How to Bake Hershey Kiss Cookies Perfectly
If you’ve ever wanted to bake a batch of cookies that combine soft, buttery dough with a melty chocolate center, Hershey Kiss Cookies are an absolute must-try. This classic treat is simple yet incredibly satisfying, delivering that gooey surprise of a Hershey Kiss right in the middle of each warm cookie. Perfect for sharing with friends or sweetening your day, these Hershey Kiss Cookies bring that nostalgic chocolate-hug feeling in every bite. Learn the secret to soft, gooey Hershey Kiss Cookies every time with our easy step-by-step baking guide for perfect results!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: Uses classic pantry staples that are easy to find and combine effortlessly.
- Soft and Gooey Texture: Each cookie is tender with a melt-in-your-mouth center around the Hershey Kiss.
- Quick Prep Time: Ready to bake in under 20 minutes, perfect for last-minute cravings.
- Customizable Flavors: Easily adjusted with different Hershey Kiss flavors or added mix-ins.
- Perfect for Sharing: A crowd-pleaser for holidays, school events, or cozy gatherings.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of these Hershey Kiss Cookies lies in their simplicity. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in creating the perfect balance of flavor, texture, and that golden color that makes cookies so irresistible.
- All-purpose flour: The base that gives the cookies structure while keeping them tender.
- Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise and ensures a soft crumb.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and a buttery flavor essential for soft cookies.
- Granulated sugar: Creates the slight crispness on the edges and sweetness.
- Brown sugar: Keeps the cookies moist with its natural molasses content.
- Egg: Binds the dough and provides moisture.
- Vanilla extract: Adds a warm, aromatic note that elevates tasting enjoyment.
- Hershey Kisses: The iconic chocolate center that melts perfectly while baking.
Variations for Hershey Kiss Cookies
Feel free to get creative with your Hershey Kiss Cookies! This recipe is wonderfully adaptable to suit different dietary preferences or to switch up flavors for variety.
- Peanut Butter Lover’s Twist: Swap half the butter for peanut butter and use Reese’s Kisses for an extra nutty flavor.
- Minty Fresh: Use mint-flavored Hershey Kisses and add a few drops of peppermint extract for a cool holiday treat.
- Gluten-Free Version: Substitute all-purpose flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend for those with sensitivities.
- Double Chocolate: Add 1/4 cup cocoa powder to the dough for a rich chocolate cookie base.
- Nutty Crunch: Fold in chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to add a delightful texture crunch.
How to Make Hershey Kiss Cookies
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Ingredients
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Gather all ingredients for easy workflow and take your butter out early to soften.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agent, which helps the cookies rise evenly and stay soft.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugars
Using a hand or stand mixer, cream the softened butter with granulated and brown sugars until the mixture is fluffy and pale. This step incorporates air that makes cookies tender.
Step 4: Add Egg and Vanilla
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined, making the dough smooth and moist.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Slowly add the dry mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough, which can lead to tough cookies.
Step 6: Shape and Bake
Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place them on your baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 9-11 minutes until the edges are lightly golden but the centers still look soft.
Step 7: Add Hershey Kisses
Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, press a Hershey Kiss gently into the center of each cookie. The warmth will slightly melt the chocolate, creating that gooey center.
Step 8: Cool and Enjoy
Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes so they set up, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. This keeps the perfect balance of soft dough and melty chocolate.
Pro Tips for Making Hershey Kiss Cookies
- Use room temperature butter: This ensures the sugars blend well and the dough is creamy.
- Don’t overbake: Take cookies out when centers look slightly underdone for ultimate softness.
- Press kisses in while warm: This prevents cracking and helps the chocolate melt into the cookie.
- Chill dough if possible: For thicker cookies, refrigerate dough for 30 minutes before baking.
- Use parchment paper or silicone mats: To avoid sticking and help cookies bake evenly.
How to Serve Hershey Kiss Cookies
Garnishes
Sprinkle a small pinch of sea salt over freshly baked Hershey Kiss Cookies to make the chocolate pop. For a snowy look, dust lightly with powdered sugar.
Side Dishes
Serve these cookies alongside your favorite glass of cold milk or hot cocoa for a comforting duo that satisfies every sweet tooth craving.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange Hershey Kiss Cookies on a festive platter or stack them inside a mason jar tied with a ribbon for a charming gift. You can also try sandwiching two cookies with vanilla or chocolate frosting for an indulgent treat.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftover Hershey Kiss Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain softness and freshness.
Freezing
Dough balls can be frozen on a baking sheet, then transferred to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen by adding a few extra minutes to the baking time for a fresh-baked cookie anytime.
Reheating
Warm cookies in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to soften and revive that melty center, making them taste fresh from the oven.
FAQs
Can I use different chocolates instead of Hershey Kisses?
Absolutely! While Hershey Kisses melt perfectly, you can substitute with other bite-sized chocolates like mini peanut butter cups or dark chocolate drops for a unique twist.
Why are my Hershey Kiss Cookies hard instead of soft?
Hard cookies usually result from overbaking or using too much flour; be sure to measure ingredients accurately and watch baking time carefully.
How do I prevent Hershey Kisses from melting too much?
Press the Kiss into the cookie right after baking rather than before baking, which allows the cookie to set around the chocolate without it melting completely.
Can I make Hershey Kiss Cookies dairy-free?
Yes! Substitute the butter with a plant-based margarine and choose dairy-free chocolate kisses to make this recipe vegan-friendly.
Is it necessary to chill the dough before baking?
Chilling is optional but recommended if you want thicker, less spread-out cookies; it helps the dough firm up and control spreading in the oven.
Final Thoughts
Baking Hershey Kiss Cookies is like giving yourself a warm, chocolaty hug in cookie form. With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, you’ll have these irresistibly soft, gooey cookies ready to delight your family and friends in no time. Don’t hesitate to try this recipe and make it your own with those fun variations—after all, nothing beats the joy of homemade Hershey Kiss Cookies fresh from your oven!
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Hershey Kiss Cookies
Hershey Kiss Cookies are soft, buttery cookies with a gooey chocolate center from a Hershey Kiss pressed into each warm cookie. This simple and satisfying recipe uses classic pantry staples to create a tender cookie with a melty chocolate surprise, perfect for sharing or any sweet craving. Customizable with flavor variations and easy step-by-step instructions make it a go-to treat for homemade cookie lovers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Can be gluten-free with substitution; otherwise not gluten-free
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Other
- About 36 Hershey Kisses
Instructions
- Prepare Your Oven and Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Gather all ingredients and ensure the butter is softened for easy mixing.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to ensure even distribution for proper rising and texture.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: Using a hand or stand mixer, cream the softened unsalted butter with granulated and brown sugars until the mixture is fluffy and pale, incorporating air to make tender cookies.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined, creating a smooth and moist dough.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking and toughening the dough.
- Shape and Bake: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the lined baking sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes until edges are lightly golden but centers still look soft.
- Add Hershey Kisses: Immediately upon removing the cookies from the oven, gently press one Hershey Kiss into the center of each cookie. The residual heat will slightly melt the chocolate, creating a gooey center.
- Cool and Enjoy: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely, maintaining the soft dough and melty chocolate balance.
Notes
- Use room temperature butter to ensure proper creaming with sugars.
- Do not overbake; remove cookies when centers appear slightly underdone for ultimate softness.
- Press Hershey Kisses into cookies while warm to prevent cracking and encourage melting.
- Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking yields thicker cookies and controls spreading.
- Use parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: Hershey Kiss Cookies, chocolate cookies, soft cookies, chocolate center, holiday cookies, easy cookie recipe