Description
Strawberry Kiss Cookies are tender, sweet treats made from a strawberry cake mix combined with butter, cream cheese, and an egg, chilled to perfection, then baked and topped with a classic chocolate Hershey’s Kiss. These cookies offer a delightful balance of fruity flavor and creamy texture, perfect for festive occasions or any time you crave a vibrant, easy-to-make dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 box (15.25 oz) strawberry cake mix
- 8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 large egg
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
Topping
- 30 chocolate Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped
- Optional: powdered sugar or pink granulated sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the strawberry cake mix, melted butter, and egg. Stir together until the mixture is smooth and evenly blended.
- Add Cream Cheese: Incorporate the softened cream cheese into the dough. Mix thoroughly until the dough becomes thick and the cream cheese is fully combined.
- Chill Dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour to firm up, which helps prevent the cookies from spreading during baking.
- Prepare Oven and Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and to ensure even baking.
- Form Cookies: Scoop the dough into tablespoon-sized balls using a cookie scoop or spoon for uniformity.
- Optional Rolling: If desired, roll each dough ball in powdered sugar or pink granulated sugar to add a sweet, decorative coating before baking. Otherwise, place the plain dough balls directly onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers remain soft and slightly underbaked.
- Add Chocolate Kiss: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them rest for 1 to 2 minutes to cool slightly. Gently press one unwrapped chocolate Hershey’s Kiss into the center of each cookie, allowing it to soften slightly without melting completely.
- Cool Completely: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely, which helps the chocolate set and the cookies firm up to the ideal texture.
Notes
- Chilling the dough before baking is crucial to prevent spreading and to keep the cookies thick and chewy.
- You may notice light cracking on the cookie surface after pressing in the chocolate kiss; this adds to their homemade charm.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
Keywords: strawberry cookies, strawberry kiss cookies, strawberry cake mix cookies, Hershey’s kiss cookies, easy dessert cookies, holiday cookies