful once fully cooled and set, there’s a special magic in eating them when they are still slightly warm, allowing the chocolate kiss to be wonderfully soft and melty. This makes for an irresistible combination of warm, tender cookie and gooey chocolate.

They pair exceptionally well with a variety of warm beverages, making them a perfect companion for a cozy afternoon or an evening treat. Consider serving them with:

  • Café de Olla Recipe: The spiced coffee notes perfectly complement the sweetness of the cookies.
  • Healthy Homemade Almond Milk: A classic pairing for any cookie, and homemade almond milk adds an extra touch of freshness.
  • Cashew Coffee Creamer with your favorite hot coffee: Elevate your coffee break with this creamy addition alongside your cookies.

Storing Your Homemade Goodness

To keep your almond butter blossom cookies fresh and delicious, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They will maintain their wonderful texture and flavor for up to 5 days. For longer storage, they can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Just thaw at room temperature before enjoying.

Expert Tips and Creative Variations for Your Blossom Cookies

These 4-ingredient almond butter blossom cookies are fantastic as is, but a few simple tips and variations can make them even more special or perfectly tailored to your taste:

  • **Peanut Butter Swap:** Craving the classic? It’s incredibly easy to transform these into gluten-free peanut butter blossoms. Simply follow the exact same recipe, replacing the almond butter with an equal amount of your favorite natural peanut butter. The baking time and process remain the same.
  • **Flavorful Kisses:** Hershey’s Kisses now come in a wide array of exciting flavors! Experiment with dark chocolate Kisses for a richer taste, candy cane Kisses for a festive holiday twist, or even caramel-filled Kisses for an extra layer of sweetness. Choose whichever flavor perfectly complements your palate.
  • **No Kisses? No Problem!** If you don’t have Hershey’s Kisses on hand, or prefer a different chocolate experience, simply use 3-4 standard chocolate chips. Press them gently into the center of each warm cookie immediately after baking. The result is equally delightful.
  • **Plain Almond Butter Cookies:** If you want to skip the chocolate altogether, these still make fantastic plain almond butter cookies. Before baking, use a fork to gently press down on each cookie ball in a criss-cross pattern. This classic technique creates a charming textured top. Then, bake as directed.
  • **Taming Oily Nut Butter:** Natural almond butter can sometimes separate, leaving a layer of oil on top. To help distribute the oil more evenly and prevent overly oily dough, try storing your jar of almond butter upside down. Give it a good stir before using.
  • **Don’t Overbake:** These cookies are meant to be soft and tender. They might still look slightly underdone when you pull them from the oven, but they will continue to set as they cool. Overbaking will result in a dry, crumbly cookie, so err on the side of caution.
  • **Chilling the Dough (Optional):** While not strictly necessary for this recipe, chilling the dough for 15-30 minutes can sometimes make it a bit easier to handle, especially if your kitchen is warm.

I genuinely hope you enjoy making and devouring these incredibly simple and delicious almond butter blossom cookies!

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE OR TAG ME ON INSTAGRAM @EVERYDAYLATINA. I LOVE SEEING YOUR CREATIONS!

More Delicious Gluten-Free Cookie Recipes to Explore

If you loved these easy almond butter blossoms, you’ll be thrilled to discover more gluten-free cookie recipes that are equally satisfying and simple to make:

  • Crispy and Chewy Coconut Flour Oatmeal Cookies
  • Eggless Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
  • Gluten-Free Almond Joy Cookies
Almond Butter Blossom Cookies on a white tablecloth

Recipe: Easy Almond Butter Blossom Cookies

Almond Butter Blossom Cookies on a white tablecloth

Almond Butter Blossoms

by Gemma Aguayo-Murphy

These 4-ingredient Almond Butter Blossom Cookies are the epitome of simple indulgence. Sweet, soft, and famously melt-in-your-mouth, they’re naturally gluten-free and incredibly easy to make. Perfect for a quick treat or a delightful addition to any dessert spread!

Print Recipe
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Servings 2 dozen

Equipment

  • Cookie Sheet
  • Cookie Scoop (or spoon)

Ingredients

  

  • 1 cup almond butter (see notes for selection)
  • 1 cup regular or coconut sugar (see notes for options)
  • 1 large egg
  • 22-24 Hershey’s Kisses (unwrapped)

Instructions

 

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  • In a large bowl, mix the almond butter and the sugar until well combined.
  • Add the egg and stir until it’s fully incorporated and the dough comes together smoothly.
  • Use a cookie scoop or a tablespoon to form uniform one-inch balls of dough. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them relatively close as they won’t spread much.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are set but still soft.
  • While the cookies are baking, unwrap the Hershey’s Kisses so they are ready to use as soon as the cookies come out of the oven.
  • Immediately after taking the cookies out of the oven, carefully press one Hershey’s Kiss into the center of each warm cookie. The edges may crack slightly, which is normal.
  • Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. The cooler they get, the less crumbly they will be.
  • Store your delicious almond butter blossoms in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • For the best flavor and texture, use natural almond butter that contains only almonds, or almonds and a touch of salt. Avoid varieties with added sugars or oils.
  • To make classic peanut butter blossoms, simply replace the almond butter with an equal amount of natural peanut butter.
  • You can use either granulated white sugar or coconut sugar based on your dietary preference and desired flavor profile.
  • If you prefer a less sweet cookie, you can reduce the sugar amount to ¾ cup without significantly impacting the texture.
  • This recipe typically yields between 22-24 cookies, depending on the size of your cookie dough balls.
  • For a delightful variation, omit the chocolate altogether and make plain almond butter cookies. Before baking, use a fork to press down on each cookie in a criss-cross pattern, then bake as directed.
Did you try this recipe?Leave me a comment and star rating below or mention @everydaylatina on Instagram!

Originally published October 24, 2019. Updated post December 2022.