There’s nothing quite like the sweet charm of these Valentine’s Day Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Hugs Recipe—soft, buttery sugar cookie dough wrapped around a creamy chocolate-and-white center, making every bite a little love note from your oven.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Valentine’s Day Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Hugs Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Valentine’s Day Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Hugs Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Valentine’s Day Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Hugs Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’ve made these cookie cups every Valentine’s Day for years—and honestly, they never fail to delight. The perfect balance of chewy cookie and melty Hershey’s hugs inside strikes a sweet spot that’s impossible not to love.
- Bite-sized Wonder: These are just the perfect little cookies for sharing or popping in your mouth one after another.
- Simple Ingredients: No complicated dough here—just a few pantry staples and a ready-made cookie mix to make your life easier.
- Festive & Fun: Add a pop of pink or red to the dough and sprinkle on festive decorations that scream Valentine’s Day!
- Surprise Center: The creamy Hershey’s Hugs inside create a delightful chocolatey surprise every time.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Before you start mixing, gather your ingredients. You’ll find some shortcuts here and there, but each component plays a special role in making these cookie cups tender, flavorful, and totally irresistible.
- Sugar cookie mix: Using a pre-packaged mix keeps the dough simple while ensuring delicious, consistent results.
- Salted butter: Adds richness and helps create that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- All-purpose flour: A little extra flour helps the dough hold together nicely around the candy center.
- Large egg: Binds the dough and adds moisture for softness.
- Pink/red food coloring: For that festive touch, customize your dough’s hue to match the Valentine’s Day vibe.
- Hershey’s Hugs: These creamy chocolate-and-white candies are the sweet heart of this recipe.
- Decorative sprinkles: Optional, but perfect for adding a sprinkle of fun and festive flair.
Make It Your Way
One of the best things about this Valentine’s Day Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Hugs recipe is just how versatile it is! Feel free to make it your own by changing up the colors, flavors, or toppings to match your mood or celebration style.
- Change up the colors: I love adding different shades of pink and red food coloring to make the cookie dough extra festive. Sometimes swirling in a tiny bit of white dough creates a pretty marbled effect that's perfect for Valentine's Day!
- Flavor twists: For a subtle change, try adding a teaspoon of vanilla or almond extract to the cookie dough. It adds a cozy warmth without overpowering the sweetness of the Hershey’s Hugs.
- Dietary swaps: If you're looking for a gluten-free version, swapping the sugar cookie mix for a gluten-free mix works great. Just be sure to check that the mix behaves similarly for best results.
- Sprinkle it up: Decorative sprinkles are optional but oh-so-fun! Heart shapes, edible glitter, or even crushed freeze-dried raspberries add an adorable touch and a bit of extra flavor.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Valentine’s Day Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Hugs Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Oven for Success
The very first thing I do is spray my mini cupcake pan with cooking spray — this ensures the cookie cups come out smoothly without sticking. Then, I preheat my oven to 350°F so it’s ready to bake as soon as I finish shaping the dough. Having everything warmed up helps the baking time stay perfectly consistent.
Step 2: Whip Up the Soft Sugar Cookie Dough
Next, I gather my sugar cookie mix, melted butter, all-purpose flour, egg, and the pink/red food coloring. In a big bowl, I beat them together just enough until combined — you don’t want to overmix or the dough can become dense. Adjusting the food coloring to get the shade I want is half the fun here!
Step 3: Shape the Dough and Add the Sweet Surprise
Taking about a tablespoon of dough at a time, I flatten it out to roughly the size of my palm. Then comes the best part — I place an unwrapped Hershey’s Hug right in the center and carefully wrap the dough around it, forming a neat little ball. If cracks appear, I gently smooth them out with my fingers to keep the cookie cups looking tidy.
Step 4: Fill the Pan and Bake to Perfection
Each dough ball goes upright into the mini cupcake pan cavities. Once all are filled, I pop the pan into the oven for 12 minutes. I watch for the edges of the cookie dough to look set and just lightly golden — that signals they’re perfectly baked while still soft inside.
Step 5: Add the Finishing Touches and Cool Down
Right after pulling the cookie cups from the oven, I gently press decorative sprinkles into the warm tops. This trick helps them stick beautifully and adds charm to the treats. Then, patience is key — I let the cookie cups cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before removing them carefully to keep them from falling apart.
Top Tip
Making Valentine’s Day Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Hugs Recipe can be super fun, and a few handy tips can help you get perfect, picture-worthy treats every time.
- Perfect Dough Wrapping: When wrapping the dough around each Hershey’s Hug, gently smooth out any cracks with your fingers to avoid any gaps or breaks that can cause the cookie to fall apart when baking.
- Don’t Skip Cooling Time: Allow the cookie cups to cool completely—about 15 minutes in the pan—before trying to remove them. I’ve learned that rushing this step leads to cookie cups breaking or losing their shape.
- Sprinkle While Warm: Press your decorative sprinkles onto the cookie tops immediately after baking while the dough is still warm. This helps them stick beautifully and look festive.
- Balanced Food Coloring: Add pink or red food coloring a little at a time until you get your ideal color; too much can affect the dough texture, so go slow and adjust as you go.
How to Serve Valentine’s Day Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Hugs Recipe
Garnishes
These cookie cups are charming on their own, but a few fun garnishes can elevate them even more! Try sprinkling crushed freeze-dried strawberries or a light dusting of powdered sugar for extra sweetness. Edible glitter or heart-shaped sprinkles pressed onto the tops right after baking add a festive Valentine’s Day pop of color. For an adult twist, drizzle a little white or dark chocolate on top once cooled.
Side Dishes
Serve these cookie cups alongside a cup of rich hot cocoa, a creamy cappuccino, or a glass of cold milk for a classic pairing. They also complement fruit salads or simple whipped cream for a light dessert spread at parties. For a full Valentine’s Day celebration, add chocolate-dipped strawberries or a bite-sized cheesecake to your dessert lineup.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store your Valentine’s Day Cookie Cups in an airtight container at room temperature, where they will stay fresh and chewy for up to two weeks. Keeping them sealed well prevents them from drying out.
Freezing
If you want to keep these treats longer, freeze them! Wrap each cookie cup individually to protect the delicate dough, then place in a freezer-safe container or bag. Stored this way, they can last 5-6 months in the freezer without losing flavor or texture.
Reheating
To enjoy thawed cookie cups warm, simply let them come to room temperature, then pop them in the oven at 300°F for 5 minutes. This refreshes their softness and lets the Hershey’s Hug center melt slightly again, giving you that fresh-baked feel.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! While Hershey’s Hugs add a special creamy flavor and festive look, you can substitute with other chocolates like mini Reese’s cups, chocolates with caramel centers, or even your favorite chocolate chips for a personalized touch.
Make sure your dough is well mixed and pliable but not too dry. When forming the balls, gently press and smooth any cracks using your fingers to create a seamless wrap. If the dough feels dry, a tiny bit of milk can help, but add sparingly.
You can try using a gluten-free sugar cookie mix that behaves similarly to regular cookie dough. Just be sure the mix is designed for drop or rolled cookies, so it wraps easily around the Hershey’s Hugs. Adjust baking time slightly as needed.
Room temperature storage in an airtight container is best to keep the cookie cups soft and chewy. Refrigeration can dry them out faster, so if you do refrigerate, bring them back to room temperature before serving to enjoy the best texture.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly heartwarming about baking Valentine’s Day Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Hugs Recipe – it’s not just about the sweet surprise inside, but also the joy of creating something special with love. Whether sharing with family, friends, or your sweetheart, these cookie cups deliver tenderness in every bite. I hope you find as much happiness making and enjoying them as I do every year. Happy baking and Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Valentine’s Day Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Hugs Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cooling Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 37 minutes
- Yield: 25 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Valentine’s Day Cookie Cups are delightful bite-sized treats featuring a soft, chewy, buttery sugar cookie dough wrapped around a creamy Hershey’s Hug center. Perfectly festive with optional decorative sprinkles, these cookie cups are easy to make and ideal for celebrating love and sweetness.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 17.5 ounce package sugar cookie mix
- ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, melted
- 3 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- Pink/red food coloring, as needed
Filling and Topping
- 24-26 Hershey’s Hugs, unwrapped
- Decorative sprinkles, optional, for topping
Instructions
- Prepare Pan and Oven: Spray a mini cupcake pan with cooking spray and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure even baking.
- Make Dough: In a large bowl, beat together the sugar cookie mix, melted butter, all-purpose flour, egg, and pink/red food coloring until just combined. Adjust the food coloring amount to achieve your desired hue.
- Shape Dough: Take about 1 tablespoon of the cookie dough and flatten it with your hand or rolling pin to about the size of your palm.
- Add Filling: Place one unwrapped Hershey’s Hug in the center of the flattened dough, then carefully wrap the dough around the Hug, forming a ball. Use your hands to smooth out cracks and form a neat dough ball.
- Fill Cupcake Pan: Place each filled dough ball upright into a cavity of the prepared mini cupcake pan. Repeat the process until all the dough is used.
- Bake: Bake the cookie cups in the oven for 12 minutes, or until the dough edges look set and lightly golden.
- Decorate: Remove cookie cups from the oven and immediately press decorative sprinkles lightly onto the warm tops to help them stick.
- Cool: Allow the cookie cups to cool in the pan for 15 minutes before carefully removing and serving.
Notes
- Store cookie cups in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks to maintain freshness.
- To freeze, individually wrap cookie cups and place them in a freezer-safe container or bag; they can be kept frozen for 5-6 months.
- Allow the cookie cups to cool completely before removing from the pan to avoid them falling apart.
- When wrapping dough around Hershey’s Hugs, gently fix any cracks with your fingers for a neat appearance.
- Use festive decorative sprinkles like hearts or flowers pressed into warm dough immediately after baking for best adhesion and presentation.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie cup
- Calories: 130 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
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