Dessert

Gingerbread Kiss Cookies Recipe

ByAiden Wells December 24, 2025December 24, 2025

Introduction

Gingerbread Kiss Cookies are a delightful twist on classic gingerbread, featuring a soft spiced cookie crowned with a melty chocolate and white creme Hershey’s Hugs kiss. Perfect for the holidays or anytime you want a cozy treat, these cookies combine warm spices with a sweet surprise in every bite.

A large white plate holds a pile of round cookies coated with coarse sugar that shines under the light, each cookie topped with a single white and milk chocolate striped kiss-shaped candy centered perfectly on top. The cookies have a cracked texture on their surface, showing a golden brown color beneath the sugar layer. Around the plate, smaller white dishes also hold a few cookies, and silver-wrapped candies lie scattered nearby. The plate sits on a wooden surface, but the background and surface are imagined as white marbled texture for the generated image. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
2¼ teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground allspice
¾ cup salted sweet cream butter, softened
¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
½ cup + 2 tablespoons molasses
1 large egg
1½ teaspoon vanilla extract
30 Hershey’s Hugs kisses, unwrapped
Sanding sugar for coating the cookie dough balls

Instructions

Step 1: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, baking soda, ground nutmeg, and ground allspice. Set aside.
Step 2: Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, cream the softened butter on medium-high speed for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Step 3: Add the brown sugar and continue mixing on medium-high for another minute until well combined.
Step 4: Mix in the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract until just incorporated.
Step 5: Gradually add the flour mixture and mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
Step 6: Cover the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up.
Step 7: Before removing the dough from the fridge, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 8: Using a 1½ tablespoon cookie scoop, portion the dough and roll each scoop into a ball.
Step 9: Roll each dough ball in sanding sugar, then place them on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
Step 10: Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the cookies are set but still soft in the center.
Step 11: Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for about 2 minutes. Immediately press an unwrapped Hershey’s Hugs kiss into the center of each cookie. Allow cookies to cool for 5 more minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips & Variations

For extra crisp edges, bake the cookies for a minute or two longer, but watch closely to avoid burning.
Try using dark molasses for a richer, deeper flavor.
Substitute the Hershey’s Hugs kisses with classic Hershey’s milk chocolate kisses for a different chocolate note.
Coat the dough balls in colored sanding sugar to add festive flair to your cookies.

Storage

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep the chocolate kiss from melting or becoming too soft, avoid storing in warm places. You can also freeze the baked cookies (without the kisses) for up to 3 months; add the kisses after thawing and while cookies are still slightly warm.

How to Serve

A close-up of several round, brown cookies with a rough sugary texture, each topped with a single cone-shaped white and dark brown striped chocolate piece in the center. One cookie in front has a bite taken out, showing a moist, crumbly inside. The cookies are arranged on a wooden board with a soft-focused mix of green leaves and red berries in the background. The whole scene is set on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. This can even help develop the flavors. Just let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before scooping.