Indulge in the irresistible charm of Chocolate Sugar Kiss Cookies – a delightful addition to any festive occasion, yet remarkably simple to prepare. These enchanting treats require just four core ingredients and about 20 minutes to whip up a couple of dozen, making them your go-to for effortless elegance. Imagine tender, chocolatey sugar cookies, elegantly rolled in sparkling crystal sugar, and crowned with a decadent candy kiss. What’s not to adore about such a perfect blend of convenience and deliciousness?
Effortlessly Delicious: Simple Chocolate Sugar Kiss Cookies
Do you ever find yourself in a pinch, needing to bake something delightful and quick? Perhaps a last-minute invitation to a gathering, an unexpected office potluck, or simply a sudden, undeniable craving for something sweet that demands immediate attention. That’s precisely where these marvelous Chocolate Sugar Kiss Cookies shine! They are the epitome of fast, fabulous baking, delivering maximum flavor with minimal effort, ensuring you’re always prepared for any sweet occasion or personal indulgence.
The magic begins with a clever shortcut: a package of refrigerated sugar cookie dough. This humble starting point is transformed into a rich, deep chocolate base by simply mixing it with cocoa powder. Once perfectly combined, each small ball of dough is rolled in shimmering sugar crystals, adding a beautiful sparkle and a delightful textural contrast. Fresh from the oven, while still warm and pliable, a classic Hershey’s Kiss is gently pressed into the center of each cookie, melting ever so slightly to create a creamy, decadent heart. A brief cooling period completes the process, revealing a batch of cookies that are not only visually appealing but utterly scrumptious.
The result is nothing short of perfection: a wonderfully soft and chewy chocolate cookie, encased in a delicate, sparkling sugar crust, and finished with a creamy chocolate kiss. Every bite offers a delightful play of textures and a rich, satisfying chocolate flavor that truly begs to be savored. These cookies aren’t just easy to make; they are an experience, turning simple ingredients into a gourmet-like treat that everyone will love.
This post and recipe were specially crafted for #ChristmasCookiesWeek! I received samples and products from some of the sponsoring companies, but rest assured, all opinions expressed are 100% my own.
For this particular recipe, I was delighted to use high-quality products from Sweets & Treats.
SOME OF THE LINKS BELOW ARE AFFILIATE LINKS; I AM A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR ME TO EARN FEES BY LINKING TO AMAZON.COM AND AFFILIATED SITES. I AM ALSO AN AFFILIATE FOR OTHER BRANDS. HOWEVER, I ONLY EVER PROMOTE PRODUCTS AND BRANDS THAT I GENUINELY LOVE AND BELIEVE YOU WILL FIND EQUALLY VALUABLE. FOR MY FULL DISCLOSURE POLICY, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
Perfectly Portioned: Small Batch Chocolate Sugar Kiss Cookies
One of the many charms of this recipe is its modest yield of just two dozen cookies. This small-batch approach is ideal for those times when you crave freshly baked goods without the commitment of baking for a large crowd. It’s perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth, for a quick weeknight dessert, or for crafting thoughtful, homemade gifts. Imagine these elegant cookies tucked into a decorative cellophane bag or a charming tin, making a wonderful hostess gift or a delightful treat for neighbors and friends. The manageable quantity ensures that every cookie is enjoyed at its peak freshness, offering a delightful experience without overwhelming your kitchen or your willpower!
However, if your plans call for a larger celebration or a bountiful cookie exchange, don’t hesitate! This recipe is incredibly versatile and can be easily scaled up to meet any demand. Whether you need dozens for Christmas cookie platters, hundreds for a holiday party, or a special batch for Valentine’s Day or even Halloween, simply multiply the ingredients to achieve your desired quantity. In fact, these cookies were inspired by a seasonal twist! I was previously making my popular Eye Love Chocolate Sugar Cookies for Halloween, which share the same simple two-ingredient cookie base. For that festive version, I skipped the sugar roll and instead pressed a fun candy eyeball into the chocolate kiss, creating a whimsical spooky treat. The idea to adapt them for Christmastime, with their classic sparkling charm, felt like a natural evolution, proving how adaptable and beloved this cookie base truly is.
Kiss Cookies – A Cherished Holiday Tradition and Make-Ahead Marvel
For many, including my family, “kiss cookies” are synonymous with holiday baking traditions. My Homemade Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies, made with the beloved recipe for My Mom’s Peanut Butter Cookies, are an absolute Christmas staple. They consistently bake up perfectly and are always among the first to vanish from any cookie platter. These Chocolate Sugar Kiss Cookies are quickly becoming just as cherished, offering a delightful chocolate alternative that’s equally easy to make and universally loved. The simple act of pressing a sweet kiss into a warm cookie evokes a nostalgic charm that resonates deeply during the festive season, making them a heartwarming addition to any family’s holiday ritual.
Just like their peanut butter counterparts, these chocolate sugar kiss cookies are wonderfully accommodating for advanced preparation, making them a true blessing for busy bakers during peak seasons. They freeze exceptionally well, which is a fantastic advantage if you, like me, find yourself baking a large volume of treats around the holidays. Preparing these cookies in advance allows you to spread out your baking tasks, easing the stress of last-minute preparations. To freeze, simply allow the cooled cookies to firm up completely, then arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet before transferring to an airtight container or freezer bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. When you’re ready to serve, simply thaw them at room temperature for an hour or two, and they’ll be as fresh and delicious as the day they were baked. This makes them perfect for adding to holiday cookie platters, gifting, or simply having a stash of homemade treats ready for unexpected guests.
Only Four Essential Ingredients for Chocolate Sugar Kiss Cookies
The beauty of these Chocolate Sugar Kiss Cookies lies in their incredible simplicity, requiring just a handful of readily available ingredients. You’ll need:
- **Refrigerated Sugar Cookie Dough:** This is our magical shortcut, providing a consistent base and saving precious time. Opt for a high-quality brand for the best results.
- **Cocoa Powder:** This transforms the simple sugar cookie dough into a rich, decadent chocolate base. Use unsweetened cocoa powder for a deep chocolate flavor.
- **Sugar Crystals:** These add a stunning sparkle and a delightful textural crunch to the exterior of the cookies. White or clear sugar crystals create a classic look, but feel free to experiment with colored crystals for different holiday themes.
- **Hershey’s Kisses:** The iconic chocolate kiss is the crowning jewel of these cookies, melting softly into the warm cookie for a creamy finish. While classic milk chocolate is traditional, you could try dark chocolate Kisses or even flavored Kisses for a fun twist!
These simple ingredients come together to create a truly impressive cookie that tastes like it took hours, not minutes!
Mastering This Simple Cookie Recipe: Step-by-Step Guide
**Step 1: Combine Dough and Cocoa.** Begin by adding your softened refrigerated sugar cookie dough and the cocoa powder to a sturdy mixing bowl. Ensure the dough is slightly softened at room temperature for easier blending.
**Step 2: Mix Thoroughly.** Using an electric mixer (or a strong spoon), combine the ingredients until they are thoroughly integrated and the dough achieves a uniform chocolate color with no streaks of plain sugar cookie dough remaining. Be careful not to overmix; stop once just combined.
**Step 3: Roll in Sugar Crystals.** Take small portions of the mixed dough and roll them into neat, uniform balls. Then, roll each cookie ball generously in your chosen sugar crystals. I personally adore the elegant look of clear chunky sugar crystals, which give a sophisticated sparkle. However, multi-colored sugar crystals can also be used to add a fun, festive touch for various occasions!
**Step 4: Bake to Perfection.** Arrange the sugar-coated cookie balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving adequate space between each one to allow for spreading. Bake them in a preheated oven according to the recipe instructions, typically until the edges are set and lightly golden, but the centers remain soft and slightly puffy.
**Step 5: Add the Kiss.** Immediately upon removing the cookies from the oven, while they are still hot and soft on the baking sheet, gently press a chocolate kiss candy into the center of each cookie. The warmth of the cookie will slightly melt the chocolate, allowing it to adhere perfectly and create that signature soft, gooey center. After about two minutes on the hot sheet, carefully transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. For a fun alternative, small chocolate stars also work wonderfully for this recipe, adding a different festive shape!
**Step 6: Cool and Store.** Allow the cookies to cool completely on the wire rack. Once cooled, transfer them to an airtight container. Storing them properly will help maintain their freshness and chewy texture for several days, ensuring every bite is as delicious as the first. These cookies are also excellent for freezing, as detailed in the section above, making them an ideal make-ahead treat for any occasion.
Discover the complete printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions at the bottom of this post!
Adore This Recipe? Pin It for Later!
Don’t let this incredibly easy and utterly delicious recipe for Chocolate Sugar Kiss Cookies slip away! Make sure to pin it to your favorite baking or holiday recipe board on Pinterest. That way, it’s always just a click away whenever you’re ready to whip up a batch of these charming and tasty treats!
Celebrating the Season: #ChristmasCookiesWeek Sponsors and Prizes
Welcome to a special edition of #ChristmasCookiesWeek, where over 25 talented bloggers are sharing their most festive and delightful cookie recipes, perfect for elevating your holiday celebrations! This exciting event is proudly hosted by Ellen from Family Around the Table, Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures, and Heather from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks. We invite you not only to explore these incredible recipes but also to participate in our amazing giveaway, featuring fantastic prizes from our generous sponsors!
Stay connected and ensure you don’t miss a single delicious cookie recipe by following along on Pinterest.
Prize 1: A Tower of Treats from Millican Pecan Company
Millican Pecan, a company with roots tracing back to the late 1800s, continues its rich tradition of pecan farming in San Saba, TX, now under 5th generation ownership. They are passionate about both growing and educating people on pecans. One fortunate winner will receive The Tower of Treats Gift Tins, an $80 value. This impressive tower features three stacked decorative tins: the bottom tin holds their 2 lb. Chocolate Pecan Sampler, the middle tin offers their Flavored Pecan Sampler, and the top tin contains an 8 oz. tin of luxurious Milk Chocolate Caramillicans.
Prize 2: An Assortment of Flavored Extracts from Adams Extract and Spices
Adams Extract and Spices, one of Texas’s oldest continuously operated companies, celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2013, receiving the prestigious Texas Treasure Business Award. This recognition highlights their significant historical contributions to the state’s economic growth. Today, Adams proudly offers a wide array of products under various brands like Adams Best®, Adams Extract®, and Adams® Seasoning & Spice, continuing their legacy of quality and flavor for both home bakers and commercial food producers.
Prize 3: A Set of Premium Baking Pans from Anolon
Meyer Manufacturing, established in the 1950s, ventured into cookware in 1971 and revolutionized home cooking in 1986 with the world’s first hard-anodized nonstick cookware. Anolon continues this innovation today, offering superior bakeware featuring a nonstick interior and exterior made with a special, triple-coated sapphire-reinforced blend. This ensures exceptional durability and effortless food release. (Note: The color of the prize set may vary from the photo.)
Prize 4: An Assorted Baking Box from Sweets & Treats
Sweets & Treats is your ultimate destination for all holiday baking embellishments! Beyond their captivating, colorful sprinkles, they provide a diverse range of baking essentials, including high-quality cupcake liners, edible glitters, specialty sugars, and more. Founded in 2010 by Shannon Harvey, this Louisiana-based company was born from a need for vibrant, greaseproof cupcake liners and unique party supplies. They specialize in creating exclusive baking accessories like designer cupcake liners, custom sprinkle mixes, and decorative paper straws.
Four (4) winners will be randomly selected to receive these fantastic prize packages. Prizes will be shipped directly from the respective giveaway sponsors. Please note that bloggers involved in this event are not responsible for prize fulfillment or delivery. Winners will be notified via email and must respond within 24 hours to claim their prize; otherwise, an alternate winner will be chosen. Bloggers hosting this giveaway, along with their immediate family members residing in the same household, are ineligible to enter or win. All entries will be verified. No purchase is necessary to enter. This giveaway is void where prohibited by law and is open exclusively to US Residents who are 18 years of age or older. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, or any other social media platform mentioned in the #ChristmasCookies posts or entry methods.
To participate and get a chance to WIN these amazing Prizes, enter the giveaway!
Explore All My Delicious Cookie Recipes
Below the recipe card for these Chocolate Sugar Kiss Cookies, you’ll find an inspiring list of all the other delectable cookie recipes posted today as part of our week-long festive event! Be sure to check them out for even more baking inspiration.
Now, let’s dive right into the easy and delicious recipe for these delightful Chocolate Sugar Kiss Cookies! Enjoy baking, and may your kitchen be filled with wonderful aromas and sweet memories.
LIKE THIS RECIPE?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and
leave a comment below the recipe!
Print Recipe
Chocolate Sugar Kiss Cookies
Equipment
- Reynolds Kitchens Non-Stick Parchment Paper
- 13×18 Half Sheet Pan
- Wilton Stainless Steel Cookie Scoop
- Stainless Steel Wire Cooling Rack for Baking
Ingredients
- 1 16 ounce package refrigerated sugar cookie dough, softened
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- Sugar Crystals
- 24 chocolate kiss candies
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- With a mixer, combine cocoa powder and sugar cookie dough.
- Roll dough into balls, and roll them in sugar crystals.
- Place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
- Bake for 8 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and press a kiss into the centers of the hot cookies. After about 2 minutes remove to a cooling rack.
- Cool.
- Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Monday Christmas Cookie Recipes
- Amaretti Snowball Cookies by Our Sutton Place
- Bourbon Pecan Snowballs by Leftovers Then Breakfast
- Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Cappuccino Crinkles by West Via Midwest
- Cherry Garlands by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies by Kate’s Recipe Box
- Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Cookies by Books n’ Cooks
- Chocolate Sugar Kisses by An Affair from the Heart
- Christmas Confetti Amaretti Cookies by The Spiffy Cookie
- Christmas Mouse Shortbread Cookies by Palatable Pastime
- Christmas Pinwheel Cookies by Lemon Blossoms
- Cinnamon Chip Holiday Spice Cake Mix Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
- Cinnamon Pecan Snickerdoodles by Daily Dish Recipes
- Classic Butter Spritz Cookies by Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies by Frugal & Fit
- Hermit Cookies by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Honey Spice Oatmeal Cookies by Family Around the Table
- Melting Snowman Cookies by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Pecan Brown Sugar Cookies by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Pecan Pie Bars by Eat Move Make
- Pecan Pie Cookies by Art of Natural Living
- Peppermint Chocolate Cookies by Swirls of Flavor
- Peppermint Kiss Cookies by Devour Dinner
- Peppermint Patty Cookies by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Peppermint Shortbread Cookies by Simply Inspired Meals
- Raspberry Jam Cookies by Making Miracles
- Reindeer Cookies by Sweet Beginnings
- Soft Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles by Jersey Girl Cooks
- Toffee Bars by That Recipe
- White Chocolate Cranberry Crinkle Cookies by Blogghetti