Description
These Chocolate Kiss Crinkle Cookies combine the rich fudgy texture of brownie mix with a delightful crinkly powdered sugar exterior and a surprise Hershey’s Kiss center. Perfect for chocolate lovers wanting a quick, easy, and impressive cookie that’s chewy, chocolatey, and irresistibly sweet with a hint of espresso flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 box brownie mix (18–20 oz), preferably Ghirardelli dark chocolate mix
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (60 grams)
- 1 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1½ tsp espresso powder
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
Coating & Topping
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 24 Hershey’s Kisses, any flavor
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the brownie mix, flour, softened cream cheese, espresso powder, melted butter, and eggs. Mix well until a uniform, smooth dough forms, ensuring all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
- Chill the dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up. This will make the dough easier to handle and help create defined crinkles when baked.
- Preheat and prepare baking sheets: Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking.
- Form cookie balls: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. Roll each ball generously in powdered sugar to coat completely, then place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake the cookies: Bake the cookies for 10–12 minutes or until the edges are set but the centers still look slightly soft. This ensures a chewy texture inside.
- Add Hershey’s Kisses: Immediately upon removing the cookies from the oven, press one Hershey’s Kiss gently into the center of each cookie. The warmth will slightly melt the cookies and help the chocolate adhere.
- Cool the cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents the cookies from breaking and allows the chocolate centers to set properly.
Notes
- If you prefer a stronger coffee flavor, you can increase the espresso powder to 2 tsp.
- Ensure the cream cheese is softened to prevent lumps in the dough.
- For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free brownie mix and flour substitute.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- These cookies freeze well – wrap individually and freeze for up to 2 months.
