Valentine’s Day Cookie Cups with Hershey’s Hugs Recipe
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with these delightful Valentine’s Day Cookie Cups filled with Hershey’s Hugs. Soft, buttery sugar cookie dough envelops creamy milk and white chocolate hugs, creating a sweet treat that’s perfect for gifting or sharing at your celebration. With a touch of pink or red food coloring and optional decorative sprinkles, these cookie cups are as charming as they are delicious.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 37 minutes
- Yield: 25 cookie cups 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
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, as needed
Filling and Decoration
- 24–26 Hershey’s Hugs, unwrapped
- Decorative sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Pan and Preheat Oven: Spray a mini cupcake pan generously with cooking spray to prevent the cookie cups from sticking. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking.
- Make Cookie Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar cookie mix, melted butter, all-purpose flour, egg, and a few drops of pink or red food coloring. Beat the ingredients together until just combined, adjusting the food coloring amount until your desired shade of pink or red is achieved.
- Shape Dough for Filling: Scoop about 1 tablespoon of cookie dough and flatten it with your hand or a rolling pin until it’s roughly palm-sized. This flattened dough will be used to encase the Hershey’s Hug chocolates.
- Encapsulate Hershey’s Hugs: Place one unwrapped Hershey’s Hug chocolate square in the center of the flattened dough. Carefully wrap the dough around the chocolate, enclosing it completely and forming a neat dough ball, taking care not to tear the dough.
- Arrange in Pan: Stand each dough ball upright into a cavity of the prepared mini cupcake pan. Repeat this process until all dough balls are placed evenly within the pan’s cavities.
- Bake Cookie Cups: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. The cookie cups should appear set and lightly golden on the outside but remain soft to the touch, ensuring a tender texture.
- Add Sprinkles: Once removed from the oven, immediately decorate the warm cookie cups with your choice of decorative sprinkles for a festive look, if desired.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cookie cups to cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes. This cooling period helps them set properly and makes them easier to remove and serve without losing shape.
Notes
- Storage: Store cookie cups in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks to maintain freshness.
- Freezing: Wrap each cookie cup individually, place in a freezer-safe container or bag, and freeze for 5-6 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
- Tip: Ensure the egg is at room temperature before mixing to achieve a smooth and even cookie dough.
- Tip: Use a gentle hand while wrapping the dough around the chocolate to avoid tearing and better seal the cookie cups.
Keywords: Valentine's Day, cookie cups, Hershey's Hugs, sugar cookies, holiday treats, chocolate filled cookies, festive desserts