Surprise kiss cookies have a hidden chocolate kiss inside! These cookies are the perfect dessert to make for Valentine’s Day and Christmas cookie swaps!
These cookies have a secret, or should I say a surprise? Hidden in each cookie is a Hershey’s Kiss! You would never know from picking up one of these confectioners’ sugar covered cookies, but sure enough there is a chocolate surprise in each one!
I am a huge fan of surprises, especially when they come in dessert form. You think you’re getting one thing, and then surprise! It turns out to be better than you thought. That is exactly what these cookies do.
What are surprise kiss cookies?
Surprise kiss cookies appear to be cookies covered in confectioners’ sugar, but in fact they are so much more. Not only are they packed with crushed walnuts, enhance the buttery and crunchy texture of the cookie, but they are also hiding a secret Hershey’s Kiss inside.
Now usually when I come across dessert like this, I think, “How on earth did they do that while keeping the surprise intact through the whole baking process?” Magic. Okay, not really, but when it came to these surprise kiss cookies, it was pretty easy.
How to make a hidden kiss cookie
The dough is quick and easy to make with only 5 ingredients— butter, sugar, vanilla, flour and chopped walnuts. Then the key step is to refrigerate the dough before forming it into balls. The chilled dough keeps the cookies from expanding too much and helps the Hershey’s Kiss stay in tact.
After the dough is chilled, wrap it around a chocolate Hershey’s kiss. Immediately place it no a cookie sheet and bake it at 375 F. The higher oven temperature will help the cookies bake faster, which means less spreading and the kiss will be perfectly shaped inside!
Finally, roll the baked cookies in confectioners’ sugar for a snowball effect. Do this while the cookies are still slightly warm as the sugar will stick better.
Cookies using Hershey’s Kisses
Do you love Hershey’s Kisses? Here are a few recipes for you to try…
- Peanut butter blossoms – peanut butter cookies rolled in granulated sugar and topped with a chocolate kiss
- Chocolate peppermint blossoms – Chocolate peppermint cookies topped with a peppermint Hershey’s kiss
- Red velvet kiss cookies – Rich red velvet cookies with a dark chocolate kiss on top
- Smore’s kiss cookies – peanut butter cookies topped with marshmallow creme and a Hershey’s kiss
- Pie crust kiss cookies – Chocolate kisses wrapped in buttery, flaky pie dough
There are so many occasions to make these surprise kiss cookies too! Valentine’s Day is obvious, as are cookie swaps at Christmas time. I like the idea of making these for a family member or friend to show them you love them! Or maybe to just show off your baking skills 🙂
Surprise Kiss Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (125 g) finely chopped walnuts
- 36 milk chocolate kiss candies, unwrapped
- 1/2 cup (60 g) confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl of a stand mixer (or using a hand mixer), combine butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add flour and walnuts. Stir until well blended.
- Cover dough and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 375° F degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Measure about 1 tablespoon of dough and shape it around one chocolate kiss and roll it to make a ball (cover chocolate completely). Place dough balls 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake at 375° F for 12 minutes or until cookies are set but not browned (the edges may be golden).
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. While the cookies are still warm, roll them in confectioners’ sugar. Set on a wire rack.
- Before serving, add more powdered sugar, if desired.
Video
Notes
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Recipe adapted from Cakes Cottage.
