Valentine’s Day Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Hugs Recipe
Introduction
Celebrate love and sweetness with these delightful Valentine’s Day Cookie Cups. Soft sugar cookie dough is wrapped around melty Hershey’s hugs, creating the perfect treat for any romantic occasion or festive gathering.
Ingredients
- 17.5 ounce package sugar cookie mix
- ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, melted
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- Pink or red food coloring
- 24-26 Hershey’s hugs, unwrapped
- Decorative sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Step 1: Spray a mini cupcake pan with cooking spray and preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, beat together the sugar cookie mix, melted butter, all-purpose flour, egg, and food coloring until just combined. Add more food coloring if you want a deeper shade.
- Step 3: Take about 1 tablespoon of cookie dough and flatten it using your hand or a rolling pin until it matches the size of your palm.
- Step 4: Place an unwrapped Hershey’s hug in the center of the flattened dough, then wrap the dough completely around the hug, forming a ball.
- Step 5: Set the filled dough ball upright in a cavity of the mini cupcake pan. Repeat with remaining dough and hugs.
- Step 6: Bake the cookie cups for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges appear set but the centers remain soft.
- Step 7: Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle with decorative sprinkles, if using.
- Step 8: Let the cookie cups cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before removing and serving.
Tips & Variations
- For extra flavor, add a teaspoon of vanilla extract or almond extract to the dough.
- Try different colored food coloring or omit it entirely for classic sugar cookie cups.
- Swap Hershey’s hugs with mini chocolate chips or a small piece of your favorite candy for variety.
- Use festive sprinkles to match other holidays or celebrations.
Storage
Store leftover cookie cups in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. To keep them fresh longer, refrigerate for up to a week. Reheat gently in a microwave for 10-15 seconds to soften the chocolate centers if desired.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use homemade sugar cookie dough instead of the mix?
Absolutely! Homemade dough works well and allows you to control ingredients and flavor. Just follow the same process of wrapping the dough around the Hershey’s hugs.
What if I don’t have a mini cupcake pan?
You can shape the dough around the hugs into balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, but the pan helps keep the cookie cups upright and evenly shaped as they bake.
PrintValentine’s Day Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Hugs Recipe
These charming Valentine’s Day Cookie Cups combine soft sugar cookie dough wrapped around a delicious Hershey’s Hug center, baked to golden perfection and topped with festive sprinkles. Perfect for celebrations, these bite-sized treats offer a delightful mix of rich chocolate and sweet cookie in every cup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24–26 cookie cups 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 17.5 ounce package sugar cookie mix
- ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, melted
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- Pink or red food coloring, adjusted to desired shade
Filling and Topping
- 24–26 Hershey’s Hugs, unwrapped
- Decorative sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the pan and oven: Spray a mini cupcake pan thoroughly with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it’s ready to bake the cookie cups evenly.
- Mix the dough: In a large bowl, combine the sugar cookie mix, melted butter, all-purpose flour, egg, and food coloring. Beat until just combined, being careful not to overmix. Adjust the food coloring if needed to achieve your perfect pink or red hue.
- Flatten dough portions: Scoop about 1 tablespoon of cookie dough and use your hands or a rolling pin to flatten it into a palm-sized round, preparing to wrap the chocolate center.
- Add the chocolate center: Place one unwrapped Hershey’s Hug in the center of the flattened dough. Carefully wrap the dough around the candy, sealing it completely to form a ball with the chocolate encased inside.
- Place in pan: Set each dough-wrapped chocolate ball into a cavity of the prepared mini muffin pan, placing them upright and ensuring even spacing. Repeat this process with the remaining dough and chocolate pieces.
- Bake: Bake the cookie cups in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookie edges appear set and just beginning to turn golden, ensuring the centers remain soft.
- Add sprinkles: Once removed from the oven, sprinkle the tops of the cookie cups with decorative sprinkles if desired to enhance their festive Valentine’s look.
- Cool before serving: Allow the cookie cups to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes so they firm up slightly, making them easier to remove and enjoy.
Notes
- Use room temperature egg for better dough consistency.
- Adjust food coloring to achieve your preferred shade of pink or red.
- Make sure the Hershey’s Hugs are fully wrapped with dough to avoid melting onto the pan.
- Cooling the cookie cups properly helps maintain the shape and makes them easier to handle.
- Optionally, use mini chocolate kisses if Hershey’s Hugs are unavailable.
Keywords: Valentine’s Day, cookie cups, sugar cookies, Hershey’s Hugs, mini cupcakes, dessert, festive treats, holiday cookies
