Strawberry Kiss Cookies Recipe

If you’re a fan of all things sweet and a little bit fruity, then you’re in for a treat! Today, I’m excited to share my absolutely beloved Strawberry Kiss Cookies Recipe with you. These cookies are wonderfully soft with a dreamy strawberry flavor that pairs perfectly with a melty chocolate kiss on top. Trust me, once you try these, they’ll become your go-to cookie, especially when you want something that’s both nostalgic and a little extra special.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

I love how straightforward this recipe is—all the ingredients blend beautifully to create a cookie that’s soft, tender, and bursting with strawberry flavor. When shopping, keep an eye out for a good-quality strawberry cake mix and fresh cream cheese to get the best results.

• Strawberry cake mix: This is the cookie’s flavor base; using a boxed mix keeps things simple and consistent.
• Butter: Melted but slightly cooled, it adds moisture and richness. I like salted butter for extra flavor.
• Egg: Helps bind everything together—make sure it’s a large egg for the right texture.
• Cream cheese: Softened for easy mixing; it gives the cookies that lovely soft, fudge-like consistency.
• Powdered sugar or pink granulated sugar (optional): For rolling cookie dough and adding a pretty, sweet finish.
• Chocolate Hershey’s Kisses: Unwrapped and ready to nestle on top to create that iconic “kiss.”

Variations

I love how flexible the Strawberry Kiss Cookies Recipe is—you can easily tweak it to suit your tastes or dietary needs. I’ve tried a few variations myself, and I’ll share which ones really stood out to me.

• Berry swap: Once, I swapped the strawberry cake mix for a raspberry one. The cookies still turned out dreamy, with a slightly tangier twist.
• Gluten-free option: Use a gluten-free strawberry cake mix if you need to avoid gluten—just make sure the other ingredients comply.
• Extra chocolate: I sometimes press a mini chocolate chip or two next to the kiss before baking for a double chocolate treat.
• Sprinkles on top: Perfect for parties or kids, rolling the dough balls in colorful sugar adds a fun pop of festivity.

How to Make Strawberry Kiss Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Mix Up the Strawberry Magic

Start by combining the strawberry cake mix, melted butter, and egg in a large bowl. I like using a hand mixer here, but a sturdy spoon works fine too. Mix until everything is smooth and well blended. You’ll see the dough start to come together—this is when I get especially excited!

Step 2: Add Cream Cheese for Dreaminess

Next, add the softened cream cheese. This part might seem a bit tricky because the dough thickens up quite a bit, but keep mixing until it’s fully incorporated and beautifully creamy. I usually pause and scrape the bowl a couple of times to make sure everything is evenly combined.

Step 3: Chill Out

Cover the dough tightly and pop it in the fridge for at least an hour. This chilling step makes a huge difference—it stops the cookies from spreading too much and helps maintain their soft, thick texture. I’ve learned that if you skip this, the kisses don’t sit as nicely on top!

Step 4: Shape and Sugar-Coat

Once chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop out tablespoon-sized dough balls—using a cookie scoop helps keep them consistent. If you like, roll each ball in powdered sugar or pink granulated sugar for a festive touch. If not, just place dough balls plain on the sheet.

Step 5: Bake and Add the Kiss

Bake the cookies for 8–10 minutes. You want the edges to look set but keep the centers soft—think slightly underbaked for that perfect gooey bite. As soon as they come out of the oven, gently press a chocolate Hershey’s Kiss into the center of each cookie. They’ll crack a little, and that’s totally normal!

Step 6: Cool and Enjoy

Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let them cool completely. This lets the chocolate set just right without losing that melty goodness inside the cookie. I’ve always found that once cooled, these cookies are perfect for sharing… though you might want to keep some just for yourself!

How to Serve Strawberry Kiss Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

I’m a huge fan of keeping it simple here—just the sugar coating before baking adds that extra sparkle and sweetness. But if I’m feeling festive, I toss on a few colorful sprinkles right before pressing the kisses on top. It’s cute and adds a little crunch that complements the soft cookie.

Side Dishes

My favorite way to enjoy these cookies is with a tall glass of cold milk—kind of reminiscent of childhood memories. They also pair beautifully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, especially if you want a little dessert upgrade. For a party, I like to serve them alongside fresh fruit platters to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ve arranged these cookies in heart shapes on festive platters—perfect for Valentine’s Day or anniversaries. Wrapping them individually in cellophane bags tied with pink ribbons is also a hit when gifting. You could even stack them in cute cookie towers for a visually stunning dessert table.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I like to keep these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay wonderfully soft for about 3 days, which is usually perfect because they tend to disappear quickly! If you line the container with parchment paper between layers, you can avoid sticking and keep them looking fresh.

Freezing

If you want to freeze, I recommend freezing the dough balls before baking. Just place them on a tray, freeze until solid, then transfer to a zip-top bag. When you’re ready to bake, pop them straight into the oven and add your kisses as usual. This way, you can enjoy freshly baked cookies anytime!

Reheating

To reheat leftover cookies, I pop one or two in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds. This warms the chocolate kiss and softens the cookie just right, bringing back that fresh-baked feeling. Avoid over-microwaving to keep them from drying out.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

I can’t say enough how much I adore this Strawberry Kiss Cookies Recipe—it’s one of those simple recipes that punches way above its weight. Whether you’re baking for a special someone or just treating yourself, these cookies never disappoint. Give them a try, and I’m pretty sure you’ll find yourself reaching for that strawberry cake mix at the store a lot more often. Happy baking, friend!

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