Cherry Kiss Cookiesrn

close up shot of Cherry Kiss Cookies on a plate

Our cherry kiss cookies feature a bright pink color, delicious cherry flavor, and a chocolate kiss on top.

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Prep Time15

Cook Time10

Total Time25

Servings

Table of Contents

Cherry Kiss Cookies Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Cherry Kiss Cookies Recipe
How To Serve
Storage
Why We Love This Recipe
More Recipes You’ll Love
JUMP TO RECIPE
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These cherry kiss cookies are loaded with sweet cherry flavor and plenty of charm. Soft, loaded with cherries, coated in pretty pink sugar, and topped with a chocolate kiss, these cookies will be a winner.

Cherry Kiss Cookies Ingredients

Cherry Kiss Cookies raw ingredients that are labeled

The combination of sweet but tart maraschino cherries, soft buttery cookies, a hint of almond, and a creamy smooth chocolate kiss on top is irresistible.

As if this divine flavor isn’t enough, biting into one of these delicacies reveals a chewy texture that is both comforting and satisfying.

To make these tasty cookies, you’ll need:

2½ cups of all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
½ teaspoon of baking soda
1 cup of salted sweet cream butter, softened
1¼ cups of powdered sugar
1 tablespoon of maraschino cherry juice
1½ teaspoons of cherry extract
½ teaspoon of almond extract
3-5 drops of red food coloring gel
⅓ cup plus 1 tablespoon of finely chopped maraschino cherries
Pink sanding sugar (for rolling the dough balls in. I used a 2.46-ounce container)
42 unwrapped chocolate kisses

Substitutions And Additions

CHERRY EXTRACT: If you do not have cherry extract, you can substitute one extra tablespoon of cherry juice (two tablespoons of cherry juice in total).

SANDING SUGAR: If you cannot find pink sanding sugar, you can substitute white sanding sugar for these cherry cookies with Hershey Kisses.

KISSES: You can substitute birthday cake kisses, hug kisses, or dark chocolate kisses for plain chocolate kisses.

If you choose birthday cake kisses, be aware that since they are white cocoa butter-based, they will melt more than chocolate-based kisses.

ALMOND EXTRACT: If you’re not a fan of almond extract, or if you have allergies to nuts, consider substituting it with vanilla extract.

LEMON ZEST: For a zesty twist, add some lemon zest to the cookie dough.

The citrusy notes will complement the sweetness of the cherries and chocolate, creating a delightful contrast.

How To Make This Cherry Kiss Cookies Recipe

These pink cookies will come together quickly as you mix up a basic cookie dough following our directions below.

There is no chilling required, and once your dough is ready, the cookie dough balls are rolled in sanding sugar to give them a sweet crunch.

Once baked, you will top each cookie with a chocolate kiss before digging in.

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set them aside.

STEP TWO: Whisk together the flour and baking soda in a small mixing bowl. Set it aside.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

The baking soda is what helps make this recipe so soft and chewy. If you omit the baking soda, you will end up with a crunchy and crisp cookie.

butter and powdered sugar combined in a bowl

STEP THREE: Beat together the softened butter and the powdered sugar for 1½ to 2 minutes until smooth and fluffy.

Use a stand mixer or a medium-sized mixing bowl and a hand mixer on medium-high speed.

STEP FOUR: Add the cherry juice, cherry extract, and almond extract.

Continue beating for another one minute until the cherry juice and extracts are well incorporated.

STEP FIVE: Add the red food color gel and continue mixing for another 30 seconds, or until the color is uniform and no streaks appear.

food coloring added to the butter mixture and whisked in a bowl

STEP SIX: Lower the mixer to medium speed, add the flour mixture, and continue mixing until the flour is well combined.

STEP SEVEN: Add the chopped cherries and mix just until the cherries are evenly distributed.

chopped cherries added to the butter mixture and whisked in a bowl

STEP EIGHT: Add the pink sanding sugar to a small mixing bowl. Set it aside.

STEP NINE: Scoop out the dough using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop. Roll into a ball.

STEP TEN: Roll the dough ball in the sanding sugar. Gently shake off the excess sanding sugar.

Place the coated cookie dough ball on the prepared baking sheet. Space the cookie dough balls two inches apart.

dough ball rolled in the sanding sugar and place in cookie sheet

STEP ELEVEN: Bake in the preheated oven for eight to ten minutes, paying close attention so that the edges do not turn brown. The edges may crack just slightly.

PRO TIP:

Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your cookies at the lower end of the recommended baking time.

STEP TWELVE: Once you remove the cookies from the oven, immediately gently press an unwrapped chocolate kiss in the center of the cookie.

The edges may crack when depressed, but that is normal.

Allow the cookies to rest on the cookie sheet for two to three minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling completely.

PRO TIP:

Make sure to add the kiss to the middle of each cookie base while the cookies are still warm. You want them to stick to the top of the cookie, and they won’t do that if the cookies are already cooled.

chocolate kiss pressed in the center of the cookie

How To Serve

These vibrant pink chocolate kiss cherry cookies are so fun to look at and will be a big hit any time of year.

Whip up a batch for your loves for Valentine’s Day, or make them for a rainy day when you are craving the yummy combination of cherry and chocolate.

Serve with a mug of homemade hot chocolate or an iced tea.

For a cool summer kick, try these cookies with strawberry sorbet for an extra fruity flavor explosion.

Or, serve each cherry kiss cookie sandwiched between two scoops of vanilla ice cream for an impressive presentation that’s sure to wow your guests!

Our chocolate kiss cookies and gingerbread kiss cookies are two more variations of this recipe that feature a fun chocolate treat on top.

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Storage

Whether you’re planning to make them ahead of time or looking to store leftovers, we’ve got you covered with some handy tips.

MAKE AHEAD: If you want to get a head start on your baking, you can prepare the cookie dough in advance.

Simply follow the recipe until you’ve formed the dough into balls.

Instead of baking immediately, place the dough balls on a baking sheet and freeze them until they’re solid.

Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or zip-top bag. You can store the frozen dough for up to three months.

When you’re ready to enjoy freshly baked cookies, preheat your oven, place the frozen dough balls on a baking sheet, and bake as directed in the recipe.

ON THE COUNTER: Store any leftovers of these cherry cookies in an airtight container for up to four days at room temperature.

IN THE FREEZER: You can freeze these cherry chocolate kiss cookies for up to three months.

Allow the cookies to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Because the cookies are coated in tinted sanding sugar, the thawed sugar may melt slightly.

You can allow the thawed cookies to “dry” upside down at room temperature.

Why We Love This Recipe

FESTIVE APPEARANCE: With their bright red centers, they make a fantastic addition to holiday cookie platters, Valentine’s Day treats, or any occasion where you want to add a pop of color.

EASY TO MAKE: The step-by-step instructions ensure that even novice bakers can create these beautiful and tasty cookies.

PERFECTLY CHEWY TEXTURE: These cookies have a soft and chewy texture that’s incredibly satisfying to bite into.

close up shot of Cherry Kiss Cookies stacked on top of each other with one having a bite taken out of it

We guarantee that you won’t be able to resist these delicious and soft cherry kiss cookies. With their lovely pink color, bursts of cherries in every bite, and chocolate on top, you will crave them over and over again.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I freeze these cherry chocolate Hershey kiss cookies?

This kiss cookie recipe can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Can I use different flavors of kisses in this great recipe?

These great cookies would be delicious with any flavor of candy kiss. There are so many choices, especially around the holiday season, that you can get creative with this perfect cookie.

Where can I find sanding sugar?

Most baking sections and bulk food stores carry colored sanding sugar.

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