Grinch Cookies with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe

If you’re on the hunt for a festive, fun, and downright adorable holiday treat, I’ve got just the thing for you. These Grinch Cookies with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe are a game-changer in holiday baking—and trust me, they’ll steal the show at your next gathering. Imagine soft, green sugar cookie cups with a melty Hershey’s Kiss surprise inside, topped with a cute little heart candy sprinkle. Sounds like Christmas magic, right? Stick with me, and I’ll share everything you need to nail this recipe perfectly!

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Ingredients & Why They Work

This Grinch Cookies with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe keeps things straightforward but brilliant by combining a sugar cookie mix with fresh butter and egg, plus that magical green gel coloring for the perfect festive vibe. Each ingredient plays its part to balance flavor, texture, and that lovable green color that’s as classic as the Grinch himself.

• Sugar Cookie Mix: The base for tender, sweet cookies without the hassle of making dough from scratch.
• All-Purpose Flour: Adds structure and firmness to help the cookie cups hold their shape around the kisses.
• Unsalted Butter: Room temperature for easy blending and rich flavor.
• Large Egg: Helps bind everything together and, when mixed with gel food coloring, evenly distributes that iconic green color.
• Green Gel Food Coloring: Gives the cookie dough a festive, vibrant look without thinning it out like liquid colorings do.
• Hershey’s Kisses: The melty chocolate surprise inside each cookie cup.
• Heart Candy Sprinkles: Adds a sweet, whimsical touch, perfect for the Grinch’s little heart “growing.”

Make It Your Way

I love that this Grinch Cookies with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe is flexible enough to suit your creative flair. Whether you want to amp up the green color, swap out sprinkles for different holidays, or try alternative chocolates, you’ve got room to play!

• Variation: I once swapped the heart sprinkles for tiny red star-shaped candies during Christmas Eve dinner, and they went down a treat with the kids—they thought it was a secret holiday code!
• Dietary swap: If you’re avoiding dairy, using vegan butter and dairy-free kisses works beautifully, just keep an eye on baking time.
• Seasonal twist: Try orange gel food coloring and candy pumpkins for a Halloween Grinch twist that’s just as fun.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Grinch Cookies with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients and Pan

Start by preheating your oven to 375°F. Give your mini muffin pan a good spray with a non-stick baker’s spray or line the cups with mini paper liners to make removal easy—and trust me, you’ll want that when the cookies come out hot and gooey.

Step 2: Mix the Egg with the Green Gel Food Coloring

This little trick makes a world of difference: whisk the egg and green gel food coloring together in a small bowl until you get a nice even color. Mixing them first ensures your dough turns bright and consistent—no splotches or streaks here!

Step 3: Combine Cookie Mix, Flour, Butter, and Egg Mixture

Using a handheld mixer on low speed, blend the sugar cookie mix, flour, butter, and your egg mixture for 2 to 3 minutes. You’ll notice the dough gets very thick—that’s exactly what you want because it makes shaping around the Hershey’s Kisses so much easier later.

Step 4: Form Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Kisses Inside

Here’s the fun part! Using a 1½ tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop out your dough and flatten it into a 3-inch disc. Now, place a Hershey’s Kiss candy right in the center, making sure it stays upright. Then, carefully pull the dough edges up and around to cover the chocolate, shaping it into a neat ball. Place each cookie cup into your prepared mini muffin tin with the chocolate still standing tall—it helps the kiss stay in place as it melts.

Step 5: Bake and Add Your Finishing Touch

Bake your cookie cups for 10 to 12 minutes, watching closely to avoid any browning—you want them just set but not browned. When you pull them out, gently press a heart candy sprinkle just to the right of center on each cookie cup. Let them cool for at least 10 minutes in the pan before moving them to a wire rack to finish cooling completely.

How to Serve Grinch Cookies with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe

Garnishes

I like to keep it simple with the classic red heart sprinkles—it’s such a sweet nod to the Grinch’s changing heart. Sometimes I add a tiny dusting of powdered sugar or even some edible gold glitter for sparkle at holiday parties. It’s an easy way to glam these up without extra work.

Side Dishes

These cookies are perfect with a cozy cup of hot cocoa or a spiced peppermint latte. At my last holiday brunch, I paired them with a creamy eggnog and fresh fruit salad for balance—a sweet and refreshing combo that everyone loved.

Creative Ways to Present

For a holiday gift, I packed these Grinch Cookie cups in mini clear boxes layered with festive tissue paper. Another time, I arranged them on a tiered cake stand with green and red ribbons—kids smiled big seeing those bright green treats stacked like little presents!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover Grinch Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Just make sure they’re completely cooled before sealing to avoid sogginess. They stay soft and flavorful, ready to enjoy anytime.

Freezing

If you want to bake ahead, I recommend freezing the formed cookie dough balls before baking. Just place them on a tray, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. When ready, bake straight from frozen, adding an extra minute or two to the bake time.

Reheating

To warm leftovers, pop them in the microwave for 10–15 seconds or briefly in a warm oven at 300°F for 5 minutes. This brings back that melty chocolate goodness and soft cookie texture without drying them out.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Grinch Cookies with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe has become one of my go-to holiday hits not just because they’re adorable, but because they’re genuinely delicious and surprisingly easy to make. I hope you have as much fun baking them as I do, and that they bring a smile to everyone who tries them. So grab your green gel, those Hershey’s Kisses, and let’s make some sweet holiday memories together!

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