Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Prepare the Wet Ingredients
- In a large bowl, combine the vegetable oil and the eggs. Whisk them together until they are light and well-combined. Add the softened cream cheese to the mixture. Beat with a hand mixer until everything is smooth and fully integrated.
Combine Dry Ingredients
- Next, slowly mix in the all-purpose flour and the strawberry cake mix. Continue mixing until the dry ingredients are just incorporated into the wet mixture. The dough will start to come together and look crumbly.
Form the Dough
- Add in the tablespoon of milk. Mix the batter just until a soft cookie dough forms. Be careful not to overmix at this stage; overmixing can lead to tough cookies.
Scoop and Roll
- Scoop the cookies into uniform balls, about 2 tablespoonsful of dough for consistent size. Then, roll each cookie ball generously into granulated sugar, ensuring they are fully coated for that sparkling finish.
Chill the Dough
- Cover the bowl of cookie dough and chill it for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. This allows the fats to solidify and prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
Preheat and Prep for Baking
- Once your dough has chilled, preheat your oven to 375ºF. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. This will ensure your cookies don't stick and bake evenly. Set them aside.
Bake the Cookies
- Bake one cookie sheet at a time for 8 to 10 minutes. Keep the remaining cookie dough in the refrigerator between batches to maintain its chill. Look for edges that are set and a center that looks slightly soft but not raw; they will continue to set as they cool.
Add the Hershey Kisses
- Immediately out of the oven, while the cookies are still warm and pliable, gently press a chocolate Hershey Kiss into the center of each cookie. Press just enough to nestle the kisses down into the cookies.
Cooling
- Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring them for storage. This ensures the chocolate kisses set properly and the soft cookies firm up just enough to handle.
Nutrition
Notes
Always chill your dough faithfully for at least one hour to prevent spreading and enhance flavor. Press Hershey Kisses into warm cookies immediately out of the oven, allowing them to fully set on the baking sheet. Do not overbake; look for lightly golden edges and a still-soft center for optimal chewy texture. Use a #30 cookie scoop for uniform size. Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature for smooth incorporation. Avoid overmixing the dough once flour is added to prevent tough cookies. Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.