Strawberry Kiss Cookies

I first encountered these cookies at a local bakery during Valentine's season, and I was immediately captivated by their appearance. The bright pink color and sparkling sugar coating made them look like something out of a fairy tale. When I bit into one, the combination of the soft strawberry-flavored cookie and the chocolate kiss was absolutely perfect – not too sweet, but sweet enough to feel like a real treat. I knew I had to recreate them at home. After some experimenting with strawberry extract amounts and getting the right shade of pink, I finally nailed the recipe. What I love most about these cookies is how they manage to be both simple and impressive at the same time. The dough comes together quickly, and the technique is straightforward, but the end result looks like you spent hours in the bakery. The key is using gel food coloring instead of liquid to get that vibrant pink without affecting the dough consistency. Each cookie is rolled in sparkling sugar before baking, which creates this beautiful crystalline coating that catches the light. The chocolate kiss gets pressed in right when the cookies come out of the oven, so it melts slightly into the cookie but still holds its shape perfectly.

Why I love this recipe

What I love most about this recipe is how it brings joy to everyone who sees them. There's something about a pink cookie with a chocolate kiss on top that just makes people smile. They're incredibly versatile too – you can make them for Valentine's Day, baby showers, birthday parties, or just because you want something cheerful in your cookie jar. I also appreciate that they're easy enough for beginners but impressive enough to give as gifts. The strawberry flavor is present but not overwhelming, and the chocolate kiss adds just the right amount of richness to balance the sweetness. These cookies also freeze beautifully, so I often make a double batch and freeze half for unexpected guests or last-minute party needs. The sparkling sugar coating gives them a professional bakery look without requiring any special decorating skills. Every time I make these, I'm reminded that sometimes the simplest recipes are the most beloved. They've become one of my signature treats, and I love how they've created so many happy memories in my kitchen.

What You Need From Your Kitchen

• All-purpose flour: The base of the cookie dough, providing structure and texture to the cookies.
• Unsalted butter: Use softened butter at room temperature for proper creaming with the sugar.
• Strawberry extract: Provides the signature strawberry flavor; don't skip this ingredient as it's essential for the taste.
• Pink gel food coloring: Gives the cookies their beautiful pink hue; add gradually until you reach your desired shade.
• Pink sparkling sugar: Creates the gorgeous sparkly coating on the outside of each cookie.
• Hershey's chocolate kisses: The crowning glory of each cookie; unwrap them before baking for easy placement.

Let's Make These Together

Mix the dry ingredients

Start by whisking together your flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agent throughout the cookies. Set this aside while you work on the wet ingredients. Having everything prepped and ready makes the baking process smooth and enjoyable.

Cream butter and sugar perfectly

Beat your softened butter and sugar together until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale in color. This should take about 3-4 minutes with an electric mixer. This step incorporates air into the dough, which helps create that soft, tender texture we're after. Add your egg and extracts, then gradually mix in the pink gel food coloring until you achieve that beautiful bubblegum pink shade.

Bring the dough together

Slowly add your dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed. Stop mixing as soon as everything is just combined – overmixing will result in tough cookies. The dough should be soft and slightly sticky. Pop it in the fridge for 15-20 minutes to firm up, making it much easier to roll into balls.

Shape and coat with sparkle

Roll the chilled dough into tablespoon-sized balls, then roll each one thoroughly in the pink sparkling sugar. Make sure each cookie is completely coated for that gorgeous sparkly finish. Place them on your prepared baking sheets with plenty of space between them, as they'll spread slightly during baking.

Bake to perfection

Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes. The edges should be set, but the centers will still look soft and slightly underdone. This is exactly what you want! The cookies will continue to cook on the hot baking sheet after you remove them from the oven, resulting in perfectly soft cookies.

Add the chocolate kiss crown

This is the fun part! As soon as you pull the cookies from the oven, gently press an unwrapped chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie. The warmth of the cookie will slightly melt the bottom of the kiss, securing it in place. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack.

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Switch Things Up

The first time I made these cookies was for a Valentine's Day party at my daughter's school, and I was honestly nervous about the pink color turning out right. I added the food coloring drop by drop, mixing carefully until I got that perfect bubblegum pink shade. When I pulled the first batch out of the oven and pressed those chocolate kisses into the centers, watching them sink into the warm cookies just slightly, I knew I had a winner. The kitchen smelled like a strawberry dream, and my daughter kept sneaking cookies before I could even finish the whole batch. Now these have become our go-to for any celebration that needs a pop of color and sweetness. I've made them for baby showers, birthday parties, and even Easter by switching up the sugar colors. The best part? My son, who usually doesn't care about helping in the kitchen, always wants to be in charge of unwrapping the chocolate kisses. Sure, a few go missing in the process, but that's part of the fun!

Perfect Pairings

These Strawberry Kiss Cookies pair wonderfully with a cold glass of milk or a cup of hot cocoa for dunking. For a more adult gathering, try serving them alongside champagne or a strawberry-infused sparkling lemonade. They also make a beautiful addition to a dessert platter with vanilla ice cream or strawberry cheesecake. If you're hosting a tea party, these cookies are perfect with Earl Grey or chamomile tea. For kids' parties, set them out with pink lemonade or strawberry milk for the ultimate pink-themed treat experience.

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Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I use liquid food coloring instead of gel?

While you can use liquid food coloring, gel food coloring is highly recommended because it provides a more vibrant pink color without adding extra liquid to your dough. Liquid food coloring may affect the consistency of your cookie dough and result in a paler pink shade.

→ Can I make these cookies ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can bake these cookies up to 3 days in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature. You can also freeze the unbaked cookie dough balls for up to 3 months. Just thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before rolling in sugar and baking.

→ What can I use instead of strawberry extract?

If you can't find strawberry extract, you can substitute with additional vanilla extract, though you'll lose some of the strawberry flavor. Alternatively, try using freeze-dried strawberry powder (about 2 tablespoons) mixed into the dough for natural strawberry flavor and color.

→ Why did my chocolate kisses melt completely into the cookies?

This usually happens if the cookies are left in the oven too long or if the kisses are pressed in too hard while the cookies are too hot. Make sure to remove cookies when they're just set around the edges, and press the kisses in gently but firmly right after removing from the oven.

→ Can I use different colored sugar or different candies?

Yes! These cookies are incredibly versatile. You can use white sparkling sugar, colored sugar to match any holiday or theme, or even skip the sugar coating altogether. For the center, try Rolos, caramel-filled chocolates, or even peanut butter cups instead of chocolate kisses.

→ How do I keep the cookies soft?

The key to soft cookies is not overbaking them. Remove them when the centers still look slightly underdone. Also, store them in an airtight container with a slice of bread – the cookies will absorb moisture from the bread, keeping them soft for days.

Conclusion

These Strawberry Kiss Cookies are the perfect combination of fun, flavor, and festivity. Whether you're making them for Valentine's Day, a birthday party, or just because you're craving something sweet and beautiful, they deliver on every level. The soft texture combined with the chocolate kiss center creates an irresistible treat that both kids and adults will love. Store them in an airtight container for up to 5 days, though I doubt they'll last that long!