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Green Candy Kiss Cookie Cups Recipe

If you’re craving a fun, festive treat that’s as delightful to make as it is to eat, then you’re going to adore this Green Candy Kiss Cookie Cups Recipe. These little bundles of joy are soft sugar cookie cups hugging a luscious Hershey’s Kiss, topped with a cute heart candy sprinkle—perfect for a holiday party or any sweet tooth emergency. Trust me, once you try this recipe, it’ll become your go-to cookie for cheers, gifts, and anytime indulgence.

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Why This Recipe Works

  • Easy and Fast: With just a few ingredients and 15 minutes total, you’ll have adorable cookies ready in no time.
  • Fun Presentation: The cookie cups make a festive, bite-sized treat that kids and adults both love.
  • Perfect Texture Balance: Soft cookie dough wrapped around a melty chocolate center gives you the best of both worlds.
  • Colorful Twist: The green gel food coloring mixed with the dough creates a fun pop of color that’s perfect for holiday or themed parties.

Ingredients & Why They Work

This Green Candy Kiss Cookie Cups Recipe blends simple pantry staples with a few tricks to get that perfect green cookie cup with melty chocolate inside. Each ingredient has a role—from structure to flavor to appearance—and I’ll share tips that help you shop smart and bake even smarter.

Green Candy Kiss Cookie Cups, festive sugar cookie cups, Hershey’s Kiss cookie treats, holiday snack recipes, easy holiday cookie ideas - Flat lay of a small mound of pale off-white sugar cookie mix, a small white ceramic bowl filled with fine all-purpose flour, a whole large brown egg, a small white ceramic bowl holding soft unsalted butter at room temperature, a tiny dollop of vivid green gel food coloring on a white ceramic dish, a neat pile of shiny silver Hershey’s Kisses, and a small white ceramic bowl containing bright red heart-shaped candy sprinkles, all arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997
  • Sugar Cookie Mix: Using a mix cuts down on prep time but makes sure to pick one you trust for a soft, buttery dough.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Adding a bit extra flour helps firm up the dough so it holds shape around the candy kisses.
  • Unsalted Butter: Room temperature butter blends smoothly, giving the cookies great flavor without extra saltiness.
  • Egg: Eggs bind the dough together and mixing it with green gel food coloring ensures even color distribution.
  • Green Gel Food Coloring: Gel works better than liquid here—vibrant color with no extra moisture to mess with the dough texture.
  • Hershey’s Kisses: The star filling—unwrapped so the chocolate melts perfectly inside the cookie cup.
  • Heart Candy Sprinkles: These add a simple but charming decorative touch to each cookie cup after baking.
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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love to keep this Green Candy Kiss Cookie Cups Recipe flexible—sometimes I swap out the heart sprinkles for mini peppermint candies or even edible glitter to jazz things up for special occasions. Seriously, these little cookie cups invite creativity!

  • Variation: One time I swapped the green gel for red, made these for Valentine’s Day, and they were a huge hit. You can twist the colors and candies to match any holiday or mood.
  • Diet-Friendly Options: To make this gluten-free, replace the cookie mix with a certified gluten-free sugar cookie mix—I did it and still got that perfect cookie cup.
  • Texture Twist: If you like a chewier cookie, try adding a teaspoon of honey or molasses to the dough.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Green Candy Kiss Cookie Cups Recipe

Step 1: Prep Like a Pro

First things first: preheat your oven to 375°F and get your mini muffin pan ready. I like to lightly spray mine with a non-stick baking spray—this saves the day when it’s time to pop the cookie cups out. Alternatively, paper liners work too, but the spray gives you a crisp edge.

Step 2: Color the Egg Mixture

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and green gel food coloring until it’s fully mixed and vibrant. This little tip helps spread that gorgeous green throughout the dough without clumps or streaks—trust me, I learned that one the hard way!

Step 3: Mix the Dough

Using a handheld mixer, combine your sugar cookie mix, all-purpose flour, unsalted butter, and your colored egg mixture on low speed for 2 to 3 minutes. The dough is thick and a bit stubborn, but that’s perfect for shaping. If it seems too sticky, a sprinkle more flour helps.

Step 4: Shape and Fill the Cookie Cups

Here’s the fun part: using a 1½ tablespoon scoop, scoop a ball of dough and flatten it in your palm to a roughly 3-inch disc. Nestle a Hershey’s Kiss candy in the center, then carefully pull the dough edges up around it, making sure to keep the Kiss upright. It’s a little like making edible little bags of joy. You’ll want to place each dough ball into your mini muffin pan after shaping.

Step 5: Bake with Love

Bake your cookie cups for 10 to 12 minutes—keep an eye on them so they don’t turn brown since you just want the dough cooked through but still soft. When they come out, gently press one heart candy sprinkle onto each cookie, offset just a bit for a cute and unique look. Let them cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

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Tips from My Kitchen

  • Keep the Hershey’s Kiss Upright: It really helps the Kiss stay centered during baking and melts beautifully inside the cookie cup.
  • Don’t Overbake: The cookies can firm up quickly, so watch closely – soft but cooked is the perfect texture.
  • Mix Food Coloring with Egg: This little trick distributes color evenly without streaks or clumps in your dough.
  • Cool in Pan First: Let the cookies set in the pan before moving them so they don’t lose their shape or stick.

How to Serve Green Candy Kiss Cookie Cups Recipe

Green Candy Kiss Cookie Cups, festive sugar cookie cups, Hershey’s Kiss cookie treats, holiday snack recipes, easy holiday cookie ideas - The image shows a stack of green muffins with a soft texture, each with a fluffy top layer that has small cracks and a light green color. The top muffin has a small red heart decoration placed near the center of its domed top. The middle muffin is plain, showing the same green color with airy holes. In front, a muffin is cut in half, revealing two layers: the top fluffy green layer and a smooth chocolate layer shaped like a teardrop inside, topped with a small red heart decoration on the surface. The muffins sit on a white marbled surface with soft lighting. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

I usually stick with the heart candy sprinkles because they add a sweet, charming little touch without overpowering the cookie. But when I’m feeling fancy, I’ll sprinkle a tiny pinch of sea salt on top right out of the oven — it balances that melt-in-your-mouth sweetness perfectly.

Side Dishes

These cookie cups pair beautifully with a cold glass of milk or a hot mug of cocoa, especially on chilly days. For parties, I like to serve them alongside festive fruit platters or some simple shortbread cookies to mix textures and flavors.

Creative Ways to Present

I’ve gifted these in little decorated boxes wrapped with twine and a sprig of fresh pine for the holidays. Another fun idea: arrange them on a tiered dessert stand with greenery and fairy lights for an instant centerpiece that’s delicious and charming.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover Green Candy Kiss Cookie Cups in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They stay soft and fresh, but if your house is warm, popping them in the fridge can help keep the kisses from getting too melty.

Freezing

Freezing these cookie cups works great! I cool them completely, then freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer-safe container. When you want one, just thaw at room temperature for 15-20 minutes — it’s like they’re fresh out of the oven again.

Reheating

To warm leftovers, I gently reheat them in the oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes or pop them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. This brings back that soft texture and melty chocolate without drying out the cookie.

FAQs

  1. Can I use other candy instead of Hershey’s Kisses in this recipe?

    Absolutely! While Hershey’s Kisses are classic and melt perfectly here, you can experiment with other bite-sized chocolates or candies, like mini peanut butter cups or even wrapped truffles—just be mindful of size and melting properties to keep that perfect gooey center.

  2. Why do you mix the green gel food coloring with the egg?

    Mixing food coloring with the egg first helps distribute the color evenly throughout the dough, avoiding streaks or clumps. This results in those beautiful, uniform green cookies you see and enjoy.

  3. Can I make these cookies dairy-free?

    Yes! Swap out unsalted butter for a dairy-free margarine or coconut oil, and use a dairy-free sugar cookie mix to keep the cookies just as tasty without dairy.

  4. What’s the best way to prevent the cookie cups from sticking to the pan?

    I recommend lightly spraying your mini muffin pan with non-stick baking spray before filling. This helps the cookie cups release easily once cooled, so your treats look picture-perfect.

Final Thoughts

This Green Candy Kiss Cookie Cups Recipe is one of those joyful kitchen adventures that fills your home with wonderful aromas and leaves you with sweet little treats everyone loves. I always turn to this recipe when I want something easy, festive, and a little bit magical. Give it a try—you’ll find it’s the kind of recipe you want to make again and again (and maybe even sneak a few before anyone else!). Happy baking, friend!

Print
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Green Candy Kiss Cookie Cups Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.5 from 4 reviews
  • Author: Caroline
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Total Time: 17 minutes
  • Yield: 18 servings
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Description

These festive Grinch Cookies are delightful sugar cookie cups filled with Hershey’s Kisses and decorated with green gel food coloring and heart sprinkles, perfect for holiday celebrations.


Ingredients

Cookie Dough

  • 17.5 ounces sugar cookie mix
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • ¾ teaspoon green gel food coloring

Fillings and Decorations

  • 18 Hershey’s kisses, unwrapped
  • 18 large heart candy sprinkles


Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly spray a mini muffin pan with baker’s spray or line it with paper cups and set aside.
  2. Mix Egg and Food Coloring: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and green gel food coloring until well combined.
  3. Combine Dough Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, use a handheld mixer on low speed to combine the sugar cookie mix, all-purpose flour, unsalted butter, and the colored egg mixture for 2 to 3 minutes until thoroughly combined; the dough will be thick.
  4. Form Cookie Cups: Using a 1½ tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop a ball of dough and flatten it into a 3-inch disc in your hand. Place a Hershey’s Kiss in the center, then carefully pull the dough sides up to cover the candy and shape into a ball, keeping the candy upright.
  5. Arrange and Bake: Place the dough balls upright into the mini muffin tin and bake for 12 minutes until the dough is cooked but not browned.
  6. Add Sprinkles and Cool: Immediately after baking, place one heart candy sprinkle offset to the right from the center on each cookie cup. Allow to cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • Mixing the food coloring with the egg helps distribute the green gel food coloring evenly through the dough.
  • Keep the Hershey’s Kiss candy upright when placing dough balls into the muffin tin to maintain shape.
  • Do not overbake; the cookies should not turn brown to keep the centers soft.
  • Using a cookie scoop ensures even-sized cookies for uniform baking.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cookie
  • Calories: 150 kcal
  • Sugar: 12 g
  • Sodium: 100 mg
  • Fat: 7 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 20 g
  • Fiber: 0.5 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 20 mg

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