Secret Kiss Cookies feature buttery cookie dough wrapped around a chocolate Kiss! These are soft and chewy cookies with a surprise sweet chocolate center.
These powdered sugar-covered cookies look like little snowballs, but they have a chocolate surprise inside. This Christmas, go beyond peanut butter blossoms and make these fun hidden kiss cookies.
And if you want to create an entire Christmas cookie tray full of cookies, you can use this same basic dough to make 4 different cookie recipes!
Find more Christmas cookie recipes! Try Raspberry Pinwheel Cookies, Russian Tea Cookies, or Molasses Chocolate Chip Cookies.
🧈Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
Shortening and Butter – A combination of butter and shortening gives these a soft texture.
Instant Vanilla Pudding – The pudding adds flavor and helps make these moist and chewy. You don’t make the pudding. Just add the powder to the dough.
Hershey Kisses – Milk chocolate or dark chocolate are delicious in this recipe.
The remaining dough ingredients are baking staples, including
- sugar
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- flour
- baking powder
- salt
- powdered sugar
🥣How to Make Secret Kiss Cookies
- Mix the Wet Ingredients – Using an electric mixer, cream butter, shortening, and sugar on medium speed for 2-3 minutes. Then add the eggs, vanilla, and instant pudding.
- Add the Dry Ingredients – Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Add to the wet ingredient about one-third at a time until it is all combined.
- Scoop – Use a medium cookie scoop to make the dough into balls about 1 1/2 tablespoons in size.
- Hide Kiss – Press a Kiss in the center of the ball. Pinch the dough around the Kiss to make a cone-shaped ball.
- Chill – Refrigerate the dough balls for at least 1 hour before baking.
- Add to Baking Sheet – Put the dough balls on baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Keep the balls about 2 inches apart.
- Bake – Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 12-15 minutes, making sure not to overbake. Pull them out when the edges start to brown, and the middle just looks set.
- Cool – Let them cool on the cookie sheets for about 5 minutes.
- Roll – Put the powdered sugar in a bowl. While they are still warm, roll each one in the confectioner’s sugar.
💭How to Store
Store the secret Kiss cookies in an airtight container for 5-7 days. Separate the layers with parchment paper.
The baked cookies also freeze well. Package them in a freezer container, separated by layers of parchment paper. They will keep for 2 months in the freezer.
✔️Make the Dough Ahead of Time
This is an ideal cookie dough to make ahead of time! It can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap. Or freeze the dough for up to 2 months before baking. If frozen, let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Take the dough out of the fridge for about 30 minutes before baking. The dough will still need to be chilled after hiding the Kisses inside.
And if you love baking with Hershey’s Kisses then make some peanut butter blossoms or chocolate cherry blossoms too!
🎄One Dough, 4 Cookies
This pudding cookie dough base can be used to make four different cookie recipes! You can create a colorful Christmas cookie tray from just this basic dough! Divide it in half or fourths, and start filling your holiday dessert table. The other delicious cookies are:
⭐Tips for Making the Best Hidden Kiss Cookies
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- You have to chill the dough to keep the Kiss inside from melting.
- Don’t overbake the cookies.
- Use a cookie scoop to make evenly sized dough balls.
- Use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat on the cookie sheets.
- Roll in powdered sugar while the cookies are still warm and then again after they are cooled for a fun snowball look.
Did You Make This? Leave a Star Rating!
Secret Kiss Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ cups unsalted butter softened
- ¼ cup shortening
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups flour
- 1 box instant vanilla pudding
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 70 Hershey Kisses milk chocolate or dark chocolate
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Beat the butter, shortening, and sugar with an electric mixer for 3 minutes until soft and creamy.¾ cups unsalted butter, ¼ cup shortening, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- Add the eggs, vanilla, and instant pudding mix to the mixing bowl. Continue mixing until completely combined.2 eggs, 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 box instant vanilla pudding
- In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt.2 ½ cups flour, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture a little at a time. Mix between additions until all the flour is incorporated.
- Use a cookie scoop or spoon to form a dough ball about 1 1/2 tablespoons in size.
- Press a Hershey Kiss candy into the center and pinch the dough around the Kiss to form a cone-shaped dough ball. Repeat with all the dough.70 Hershey Kisses
- Put the balls of dough in the fridge to chill for at least 60 minutes before baking.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Place the chilled dough balls on the baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes. The cookies are done when the middle is set, and they are and light golden brown around the edges.
- Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing them to a wire rack.
- Put the powdered sugar in a bowl. While the cookies are still warm, roll them in the powdered sugar.2 cups powdered sugar
- Let them cool, then roll them in the powdered sugar again.
Notes
- You need to chill the dough to keep the Kiss inside from melting.
- Don’t overbake the cookies.
- Use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat on the cookie sheets.
- Roll in powdered sugar while the cookies are still warm and then again after they are cooled for a fun snowball look.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Recommended Products
Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
