If you’re looking to brighten up your cookie jar with a burst of fruity flavor and charming color, this Strawberry Kiss Cookies Recipe is exactly what you need. Imagine soft, buttery cookies tinged with just the right splash of pink, crowned with a luscious strawberry jam filling, and topped off with a melting milk chocolate kiss. These cookies are a delightful celebration of sweetness and nostalgia that’s perfect for sharing with friends or treating yourself to an indulgent moment. Every bite offers a perfect balance of tender crumb, fruity zing, and creamy chocolate, making this recipe a true showstopper in any baking lineup.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Making these Strawberry Kiss Cookies is effortless thanks to a handful of simple ingredients. Each one plays a crucial role: butter for that melt-in-your-mouth softness, sugars for sweetness and texture, and the strawberry jam and chocolate kisses that bring the cookie’s signature flair to life. Let’s check out the essentials that you’ll gather before diving in.
- Unsalted butter: Softened butter adds richness and helps create a tender crumb.
- Granulated sugar: Provides sweetness and a subtle crunch in the cookie’s structure.
- Powdered sugar: Adds extra softness and a delicate texture.
- Large egg: Binds the ingredients and adds moisture.
- Vanilla extract: Deepens the flavor with warm, familiar notes.
- Almond extract: Offers a subtle nutty aroma that complements strawberry wonderfully.
- All-purpose flour: The base of the cookie dough providing structure.
- Salt: Enhances all the sweet flavors.
- Red food coloring: Gives the cookies their delightful pink hue, making them visually irresistible.
- Sugar for rolling: Adds a sparkling finish and slight crunch on the outside.
- Milk chocolate kisses: The iconic topping that melts perfectly into the warm cookies.
- Strawberry jam: The fruity heart of each cookie that adds juiciness and sweetness.
How to Make Strawberry Kiss Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Pans
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures it’s ready to bake your cookies to perfection. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make clean-up a breeze.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar. Beat them together until the mixture becomes light and fluffy — this step is key for that tender texture we’re aiming for.
Step 3: Add the Flavorful Liquids
Next, mix in the egg, followed by vanilla and almond extracts. These ingredients infuse the dough with fragrant and rich flavors that will make your cookies truly memorable.
Step 4: Incorporate the Dry Ingredients
Slowly add the all-purpose flour and salt to the wet mixture, folding them in just until everything comes together. Avoid overmixing to keep your cookies soft and crumbly.
Step 5: Color Your Dough
Add a few drops of red food coloring to tint the dough a lovely pink shade. This little pop of color makes these cookies perfect for festive occasions or simply if you want an eye-catching treat.
Step 6: Shape the Cookies
Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and press a small indentation in the center of each using your thumb. This will hold the luscious strawberry jam that makes these cookies extra special.
Step 7: Fill with Strawberry Jam
Spoon a small dollop of strawberry jam into each indentation. This juicy center adds a burst of freshness that balances the sweetness perfectly.
Step 8: Roll in Sugar and Arrange
Coat each cookie ball in sugar for a sparkling, slightly crunchy outer finish. Then place them two inches apart on your prepared baking sheets to allow room for spreading.
Step 9: Bake to Perfection
Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges are set but not browned. The result is a soft, delicate cookie base ready for its final touch.
Step 10: Add Milk Chocolate Kisses
Right after pulling the cookies from the oven, gently press a milk chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie. The residual heat melts the chocolate slightly, creating a luscious, glossy topping.
Step 11: Cool Completely
Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely. This step ensures the cookies set perfectly and the chocolate keeps its shape.
How to Serve Strawberry Kiss Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
For an inviting presentation, sprinkle a light dusting of powdered sugar over the cooled cookies. You can also add small fresh strawberry slices next to the cookies to enhance the fruity theme and add some natural juiciness on the side.
Side Dishes
Serve these cookies alongside a cold glass of milk, a cup of your favorite herbal tea, or a creamy vanilla latte. The warmth and mild bitterness of these beverages pair beautifully with the sweet and slightly tangy flavor of the Strawberry Kiss Cookies Recipe.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange your cookies in a decorative tin lined with pastel-colored tissue paper or gift-wrap them in cellophane with a pretty ribbon for a lovely homemade gift. For parties, stack them on a tiered dessert stand to showcase their charming pink color and chocolate topping.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store your baked Strawberry Kiss Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh and soft for up to five days, perfect for enjoying over the course of a week without losing any of their delightful texture.
Freezing
You can freeze the cookie dough balls before baking, placed on a parchment-lined tray until firm, then transferred to a freezer bag for up to three months. Alternatively, freeze fully baked cookies between sheets of parchment paper in a sealed container. Both methods help you enjoy these treats anytime you crave them.
Reheating
To bring a frozen or refrigerated cookie back to life, warm it in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 5 minutes. This refreshes the soft texture and gently re-melts the chocolate kisses for that fresh-baked feel.
FAQs
Can I substitute almond extract in the Strawberry Kiss Cookies Recipe?
Absolutely! If almond extract isn’t your favorite or you have allergies, vanilla extract alone works fine. It will still yield a lovely cookie, though almond adds a unique subtle depth.
What if I don’t have strawberry jam? Can I use another flavor?
Yes! Raspberry or cherry jam offer delicious alternatives that pair wonderfully with the chocolate kisses, keeping that fruity center delightfully sweet and tangy.
How do I make sure my cookies don’t spread too much while baking?
Keep your dough chilled before shaping the balls. Also, avoid overmixing the dough once flour is added to maintain the structure and prevent excessive spreading.
Are these cookies soft or crunchy?
These Strawberry Kiss Cookies are designed to be soft and tender, with a slight sugary crunch on the outside and a smooth chocolate topping, making for a perfectly balanced bite.
Can kids help make this recipe?
Definitely! Kids will love rolling the dough balls, adding the jam, and pressing the chocolate kisses on top. Just supervise during oven use and watch the joy unfold.
Final Thoughts
If there’s one cookie recipe you add to your baking repertoire this year, let it be this Strawberry Kiss Cookies Recipe. It’s simple enough for a casual weekend bake yet special enough to impress friends and family. The charming color, delightful flavors, and that classic chocolate kiss topping make it an all-time favorite that’s bound to bring smiles. So preheat the oven, gather your ingredients, and get ready to fall in love with these sweet little bites!
Print
Strawberry Kiss Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 0h 20m
- Cook Time: 0h 10m
- Total Time: 0h 30m
- Yield: 48 cookies
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Strawberry Kiss Cookies are delightful buttery cookies tinged with pink from red food coloring and filled with a sweet strawberry jam center. After baking, each cookie is topped with a creamy milk chocolate kiss, creating the perfect balance of fruity and chocolate flavors. These soft, festive cookies are ideal for holidays, parties, or anytime you want a charming homemade treat.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Red food coloring (a few drops, to achieve desired pink shade)
Additional Ingredients
- Sugar for rolling
- 1/4 cup strawberry jam
- 48 milk chocolate kisses, unwrapped
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for even baking.
- Cream butter and sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring a smooth texture for the cookie dough.
- Add wet ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract well until fully combined to add flavor and moisture to the dough.
- Incorporate dry ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and salt into the wet mixture, stirring just until combined to avoid overworking the dough and to maintain tenderness.
- Add color: Mix in a few drops of red food coloring to the dough until you achieve a consistent pink shade, giving the cookies their distinctive color.
- Shape cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Press your thumb into the center of each ball to make an indentation for the jam filling.
- Fill with jam: Spoon a small amount of strawberry jam into each indentation, adding a fruity surprise inside the cookie.
- Coat with sugar: Roll each jam-filled cookie ball in sugar to coat the outside, then place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets to allow space for spreading.
- Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the cookie edges are set but not browned, maintaining a soft texture.
- Add chocolate kisses: Remove the cookies from the oven and gently press a milk chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie. Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes to allow the chocolate to soften slightly.
- Cool: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely, ensuring they set properly and are ready to enjoy.
Notes
- For best results, use softened butter to ensure proper creaming with the sugars.
- If you prefer a stronger almond flavor, you can increase the almond extract slightly, but be careful as it’s potent.
- Be sure not to overbake the cookies; they should be set at the edges but still soft in the center.
- Use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- For a festive look, use colored sanding sugar or sprinkles instead of plain sugar for rolling.
