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    Home » Recipes » Cookies

    Secret Kiss Cookies

    By Wendy Sondov · Published: Mar 8, 2021 · Modified: Dec 23, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe

    Secret Kiss Cookies are soft, cake-like morsels with rich chocolaty flavor. Baking in a mini muffin pan gives these treats their distinctive round shape, perfect for hiding a candy kiss inside.

    Chocolate kisses and ball shaped Secret Kiss Cookies dipped in chocolate with multicolored nonpareils.

    Why you'll love this recipe

    Unlike some recipes that you bake once a year for a particular holiday or season, Secret Kiss cookies are an incredibly versatile year round treat. Their festive sprinkles brighten holidays, gatherings, gifts, and care packages.

    The bonbon-like shape is formed by baking in mini muffin pans. The result is a soft cookie with the airy texture of a little cake.

    There are so many ways to customize these.

    • Add sprinkles for holidays or team colors.
    • Use kisses with holiday flavors.
    • Get fancy with kisses that are layered or swirled.
    • Color the kisses pink or blue for a gender reveal party surprise.
    • Skip the sprinkles and pipe zigzags of chocolate on top.

    Ingredients

    Recipe ingredients labeled flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla, cocoa, baking soda, sugar, eggs, butter, yogurt, chocolate.

    Instead of buying packaged candy, I recommend using homemade chocolate kisses, giving you control over ethical cocoa sourcing, allergens, color, and flavor.

    Instructions

    This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.

    Process collage shows prepare dough, scoop, add kiss, roll into balls, bake in mini muffin pans.
    1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat melted butter and sugar until combined. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Refrigerate the dough overnight.
    2. When dough is chilled and ready to bake, scoop 1 tablespoon sized dough balls. Tear the ball in half and insert a chocolate kiss. Mold the dough into a ball covering the kiss inside.
    3. Place one dough ball in each mini muffin cup and bake at 350° F for 10-12 minutes. They are done when the top looks evenly dry.
    4. Don’t worry about any wrinkles or cracks. They will be covered with the chocolate coating. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
    Decorating process step 5 is dip in chocolate and step 6 is add sprinkles.
    1. Melt the chocolate and dip the cookies directly into the bowl. Place on a tray lined with wax paper.
    2. Add sprinkles immediately after dipping. After completing 6 cookies, place the tray in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to set the chocolate.
    Balls of chocolate cookies each dipped in chocolate and topped with holiday sprinkles.

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    Tips

    • Chill overnight for easiest handling of this sticky dough.
    • For more mocha flavor, double the espresso powder in the recipe.
    • Do not try to bake these on a baking sheet. The dough won’t hold its shape and will flatten.
    • Using homemade kisses allows for unlimited variations in flavors and colors to match holidays and special events.
    • Colorful sprinkles make these treats ideal for snacking or gifting for New Years, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Christmas, Hanukkah, and gender reveal parties.
    • Do not use melted chocolate chips for coating the cookies unless they will be eaten the same day. The chocolate will “bloom”, appearing white and spotty after a day or two.
    • For dipping, use only melting chocolate (compound coating) or tempered chocolate for a topping that remains smooth and shiny.
    • Packaging or serving these treats in mini cupcake papers makes a pretty presentation that looks like candy bonbons.

    Frequently asked questions

    How long do kiss cookies stay fresh?

    When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, they stay wonderfully soft and chewy for at least 10 days.

    Can you freeze secret kiss cookies?

    Yes, they can be frozen for up to one month.
    Place completely cooled, undecorated cookies in an airtight plastic storage container or freezer weight zip lock bag.
    Bring to room temperature before decorating.

    Kiss Cookies closeup on a plate, one cut open to show kiss inside and cakey texture.

    Related recipes

    Chocolate Chunk Brownies are soft and chewy brownies you will want to bake all year!

    Thumbprint Cookies can be decorated with sprinkles and filling to match any occasion.

    Chocolate Pretzel Cookies are made with an ultra chocolaty dough in a fun shape.

    Chocolate Covered Chocolate Mint Cookies will remind you of Girl Scout cookies, but better!

    These Chocolate Cookies get extra crunch when you mix in cocoa nibs or chocolate chips.

    Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies are a graham cookie, topped with a marshmallow and completely coated in chocolate. Great for gifting!

    Ready to bake? Join the free membership group to get new recipes and a newsletter delivered to your inbox! You can also stay in touch on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’d love to stay in touch!

    Secret Kiss Cookies

    These chocolate topped, cake-like cookies have a delicious hidden chocolate surprise inside. Great holiday cookies for every occasion.
    4.43 from 7 votes
    Pin Recipe Print Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Chill time: 1 day day
    Total Time: 1 day day 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 48
    Calories: 188kcal
    Author: Wendy Sondov

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup unsalted butter melted
    • 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa I use Whole Foods 365 brand fairly traded baking cocoa
    • 4 ½ teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 ½ teaspoons espresso powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
    • 3 large eggs
    • ⅓ cup plain yogurt
    • 7 tablespoons milk
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 48 chocolate kisses
    • 3-4 cups melting chocolate discs
    • Sprinkles

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl, microwave butter until melted. Set aside to cool slightly.
    • In a large bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, espresso powder, and salt.
    • In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar until combined, about 2-3 minutes.
    • Mix in the eggs, yogurt, milk, and vanilla.
    • Reduce the speed of mixer and slowly add dry ingredients until just combined.
    • Cover dough with plastic wrap, then chill dough in the refrigerator overnight.
    • When ready to bake, heat oven to 350˚F. Lightly coat the cups of a mini muffin pan with cooking spray. Remove the chilled dough from the fridge.
    • Scoop 1 tablespoon of dough. Tear the ball in half and insert an unwrapped kiss at the center of the cookie dough. Put the dough ball halves back together and roll into a ball covering the chocolate kiss inside.
    • Place one dough ball in each mini muffin cup and bake for 10-12 minutes. The cookies are done when the top looks evenly dry. Don’t worry about any wrinkles or cracks. They will be covered with the chocolate coating.
    • Cool cookies in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring the cookies onto wire racks to cool completely.
    • Melt the chocolate coating discs in a small bowl in the microwave at 50% power for 30 seconds. Stir, then return to the microwave for 10-20 second intervals at 50% power just until completely melted.
    • Dip the cookie directly into the bowl of melted chocolate. Place the cookies on a tray lined with wax paper or parchment paper and sprinkle each cookie immediately after coating. After completing 6 cookies, place the tray in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to set the chocolate.
    • The cookies will remain soft and cakey stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 10 days.

    Notes

    • For easiest handling of this sticky dough, overnight chilling is recommended.
    • For more mocha flavor, double the espresso powder in the recipe.
    • Do not try to bake these cookies on a cookie tray. The dough won’t hold its shape and will flatten.
    • Homemade chocolate kisses allows for unlimited variations in flavors and colors to match holidays and special events.
    • Colorful sprinkles make this secret kiss cookies recipe ideal for snacking or gifting for New Years, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Christmas, Hanukkah, and gender reveal parties.
    • Do not use melted chocolate chips for coating the cookies unless they will be eaten the same day. The chocolate will “bloom”, appearing white and spotty after a day or two.
    • For dipping, use only melting chocolate (compound chocolate) or tempered chocolate for a topping that remains smooth and shiny.
    • Packaging or plating these cookies in mini cupcake papers makes a pretty presentation that looks like candy bonbons.
    Packing tips
    • In a plastic food storage container, Place cookies in layers separated by wax paper, in a plastic storage container.
    • Balled up wax paper can be placed between the top cookies and the lid to ensure no movement within the container during shipping.
    • Wrap the entire container in plastic wrap or place in a freezer weight ziplock bag.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 188kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 132mg | Potassium: 70mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 138IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheMondayBox or tag #themondaybox!

    SaveFirst Published: January 30, 2015. Last Updated: March 8, 2021. Updated for additional information and improved photographs.

    Chocolate covered Kiss Cookies piled on a white plate with pink chocolate Kiss candy.

    Save

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    Comments

    1. Deb

      February 14, 2022 at 6:17 pm

      1 star
      Are you sure of the amount of baking powder (4 teaspoons!!!) It reads a lot and my finished product tasted of baking powder. I chose not to share these secret kiss cookies due to the taste.

      Reply
      • Wendy Sondov

        February 14, 2022 at 7:23 pm

        Hi, Deb. The amount of baking powder is correct. The finished product shouldn't taste like baking powder at all. Did you whisk the dry ingredients together as indicated in the recipe. It sounds like your baking powder wasn't dispersed throughout the flour before being added to the liquid ingredients.

        Reply
        • Carina

          November 15, 2022 at 4:39 am

          Secret Kiss Cookies, can you mix the baking powder and soda into the buttermilk before adding it to the dry ingredients, so that the cookies don't taste like soda?

          Reply
          • Wendy Sondov

            November 15, 2022 at 11:56 am

            I haven't tried mixing the baking powder and soda in the buttermilk, but I also haven't ever had these cookie taste like soda. The purpose of whisking the baking soda into the flour is to distribute it well so that it can't end up in a clump and ruin the flavor of a cookie. If you try the buttermilk idea, let me know how it turns out. 🙂

            Reply
    2. Jessica

      January 24, 2022 at 1:01 pm

      Can you use unsweetened cocoa powder?

      Reply
      • Wendy Sondov

        January 24, 2022 at 7:24 pm

        Hi, Jessica. Yes. This recipe calls for unsweetened cocoa powder, not hot chocolate powder.

        Reply
    3. Create With Joy

      February 07, 2019 at 3:09 pm

      5 stars
      Dear Wendy,
      Thank you for sharing your creativity with us at Create With Joy - I just LOVE your blog and your amazing recipes (especially this one!) I've been wanting to feature you on our site for awhile now but have been waiting for the right moment - with Valentine's Day just around the corner, this week seems like the perfect time!

      So, congratulations to you - you are our Featured Blogger and Friend of the Week at this week's Friendship Friday Party #365 at Create With Joy!

      I hope you meet a lot of new friends this week and have an amazing time in the spotlight! 🙂

      Reply
    4. Helen at the Lazy Gastronome

      February 06, 2019 at 8:54 am

      So beautifully rich!! These look incredible! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party. Hope the rest of your week is amazing!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        February 06, 2019 at 3:05 pm

        Thank you Helen!

        Reply
    5. Miz Helen

      February 05, 2019 at 2:50 pm

      5 stars
      Your Kiss Cookies look fantastic, we will love these cookies! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        February 06, 2019 at 3:07 pm

        Thank you so much, Miz Helen!

        Reply
    6. April J Harris

      February 04, 2019 at 12:01 pm

      5 stars
      I still love these cookies, Wendy - and I agree, I would choose Biscotti con Baci too! Thank you so much for sharing with the Hearth and Soul Link Party. I’m featuring this post at the party this week. Hope to ‘see’ you there! Have a wonderful week ahead!

      Reply
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    4.43 from 7 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    I'm Wendy, a baker, care package maker, and smile creator. On The Monday Box you’ll find care package inspiration and recipes for delicious treats that make it easy for you to share home baked love. Let’s spread happiness, one cookie at a time!

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