Pumpkin Spice Kiss Cookie Cups
Chewy chocolate chip cookie cups topped with Pumpkin Spice Hershey’s Kisses to put you in the mood for Halloween.
These cookie cups weren’t supposed to happen. They were a back up of a back up of a back up plan and now a symbol of my perseverance and victory for October. There’s a Halloween curse going around, I swear, but before I get into that, let me introduce these Pumpkin Spice Kiss Cookie Cups I made for today’s Holiday Food Blogger party. You may remember us from St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Fourth of July, but pretty much we are group of bloggers who have a virtual holiday party with plenty of recipe inspiration. I took chocolate chip cookie dough, divided it into mini muffin pans, and topped with Hershey’s Kisses. Not bad for a last minute party idea.
I’m sure I’m not the only one out there who has had multiple recipe fails in a row. You’re tasked with bringing food to an event, and you want to make sure it’s perfect because your reputation is on the line. My original idea was a candy corn cheesecake cake. I wasn’t satisfied with the cheesecake layer, so I scratched that (fortunately, I didn’t make the cake layers yet). My next idea was festive snack cakes using Halloween cookie cutters, but the cake tasted like cornbread. At this point I’m exhausted and running out of time (and ingredients), so I opened my bag of pumpkin spice kisses and quickly made chocolate chip cookie cups. Except the first batch didn’t turn out because I didn’t add enough flour. Made another batch and called it a night.
I was wondering if using the kisses were Halloween enough, so I inverted a few of the kisses, added sprinkles while the candy started to softened, and hey look – Halloween! If you’ve never seen pumpkin kisses, you can find them in the Halloween candy section of Walmart or Target during the fall months.
This recipe makes three dozen cookies at a time, so you can easily have a tray ready in little time. No need to spend time piping frosting or decorating sugar cookies. The dough chills well too. I refrigerated enough dough for six cookies then baked them later in the week when I had family visiting. Fresh cookies, anyone? Of course don’t limit yourself to Halloween. Make them year round with regular or even caramel filled Hershey kisses. Sprinkles optional (but highly recommended).
Pumpkin Spice Kiss Cookie Cups
Chewy chocolate chip cookie cups topped with Pumpkin Spice Hershey’s Kisses to put you in the mood for Halloween.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 36 pumpkin spice or chocolate Hershey's Kisses, unwrapped
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Have two mini muffin pans ready.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and brown sugar until creamy and smooth. Add the egg and vanilla then beat until smooth. Gradually add in the flour mixture then add the chocolate chips just until mixed in (don't overbeat).
- Divide the dough into roughly 1-inch 36 dough balls and place into the muffin pans. Bake 10 minutes or until cookies fill the cup, done in the middle, and golden brown. Immediately press a kiss into the top of each cookie, pressing down slightly. If you invert the kisses into the dough, add sprinkles on top. Cool completely before removing from the pan.
Adapted from my S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups
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If you liked these Pumpkin Spice Kiss Cookie Cups, you may also like these recipes from me:
As I said earlier, a bunch of us bloggers got together to party! Here is what everyone made:
1. Butterfinger Bark from Jen’s Favorite Cookies
2. Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Cut-Out Cookies from Created by Diane
3. Chocolate Crepes with Pumpkin Butter Filling and Spiced Maple Pecan Syrup from Pineapple and Coconut
4. Vampire Delight Martini from Magnolia Days
5. Pumpkin Spice Kiss Cookie Cups
6. Rice Krispie Candy Corn from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
7. Chocolate Peanut Butter Halloween Puppy Chow from The Messy Baker
8. Homemade Sour Patch Kids from What Smells So Good
9. Reese’s PB&C Pretzel Crust Pie from Hungry Couple NYC
10. Chocolate Pumpkin Layer Cake from Gotta Get Baked (no longer available)
11. Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats from Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
12. Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Brownies from Crumb Blog
13. Pumpkin Pie Fudge from Juanita’s Cocina
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Oh, yeah, these are winners!! Time to stock up on some Kisses!
Yes better stock up before they’re gone!
So far, you and Susan were plagued with the Halloween curse. Bravo on trudging through and coming up with something amazing. I love those kisses and turning some of them upside down is brilliant. Pinned!
I hope that’s the last of the curse! I know few others had problems with their original ideas too.
I’m glad you didn’t give up and made these wonderful cookie cups for our Holiday Food Party! Such great photos (as always). Your photography is such an inspiration to me.
Thanks Renee :) that means a lot because I wasn’t too thrilled with these photos. I was running out of daylight and had to reshoot them.
So tell us about this Halloween “curse”
A few of us in the group who posted today had multiple fails when making our recipes. I think only half of us made our first ideas!
I’m so glad you kept going and persevered, Halloween curse be damned! I would’ve been pulling my hair out and punching some walls if I kept making something that didn’t turn out. These cookie cups look super yummy. I just wish these pumpkin spice kisses were sold in Canada (if they are, I haven’t seen them yet). You wouldn’t mind sending me a few bags, right? You’re the best! ;)
There may have been some colorful choice words ;) thanks Nancy!
they look yummy!
Thanks Dina!
Amazing collection, all bookmarked !
Happy baking :)
Oh, how I’ve been there- the failing recipes always happen when your reputation is at stake! Must remember cookie cups next time that happens; seems like these would be more or less fool proof (with or without the flour incident :) )
I’m never near a Target or Walmart these days, so I’m patiently hoping my local NYC stores will start carrying those pumpkin spice kisses- I can’t wait to try them!!
Cookie cups solve all problems (if only haha). I haven’t been in too many other stores, so I’m not sure what other stores carry them. Good luck!
Some of my best recipes are “oopsies”. LOVE these!
Funny how that works, right?
Thank you for the pumpkin spice recipe! I bought some and have been staring at them for a week trying to come up with an idea!
I know the feeling. I wanted to do more than just the traditional blossom cookies. Thanks!
I have never tried the pumpkin spice kisses — but these cookie cups look so good, I may just have to give them a try!
Yes, you need to try them! You won’t regret it ;)
Oh my goodness, these are so cute!! I could eat a dozen of these things ;)
I may or may not have already… Haha
They don’t sell Pumpkin Spice Kisses up here in Canada. Sob sob sob. I’m going on a cross-border weekend shopping trip with friends next month, though, so you know I’m going to be combing every Target and Walmart in town for those puppies… watch out, Buffalo! :)
BTW, totally been there with the recipe failures. Sometimes the best ideas are those you come up with in a desperate last-minute panic!
Canada needs to get with the awesome holiday candy program! I hope they still have them when you go. If not, look for the candy cane, cherry and mint kisses they release for Christmas. You’ll need about 10 bags each.
You are the hersheys kiss queen!!
I sure am! Although I’ve been slacking this year. First kiss recipe of the season.
As much as I wanted to see the cheesecake, I am not complaining about these. Cookie cups for the win!
Maybe next time I’ll do cheesecake cookie cups ;)
So cute! I love those Pumpkin Spice Kisses!!
Thanks Shawn!
I wish I could find those kisses! They seem to be a US only thing :-(
I wish Canada and US were in line with candy. You’re missing out!
If at first you don’t success, try again! I know we’re all glad that you came up with these beauties! They look so good!
Exactly. All in the name of dessert. Thanks!
I saw a bag of these in my market last week and I was so seriously tempted… :)
Run back and grab them!
Oh great… one more reason to buy another bag of Pumpkin Spice Kisses!
You won’t regret it ;)
Oh yes I’m loving these…pumpkin spice and cookies together. LOVE it!
Isn’t it a great combination? Thanks Diane!
Hit 3 Targets today, no pumpkin kisses. Saw them all over the place last year. Will male them with upside down chocolate kisses topped with halloween jimmies
Oh no! I guess they sold out. The chocolate ones make it just as great too.
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