If you’re searching for a festive treat that brings both joy and a sprinkle of holiday magic, look no further than the Grinch Cookies with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe. These delightful green sugar cookies, hugging a rich Hershey’s Kiss in the center and topped with a sweet heart-shaped candy, perfectly capture the playful spirit of the season. They are irresistibly cute, bursting with flavor, and easy enough to make for a cheerful crowd or as a sweet surprise just for yourself.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe calls for simple, classic baking staples enhanced by a few vibrant touches. Each ingredient works in harmony to create the signature chewy texture, bright green color, and luscious chocolate center that make these cookies so special.
- Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped: The star surprise at the heart of every cookie, adding creamy chocolate goodness.
- Large heart-shaped candy sprinkles: Cute, festive toppers that add a pop of color and sweetness.
- Sugar cookie mix (17.5 ounces): Your base for soft, perfectly sweet cookies.
- All-purpose flour (1/4 cup): Helps to firm up the dough and provide an ideal chewy bite.
- Large egg: Binds ingredients together and ensures a tender crumb.
- Unsalted butter (1/2 cup), room temperature: Adds rich flavor and keeps cookies soft.
- Green gel food coloring (3/4 teaspoon): The magical touch that turns these cookies into Grinch-green delights.
How to Make Grinch Cookies with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Pan
Start by heating your oven to 375°F. Lightly spray a mini muffin pan with baking spray, or you can line it with paper liners if you prefer easier cleanup. This will be the perfect home for your festive dough balls to bake evenly while holding that iconic shape.
Step 2: Mix the Colored Egg
In a small bowl, whisk together the large egg and the green gel food coloring until the color is evenly blended. This step is key for achieving that vibrant Grinch-green color in your cookies, so don’t rush it!
Step 3: Combining the Dough
Using a handheld mixer on low speed, blend together the sugar cookie mix, all-purpose flour, unsalted butter, and your green egg mixture in a large bowl. Mix for about 2 to 3 minutes until you see a thick, cohesive dough forming. The consistency should be soft but sturdy enough to hold shape around the chocolate center.
Step 4: Shaping the Cookies
Scoop about 1½ tablespoons of dough with a cookie scoop, then flatten it gently into a disc roughly 3 inches across. Place a Hershey’s Kiss upright in the center. Now, carefully wrap the dough around the Kiss, enveloping it completely, and roll it into a smooth ball. This wrapping step ensures that luscious chocolate center that melts in your mouth.
Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Place your dough balls in the prepared muffin pan, keeping the Hershey’s Kisses upright. Pop them in the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. You’re looking for the dough to be set but not browned, preserving that soft, chewy texture.
Step 6: The Finishing Touch
Right after removing the cookies from the oven, place one heart-shaped candy sprinkle offset slightly to the right of center on each cookie’s top. Let them cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes to set, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. This final step adds a whimsical and festive flair that makes these cookies stand out wherever they’re served.
How to Serve Grinch Cookies with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe
Garnishes
A simple dusting of powdered sugar around your serving plate or a few extra colorful sprinkles scattered nearby can elevate the presentation, making your Grinch Cookies with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe feel even more festive. Consider pairing with a few fresh mint leaves for a gorgeous green palette.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a warm holiday drink like hot cocoa topped with whipped cream or a mug of spiced apple cider. Their sweet, buttery flavor complements cozy beverages, creating a heartwarming holiday snack time.
Creative Ways to Present
Why not place these cookies inside mini decorative gift boxes or arrange them on a festive tiered tray for a party? Wrapping each cookie in clear cellophane tied with a red or green ribbon makes a perfect homemade gift that friends and family will adore. Channel your inner holiday elf and have fun dressing up your platter!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftover Grinch Cookies with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain their softness. They will stay fresh and delicious for up to 5 days, making it easy to enjoy the holiday spirit beyond just one occasion.
Freezing
If you want to prepare these festive treats well in advance, freeze the baked and cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet first, then transfer to a sealable freezer bag. This method keeps them fresh for up to 3 months, perfect for surprising guests or indulging in a festive treat whenever you want.
Reheating
To bring back that fresh-baked soft texture, warm frozen Grinch Cookies gently in a microwave for 10 to 15 seconds or in an oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes. This will revive the chocolate center and restore that just-out-of-the-oven deliciousness.
FAQs
Can I use other types of candy instead of Hershey’s Kisses?
Absolutely! While Hershey’s Kisses are classic and perfect for this recipe, you can experiment with other chocolates or even festive candies that can fit inside the cookie dough. Just make sure they won’t melt too quickly or alter the cookie texture.
What if I don’t have green gel food coloring?
If you don’t have gel food coloring, you can use liquid food coloring, but you might need a bit more to achieve that vivid green. Gel coloring is preferred because it provides brighter color without changing the dough’s consistency.
Are these cookies gluten-free?
This recipe uses standard sugar cookie mix and all-purpose flour, so it is not gluten-free as written. You can try substituting with a gluten-free cookie mix and gluten-free flour blend, but results may vary depending on the replacements.
How do I keep my Hershey’s Kisses from sinking in the dough?
The key is to flatten the dough into discs before inserting the Hershey’s Kisses, then carefully wrap the dough around them to form a tight ball. Chilling the dough slightly before wrapping can also help keep the chocolate centered during baking.
Can I make these cookies without a mini muffin pan?
Yes, you can bake the dough balls directly on a parchment-lined baking sheet, but a mini muffin pan helps them keep their shape and hold the Hershey’s Kiss upright perfectly. If using a sheet, consider gently pressing the dough to a stable disc shape and keeping the chocolate upright as best as possible.
Final Thoughts
There is something truly magical about the Grinch Cookies with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe — they combine festive colors, a gooey chocolate center, and adorable heart-shaped accents into one joyful bite that anyone will love. Whether you’re making them to gift, serve at a holiday party, or enjoy as a special treat, these cookies are bound to bring smiles and warm memories. Give this recipe a try and watch your friends and family’s faces light up with every delicious bite!
Print
Grinch Cookies with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 18 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Grinch Cookies with Hershey Kisses are festive holiday treats featuring sugar cookie dough wrapped around a chocolate Kiss and topped with a heart-shaped candy sprinkle, creating a fun and colorful dessert perfect for Christmas celebrations.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 17.5 ounces sugar cookie mix
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3/4 teaspoon green gel food coloring
Decorations
- 18 Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped
- 18 large heart-shaped candy sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray a mini muffin pan with baking spray or line it with paper liners, then set it aside.
- Mix Egg and Food Coloring: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and green gel food coloring until the mixture is fully blended and uniformly green.
- Make Cookie Dough: Using a handheld mixer on low speed, combine the sugar cookie mix, all-purpose flour, unsalted butter, and the egg-green food coloring mixture in a large bowl. Mix for 2 to 3 minutes until a thick dough forms.
- Shape Dough with Hershey’s Kiss: Scoop out 1½ tablespoons of dough with a 1½-inch cookie scoop and flatten it into a 3-inch disc. Place one Hershey’s Kiss upright in the center of the disc, then carefully wrap the dough around the candy and shape it into a ball.
- Arrange and Bake Cookies: Place the dough balls in the prepared mini muffin pan, ensuring the Hershey’s Kisses remain upright. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes until the dough is set but not browned.
- Add Heart Sprinkles and Cool: Immediately after baking, place one heart-shaped candy sprinkle offset to the right from the center atop each cookie. Let the cookies cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Make sure the Hershey’s Kisses remain upright while shaping and baking to maintain the festive look.
- Don’t overbake the cookies; they should be set but not browned for the best texture.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before serving to let the dough firm up around the chocolate center.
- If green gel food coloring is not available, try using green liquid food coloring but reduce the amount slightly to avoid thinning the dough.
