Introduction

Gingerbread Kiss Cookies combine warmly spiced gingerbread flavors with a sweet chocolate and white chocolate center. These festive treats are perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy afternoons with a cup of tea. With a soft yet chewy texture and a delightful kiss on top, they’re sure to become a favorite.

A stack of round, brown cookies coated with large sugar crystals sits on a wooden board on a white marbled surface, each cookie crowned with a single white chocolate kiss that has dark brown stripes, creating a two-layer look with the rough, crunchy texture of the cookies below and the smooth, shiny chocolate on top. In front of the stack, one wrapped chocolate kiss with silver foil and white paper tip stands upright on the board, while more stacked cookies are blurred in the background on a stack of white plates. 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
Sanding sugar for coating the cookie dough balls

Instructions

Step 1: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and allspice. Set this dry mixture aside.
Step 2: Using a stand mixer or hand mixer at medium-high speed, cream the softened butter for 30 seconds to 1 minute until smooth.
Step 3: Add the brown sugar to the butter 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. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
Step 6: Cover the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up.
Step 7: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 8: Using a 1½ tablespoon cookie scoop, portion out the dough and roll into balls.
Step 9: Coat each dough ball in sanding sugar and place them on the baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
Step 10: Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes until slightly puffed and set.
Step 11: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes. Press an unwrapped Hershey’s Hugs kiss gently into the center of each warm cookie. Allow cookies to cool on the sheet for 5 more minutes before transferring to a rack to cool completely.

Tips & Variations

For a spicier kick, increase the ground ginger to 3 teaspoons or add a pinch of ground cloves.
Use dark or milk chocolate kisses instead of Hershey’s Hugs for a different flavor profile.
Chilling the dough longer, up to a few hours or overnight, can enhance flavor and improve cookie texture.
Sanding sugar adds a nice crunch and sparkle, but you can substitute with coarse sugar or skip it for a softer cookie surface.

Storage

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep them fresh longer, refrigerate for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months. When reheating, warm in a low oven or microwave for a few seconds to restore softness and melty chocolate.

How to Serve

A pile of soft brown cookies covered with coarse sugar crystals is stacked on a light wooden board, each cookie having a single white chocolate piece with dark brown stripes placed in the center, giving a slightly shiny and smooth texture contrast to the rough cookie surface. To the side on the board, there is a wrapped white chocolate with dark brown stripes in silver foil with a small white and blue label on top. In the background, white plates hold more of the same cookies, all 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 use different types of chocolate for the kisses?

Yes, you can substitute Hershey’s Hugs with any chocolate kiss or small chocolate pieces you prefer, such as milk, dark, or caramel-flavored kisses. Each will give a slightly different flavor experience.

What if I don’t have sanding sugar?

If sanding sugar is unavailable, you can use coarse sugar, granulated sugar, or simply skip this step. The cookies will still be delicious but with a less crunchy, sparkly finish.