Grinch Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe

If you’re looking for a festive, fun holiday treat that’s bursting with chocolatey goodness and a pop of cheerful green, then you’re going to love this Grinch Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe. It’s one of those recipes I’ve come back to year after year because it’s not only delicious but also super easy to whip up. Plus, the surprise Hershey’s Kiss tucked inside makes every bite feel like a little present to yourself. Trust me, once you try these, you’ll want to make them every holiday season!

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Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient here plays its part in making these Grinch Cookie Cups a holiday hit. Using a sugar cookie mix saves you time and guarantees a reliable dough texture, while adding a bit of all-purpose flour gives the dough a sturdier consistency ideal for shaping around the Hershey’s Kisses.

• Sugar Cookie Mix: The base for your dough, it keeps things simple and consistent—perfect for quick prep.
• All-Purpose Flour: Added for extra structure so your cookie cups don’t spread too thin while baking.
• Large Egg: When combined with green gel food coloring, it evenly distributes the color throughout the dough.
• Unsalted Butter: At room temperature, it blends well into the dough, giving your cookies that rich, buttery flavor.
• Green Gel Food Coloring: Use gel for vibrant, vivid green without watering down the dough.
• Hershey’s Kisses (unwrapped): The secret inside—a melty, chocolatey surprise you won’t want to miss.
• Heart Candy Sprinkles: A cute festive embellishment that finishes off your cookie cups with a pop of color.

Tweak to Your Taste

I love that this Grinch Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe is a perfect canvas for your creativity. Whether you want to make the green color pop even more, swap out the candy, or play with textures, it’s easy to adapt. Let me share some of my favorite tweaks you might enjoy.

• Mint Twist: I once added a drop of peppermint extract to the dough for an extra holiday zing—totally elevated the cookies!
• Different Chocolate: Try using different Hershey’s Kiss varieties like dark chocolate or caramel-filled for a fun surprise.
• Gluten-Free Option: I swapped in a gluten-free sugar cookie mix once and it worked beautifully—just watch the baking time closely.
• Extra Color: Add a little lime zest to brighten up the flavor and add a little textural interest.

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

Step 1: Prep and Color Your Egg Mixture

First things first, preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a mini muffin pan or line it with mini paper liners. Now, here’s a little trick I learned: whisk the green gel food coloring right into your beaten egg. This way, the green is evenly distributed, avoiding those patchy spots in your dough. It worked like a charm every time I made these!

Step 2: Mix Your Dough Until Perfectly Thick

Grab a large bowl and use a handheld mixer on low speed to blend the sugar cookie mix, all-purpose flour, softened butter, and your vibrant green egg mixture. Mix it for about 2 to 3 minutes until it comes together into a thick dough. It’ll feel dense, which is exactly how it should be so your cookies hold their shape when baking.

Step 3: Shape Around the Hershey’s Kisses

Here’s the fun part! Using a 1½ tablespoon scoop, scoop dough balls and flatten each into about a 3-inch round disc in your hand. Place a Hershey’s Kiss right in the center, keeping it upright (this is key to keeping the chocolate intact). Gently pull the dough up and around the chocolate, sealing it into a smooth ball. Place each ball in your prepared mini muffin pan with the Hershey’s Kiss standing straight up.

Step 4: Bake Until Just No Longer Raw

Bake the cookie cups for 10 to 12 minutes. Keep a close eye here—the cookie edges shouldn’t brown; you want the centers fully set but still soft. Overbaking will dry them out, and you want that tender chewiness that melts in your mouth. Once out of the oven, top each cookie cup with a heart candy sprinkle, offset slightly to the right of center for that cute Grinchy touch.

Step 5: Cool and Enjoy!

Let the cookie cups cool in the tin for at least 10 minutes—that helps them firm up so you can remove them without any breakage. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. I love sneaking a warm one right out of the oven sometimes but giving them that proper cool ensures the perfect texture and presentation.

How to Serve Grinch Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe

Garnishes

I usually keep garnishes simple because these cookie cups are already so festive. The heart candy sprinkles are perfect, but sometimes I add a tiny dusting of edible shimmer or a few green sugar crystals before baking for a little sparkle. If I’m feeling fancy, a small drizzle of white chocolate after they’ve cooled adds a neat contrast and extra sweetness.

Side Dishes

These Grinch Cookie Cups pair wonderfully with a warm cup of cocoa or peppermint hot chocolate. If you’re hosting a holiday party, serve them alongside a cheese platter or fresh fruit for a balanced spread. They also make a fun sweet ending to a holiday dinner without competing with heavier desserts.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday gatherings, I like arranging these cookie cups on a tiered dessert tray surrounded by mini candy canes and pine sprigs for a festive vibe. Wrapping a small stack with clear cello and a red ribbon also makes a charming edible gift. I’ve even seen folks add tiny “Grinch” tags or use green cupcake liners to really play up the theme—it’s such a crowd-pleaser!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftovers (and trust me, that’s rare!), store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay fresh and chewy for about 3 to 4 days—just make sure they don’t get squished. I often layer parchment paper between the cookies to keep them pristine.

Freezing

I’ve frozen unbaked cookie balls wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. When I’m ready, I let them thaw slightly, then bake as usual. You can also freeze baked cookie cups in a single layer on a baking sheet before transferring them to a container to avoid them sticking together.

Reheating

To revive leftovers, I pop a cookie cup in the microwave for about 10 seconds to soften the chocolate center. If reheating multiple, warming in a low oven (around 300°F) for 5 minutes works nicely and avoids drying them out. Just be sure to watch closely!

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Grinch Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Kisses Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it’s both playful and effortlessly satisfying. Whether you’re baking with kids, making holiday treats for friends, or just want a quirky twist on classic cookies, this recipe delivers. Once you make them, you’ll understand why these little green cups of joy vanish so quickly from the cookie tray. I hope you have as much fun making (and eating!) them as I always do—happy baking!

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