1-First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This step ensures even baking and makes cleanup easy, allowing you to focus on the fun part of mixing. In a mixing bowl, beat 1 cup (226g) of softened unsalted butter with 1 cup (200g) of granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which takes about 2-3 minutes.

2-Next, add 1 large room-temperature egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract if you’re using it. This incorporates the wet ingredients smoothly into the butter mixture. Then, stir in 1 package (3 oz) of strawberry-flavored gelatin mix to give the dough its vibrant color and taste, turning it into that signature soft, pink base.

3-In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons (280g) of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Gradually mix these dry ingredients into the wet mixture to form a soft dough. If the dough seems too sticky, add 1-2 tablespoons of flour to make it easier to handle.

4-Shape the dough into 1-tablespoon balls and place them on the lined baking sheet. Chill these balls for at least 1 hour or overnight to prevent spreading and keep the cookies nice and round. Once chilled, bake at 350°F (175°C) for 11-13 minutes until the edges are set with faint cracks, but the centers stay soft for that perfect texture.

5-After baking, let the cookies rest for 2 minutes on the sheet. Then, gently press a chocolate kiss candy into the center of each warm cookie. Finally, cool them completely on a wire rack before dusting with 1/4 cup powdered sugar. For more baking inspiration, try our Strawberry Cream Cheese Chill Pie recipe. This step-by-step approach makes Strawberry Kiss Cookies a breeze, even for beginners.