Indulge in the irresistible charm of chocolate kiss cookies, a Christmas treat that combines soft chocolate cookies with Hershey’s Kisses. Perfect for holiday gatherings, cookie swaps, or just a fun baking project to tackle with kids, these chocolate kiss cookies will hit the spot.
The contrast between the slightly crisp edges of the cookie and the soft, gooey center of the chocolate kiss makes these treats impossible to resist. I love using sparkling sugar on these cookies because it makes them glitter and adds a little bit of crunch.
Kiss cookies are a classic Christmas recipe. Sure, peanut butter blossoms are the most popular, but it’s fun to change things up and make some other types. As far as my family is concerned, the more chocolate, the better!
This recipe is designed with simplicity and ease in mind, requiring just basic ingredients and minimal preparation time. The dough comes together quickly and can be easily shaped into cute, uniform mounds, ready to be topped with a kiss. It is also an easy recipe for kids to help with, from rolling the dough balls to adding the Kisses.
In this post, I’ll guide you through the step-by-step process of creating your own batch of chocolate kiss cookies. I’ll also share some tips for customizing the recipe and storing the cookies. Enjoy a timeless treat and create a new tradition!
I love making cookies topped with Hershey’s Kisses! Try chocolate mint kiss cookies, air fryer Kiss cookies, or sugar cookie blossoms.
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🥘Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
This recipe includes standard baking staples: butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. You will also need:
- Sparkling sugar: For rolling the dough balls.
- Hershey’s Kisses: I used standard milk chocolate Kisses. But use whatever kind is your favorite.
🥣How to Make Chocolate Kiss Cookies
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set that aside while you mix the butter and sugar in a large bowl using an electric mixer. Once the dough is nice and creamy, add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix until everything is well incorporated. The dough will be a bit thick, but that’s totally normal.
- Next, pour some sparkling sugar on a small plate. Scoop out about a tablespoon of dough at a time and roll it into a ball. Then, roll each ball in the sparkling sugar until it’s fully coated. Place the sugar-coated dough balls on your prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between each.
- Put your cookies into the oven for 8-10 minutes or until they’re slightly flattened and crackled on top. While they’re baking, unwrap your Hershey’s Kisses so they’re ready to go.
- As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, press a Kiss into the center of each one. The heat from the cookies will melt the bottom of the Kisses just enough so they stick. Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheets before removing them to wire racks.
🍴Serving Ideas
Now that you’ve made a batch of these delicious chocolate kiss cookies, it’s time to share them with your loved ones! They’re perfect for any occasion, whether a family gathering, a holiday party, or a cozy night in.
Chocolate kiss cookies are perfectly chocolatey, slightly crispy on the outside, and chewy on the inside. One of my favorite ways to serve these cookies is alongside a tall glass of cold milk or a steaming mug of hot cocoa.
Add these to your holiday cookie tray, or make a bunch and give them to your friends and neighbors! Cookies with Hershey’s Kisses are always a crowd favorite.
💭How to Store
Place the cooled cookies in an airtight container, separating the layers with sheets of parchment paper or wax paper to prevent sticking. They will keep at room temperature for up to a week. But who are we kidding? They’ll probably disappear long before that!
You can also freeze leftovers. To freeze, place the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid (about an hour). Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag, separating layers with parchment paper.
When you’re ready to enjoy the frozen cookies, let them thaw at room temperature for a few hours or pop them in the microwave for a few seconds to warm them up.
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- If your dough feels too soft or sticky to work with, pop it in the fridge for 15-30 minutes. Chilling will make it easier to roll into balls.
- To make perfectly uniform cookies, portion the dough out using a small cookie scoop (about 1 tablespoon).
- I like to roll these in sparkling sugar to make them glitter. You could also use powdered sugar for more of a snowy vibe.
- When set and slightly cracked on top, take the cookies out of the oven. They may look a bit underbaked, but they’ll continue to cook and firm up as they cool on the baking sheet.
- You can use whatever Hershey’s Kiss flavor you like. I usually use classic milk chocolate Kisses, but hot cocoa Kisses are really good in this recipe, too! There are lots of fun holiday flavors, so feel free to mix and match.
📝Reader Questions
This could be due to a few factors: your butter was too soft, or your oven temperature was off. Make sure to follow the expert tips above for the best results.
Yes, you can! Just substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend (like Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1) and double-check that your other ingredients are gluten-free as well.
Yes, you can make the dough up to 24 hours in advance. Just cover it tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake.
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Chocolate Kiss Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 ½ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour
- ⅔ cup cocoa powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup sparkling sugar
- 24 Hershey’s Kisses
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.2 cups flour, ⅔ cup cocoa powder, ¾ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt
- Use an electric mixer to mix the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix.1 cup butter, 1 ½ cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
- Place sparking sugar on a small plate. Scoop 1 tablespoon balls of dough and roll them in the sugar. Put them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.½ cup sparkling sugar
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cookies are slightly flatter and crackled on the top. Unwrap the Kisses while the cookies bake.
- Remove the baking sheets from the oven and immediately press a Kiss in the center of each cookie. Let cool completely before removing to wire racks.24 Hershey’s Kisses
Notes
- If your dough feels too soft or sticky to work with, pop it in the fridge for 15-30 minutes. Chilling will make it easier to roll into balls.
- To make perfectly uniform cookies, portion the dough out using a small cookie scoop (about 1 tablespoon).
- I like to roll these in sparkling sugar to make them glitter. You could also use powdered sugar for more of a snowy vibe.
- When set and slightly cracked on top, take the cookies out of the oven. They may look a bit underbaked, but they’ll continue to cook and firm up as they cool on the baking sheet.
- You can use whatever Hershey’s Kiss flavor you like. I usually use classic milk chocolate Kisses, but hot cocoa Kisses are really good in this recipe, too!
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
