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They’re pretty in pink with a matching pink strawberry kiss in the center. These cute little strawberry kiss cookies are easy to whip up, and you only need a few ingredients to make them. There’s plenty of fruity strawberry flavor from the strawberry cake mix and pink strawberry kisses in the center of each cookie. These homemade thumbprint cookies are incredibly soft and creamy, all thanks to the cream cheese in the dough. The perfect addition to your Christmas baking, baby showers, or Valentine’s treats.

A plate of strawberry kiss cookies, each topped with a chocolate kiss. Fresh strawberry slices are scattered around.

Sink your teeth into these delicious strawberry kiss cookies. They are sweet and soft and pretty much melt in the mouth. If you like strawberries, you’ll enjoy these.

You might also like to make chocolate peppermint meringue cookies, gingersnap icebox cookies, or these Italian pistachio cookies.

Close-up view of strawberry kiss cookies adorned with small, smooth, round candy pieces.

Why You’ll Love It

Easy to make: This recipe is really simple to follow. Even newbies in the kitchen will find it straightforward.
Only 6 ingredients: That’s right, you only need 6 ingredients to make these tasty cookies with Hershey kisses.
A crowd-pleaser: Double the recipe if you want to feed a crowd. There still won’t be any leftovers!

A plate of delightful strawberry kiss thumbprint cookies each topped with a pink candy. Other cookies and candies are scattered around, with slices of strawberries on the white surface.

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Unsalted butter: Bring it to room temperature before use.
Strawberry cake mix: This is what makes the recipe so easy!
Powdered sugar: To roll the cookie dough balls in. Don’t substitute granulated sugar; it’s too grainy for this.
Cream cheese: Another ingredient that needs to be at room temperature.
Egg: To bind the cookie dough.
Chocolate kisses: Choose the pink strawberry ones.

Ingredients for strawberry kiss cookies are artfully arranged on a white surface: an egg, pink powder in a bowl, a block of cream cheese, a stick of butter, powdered sugar in a bowl, and pink candy melts ready to be transformed into delightful treats.

How to Make Strawberry Kiss Cookies

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Make the cookie dough: Beat the butter, egg and cream cheese in a large bowl, using a stand mixer or hand mixer. Beat in the dry cake mix and then refrigerate the easy cake mix cookies dough for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven: Preheat oven to 350°F.
Prepare the cookies: Divide the dough into balls and roll these cookie balls in powdered sugar. Arrange on parchment paper lined baking sheets and bake until done.
Add the kisses and let them cool: Press a strawberry ice cream cone kiss into each one firmly but carefully and then let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheets.

Strawberry kiss thumbprint cookies with round centers rest on a parchment-lined cooling rack, surrounded by fresh strawberries and pink candies.

Substitutions and Variations

Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free cake mix and gluten-free kisses or a similar candy.
Different flavor cake mix: I used this strawberry cake mix for these strawberry kiss cookies. You can use another brand or even a whole other flavor, such as yellow cake mix or chocolate cake mix.
Add an extract: A few drops of vanilla extract or coconut extract would add a hint of a different flavor to the strawberry kiss cookies.
Change the size: You can make the cookies larger or smaller. The baking time might be a minute or 2 different.
Change the kisses: Add a contrasting flavor with milk chocolate kisses or even candy hearts if you’re whipping these up for Valentine’s Day. You could even sprinkle over some red or pink sanding sugar.

Strawberry kiss cookies adorned with a pink candy in the center are elegantly arranged on a pristine white background.

Serving Suggestions

As a sweet treat: Enjoy a couple of these easy strawberry cookies with iced gingerbread latte or Italian cream soda.
For dessert:
After a delicious meal, perhaps something like rasta pasta or one of these steak recipes, serve up a platter of these strawberry cake mix cookies.
As part of a cookie tray:
Pair your strawberry kiss cookies with some other favorites such as waffle cookies or vanilla cookies.

A plate of strawberry thumbprint cookies topped with pink chocolate kisses, surrounded by fresh strawberries.

How to Store Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies

Store: Keep the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freeze: You can freeze these in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw:
 Defrost them at room temperature.

Strawberry kiss cookies with chocolate kisses on top are arranged on a white surface. One cookie has a bite taken out, revealing its soft inside. A plate with more of these delightful treats is partially visible in the background, inviting you to indulge.

Top Tips

Don’t overbake them: The cookies will continue to bake as they cool on the baking sheets, and then they’ll have a soft texture, whereas overbaking by a few minutes will make them dry.
Room temperature dairy: Leave the cream cheese and butter for 30 to 45 minutes to come to room temperature before making the cookies, to ensure these ingredients mix in smoothly.
Use a cookie scoop: It’s best to use either a cookie scoop or a measuring spoon to scoop the dough so you know all the cookies are the same size, will look the same and bake evenly.
Chill the kisses: Refrigerate the kisses while chilling the dough and leave them in there until ready to use. This will stop them from melting when you put them on the hot cookies and they’ll keep their shape better.
Cool them on the trays: Once the cookies are cooked and you’ve added a chocolate kiss on top of each, don’t move them from the cookie sheet. This is because the kisses get very soft and fragile once added to the hot cookies and any small movement could cause them to become misshapen. When completely cool, you can take them off the baking sheet and serve or store.

Strawberry kiss cookies, adorned with a candy piece on top, rest on a white surface, surrounded by fresh strawberries and additional candies.

Strawberry Kiss Cookies FAQs

Can I use whipped cream cheese or should I use a block?

For the best results, use full-fat cream cheese, the kind that comes in a block. Whipped cream cheese in tubs would make the cookie dough too sticky and wouldn’t result in cookies with the best texture.

Can I use any brand of cake mix for strawberry kiss cookies?

You can. I used the Duncan Hines strawberry cake mix to make mine, so you might like to use the same for similar results when making this fun recipe.

A plate of pink strawberry kiss cookies topped with pink candy, surrounded by fresh strawberries.

Strawberry Kiss Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Strawberry Kiss Cookies

Sink your teeth into these delicious strawberry kiss cookies. They are sweet and soft and pretty much melt in the mouth. If you like strawberries, you’ll enjoy these.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Servings: 36 cookies

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Beat the butter, egg and cream cheese together in a large bowl using a hand or stand mixer until creamy and smooth.
  • Beat in the cake mix until combined and there are no globs of dry ingredients visible.
  • Chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Use a 1-Tablespoon cookie scoop to divide the dough into balls and roll in your hands to shape.
  • Now roll each dough ball in the powdered sugar and arrange on the prepared baking sheets, leaving 1½ inches or more between each one.
  • Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the cookie edges have set.
  • Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately press a strawberry ice cream cone kiss on top of each one.
  • Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheets and then serve or store them.

Notes

Don’t overbake them: The cookies will continue to bake as they cool on the baking sheets, and then they’ll have a soft texture, whereas overbaking by a few minutes will make them dry.
Room temperature dairy: Leave the cream cheese and butter for 30 to 45 minutes to come to room temperature before making the cookies, to ensure these ingredients mix in smoothly.
Use a cookie scoop: It’s best to use either a cookie scoop or a measuring spoon to scoop the dough so you know all the cookies are the same size, will look the same and bake evenly.
Chill the kisses: Refrigerate the kisses while chilling the dough and leave them in there until ready to use. This will stop them from melting when you put them on the hot cookies and they’ll keep their shape better.
Cool them on the trays: Once the cookies are cooked and you’ve added a chocolate kiss on top of each, don’t move them from the cookie sheet. This is because the kisses get very soft and fragile once added to the hot cookies and any small movement could cause them to become misshapen. When completely cool, you can take them off the baking sheet and serve or store.

Nutrition

Calories: 108kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 104mg | Potassium: 11mg | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 170IU | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

These cookies with strawberry kisses are easy to make and call for just six ingredients. They pair strawberry cookies made with strawberry cake mix and strawberry ice cream cone kisses. They’re perfect for any occasion and so easy to make.

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Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.

 

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Recipe Rating




5 from 2 votes

2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    These are so cute and taste amazing! The strawberry flavor is perfect, and they’re great for holiday baking.