Strawberry Kiss Cookies
These Strawberry Kiss Cookies are soft, pink strawberry cookies made from an easy cake mix dough with cream cheese for extra tenderness, then finished with a melty chocolate kiss in the center. They are perfect for Valentine's Day, gifting, parties, or anytime you need a fast but special dessert.
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
For the best texture, do not skip the chill time. If your kitchen is very warm, you can chill the shaped dough balls for 10 minutes before baking to keep the Strawberry Kiss Cookies extra thick. Add the chocolate kisses while the cookies are hot but not steaming so the kisses soften slightly without losing their shape. Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
Nutrition Facts:
- 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