These Strawberry Kiss Cookies are soft, pink, and packed with sweet strawberry flavor, each one crowned with a rich chocolate kiss. They look like something from a bakery display, yet the recipe is simple enough for a busy weeknight or last minute Valentine Day treat ideas.
Using a cake mix shortcut, you get consistent, tender cookies with almost no fuss, which makes them perfect as Valentines easy desserts for parties, classroom treats, or a cozy night in. Bake a batch to share with someone special or add them to a platter of cute Valentines recipes that everyone will remember long after the cookie plate is empty.
Table of Contents
Why These Strawberry Kiss Cookies Work So Well
This recipe started as a quick shortcut for a pink cookie platter and turned into my most requested Valentine’s Day baking recipe. Using strawberry cake mix gives dependable flavor and color without hunting for specialty ingredients. The cream cheese keeps the cookies thick and soft instead of dry or cakey.
They are small, pretty and easy to hold, which makes them perfect as Valentine themed snacks for kids and adults. The chocolate kiss melts just enough to feel fudgy against the tender cookie. Put a plate of these next to other cute Valentines recipes and they are almost always the first to vanish.
Key Info at a Glance
⏱ Prep Time 10 minutes
❄ Chill Time 1 hour
🔥 Bake Time 8 to 10 minutes
⏰ Total Time about 1 hour 20 minutes
🍪 Yield about 30 cookies
📊 Difficulty Easy
🔥 Approx Calories about 120 per cookie
Ingredients for Strawberry Kiss Cookies
- 1 box (15.25 oz) strawberry cake mix
- 8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 large egg
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 30 chocolate kisses, unwrapped
- Optional coating
- Powdered sugar for a soft, matte look
- Pink sanding sugar for sparkle
You can swap in white chocolate or dark chocolate kisses if you prefer. A gluten free strawberry cake mix also works if you need a simple GF Valentine’s Day baking recipe.
Equipment You Will Need
- Large mixing bowl
- Hand mixer or sturdy whisk
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
- Small cookie scoop or tablespoon
- Wire cooling rack
A cookie scoop keeps every strawberry cookie the same size, which looks great on Valentine platters and helps the kisses sit neatly in the center.
How to Make Strawberry Kiss Cookies
1. Mix the Valentine Cookie Dough
Add the strawberry cake mix, melted butter and egg to a large bowl. Beat until smooth and thick. Add the softened cream cheese and mix again until no streaks remain and the dough is very soft but not runny.
Cover the bowl and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour so it firms up and bakes into thick cookies instead of spreading flat.
2. Shape and Bake the Cookies
Preheat the oven to 350°F 175°C. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop tablespoon size portions of chilled dough, roll into balls, then coat in powdered sugar or pink sanding sugar if using.
Place the dough balls about 2 inches apart on the trays. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges look set and the tops look slightly puffed but still soft in the center.
3. Add the Chocolate Kisses
Let the cookies sit on the hot tray for 1 to 2 minutes. Gently press one chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie. Light cracking around the edges is normal and gives that classic kiss cookie look.
Move the cookies to a wire rack and cool completely so the kisses firm up again before serving or packaging.
Pro Tips and Simple Variations
- Chill the dough fully so Strawberry Kiss Cookies stay thick and soft.
- If the dough feels sticky, chill a little longer or lightly flour your hands.
- Add the kisses when the cookies are hot but not piping or the chocolate can sag.
- Use a small scoop for even size and a neat row of pink cookies on your tray.
- For extra cute Valentines recipes, top the warm cookies with heart sprinkles around each kiss.
Easy variations
- Swap in white chocolate, dark chocolate or hugs style kisses.
- Try another cake mix flavor for non strawberry batches.
- Drizzle cooled cookies with melted white chocolate tinted pink for a bakery look.
Make Ahead, Storage and Freezing
You can keep the covered dough in the fridge for up to 2 days before baking which helps with Valentine Day treat ideas for busy weeks.
Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days. To freeze, place plain or sugar coated cookies in a single layer to firm, then store in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature and serve as is or warm briefly on a low oven setting.
Nutrition For Strawberry Kiss Cookies
Approximate nutrition per cookie, based on 30 cookies and standard ingredients
- Calories 115 to 130
- Fat 6 g
- Saturated fat 3.5 g
- Carbohydrates 16 g
- Sugar 11 g
- Protein 1 g
They are a classic treat, so enjoy them as part of a Valentines easy desserts spread rather than an everyday snack.
Serving Ideas and Valentine Day Treat Ideas
- Arrange Strawberry Kiss Cookies on a tiered stand with other Valentine themed snacks like chocolate dipped strawberries and pink marshmallows.
- Build a dessert board and place it next to simple Valentines recipes appetizers such as heart shaped cheese and crackers or caprese skewers.
- Pack 2 to 3 cookies into clear bags with ribbon for classroom gifts, party favors or quick ideas for Valentines.
- Add them to your Valentines bakes ideas list with brownies, cupcakes and heart sugar cookies for a full pink and red dessert table.
For an even sweeter cookie tray, pair these Strawberry Kiss Cookies with my Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies for a mix of pink and classic chocolate chip that feels like the cutest Valentines recipes spread.
FAQ About Strawberry Kiss Cookies
Q: Can I make Strawberry Kiss Cookies without cake mix?
A: You can, but this Strawberry Kiss Cookies recipe is written for cake mix, so results will differ. A scratch dough needs flour, sugar, leavening and strawberry flavoring, and will not be as fast as this Valentine’s Day baking recipe.
Q: How do I keep my Strawberry Kiss Cookies from spreading too much?
A: Chill the Valentine cookie dough for at least 1 hour and make sure the butter is not hot when you mix it in. If your kitchen is warm, chill the shaped dough balls for 10 minutes before baking.
Q: Can I freeze the dough for later?
A: Yes. Scoop the chilled Valentine cookie dough into balls, freeze on a tray until firm, then store in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen, adding 1 to 2 extra minutes and then press in the kisses.
Q: What flavors of chocolate work best for these cookies?
A: Classic milk chocolate kisses are traditional, but white chocolate, dark chocolate and striped hugs all work well. This lets you match other cute Valentines recipes on your dessert table.
Q: Are these good Valentines easy desserts for kids to help make?
A: Yes. Adults should handle the oven, but kids can roll the dough, coat the balls in sugar and press in the kisses once the cookies cool slightly. It is an easy Valentine themed snack project for families.
Q: How can I serve these with other party food?
A: Offer a mix of sweet and savory. Pair Strawberry Kiss Cookies with light Valentines recipes appetizers, then finish the night with coffee, hot chocolate or milk alongside the cookies.
Sweet Ideas For Valentines With Strawberry Kiss Cookies
Strawberry Kiss Cookies are a simple way to bring a little pink, chocolate and fun to your table. They use pantry friendly ingredients yet still look special enough for gifting, parties or a quiet night in. Because the dough can be chilled ahead, they fit well into busy schedules and last minute ideas for Valentines.
Add this Strawberry Kiss Cookies recipe to your Valentines bakes ideas list, pin it for later and bake a double batch whenever you need a fast treat that feels thoughtful. Whether you set them out with other Valentines easy desserts or wrap them up for someone special, these pretty pink cookies always feel like a small celebration.
Strawberry Kiss Cookies
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Hand mixer or whisk
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking Sheets
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
- Small cookie scoop or tablespoon
- Wire cooling rack
Ingredients
Strawberry Kiss Cookies
- 1 box strawberry cake mix 15.25 oz standard box
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
- 1 large egg
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 30 pieces chocolate kisses unwrapped
- powdered sugar or pink sanding sugar optional, for coating the cookie dough balls
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine the strawberry cake mix, melted butter, and egg. Beat with a hand mixer or whisk until the mixture is smooth and thick with no dry streaks of mix remaining.
- Step 2: Add the softened cream cheese to the bowl. Mix again until the cream cheese is fully blended in and the dough is very soft and sticky but holds together.
- Step 3: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for at least 60 minutes. Chilling firms up the Valentine cookie dough so the cookies bake thick and do not spread too much.
- Step 4: When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Step 5: Scoop tablespoon size portions of chilled dough and roll them into smooth balls with your hands. If using, roll each ball in powdered sugar or pink sanding sugar to coat.
- Step 6: Arrange the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between them for gentle spreading.
- Step 7: Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges look set and the tops are slightly puffed but still soft in the center. The cookies should not brown.
- Step 8: Let the cookies rest on the hot baking sheet for 1 to 2 minutes. Gently press one chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie. Light cracking around the edges is normal.
- Step 9: Transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack and let them cool completely so the chocolate kisses can firm up before serving or packaging as Valentine Day treat ideas.
Notes
- Calories: 120
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Total Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Potassium: 40 mg
- Fiber: 0 g
- Sugar: 11 g
- Vitamin A: 50 IU
- Vitamin C: 0 mg
- Calcium: 30 mg
- Iron: 0.6 mg
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