You’re standing in the seasonal aisle, squinting at a sea of red foil, wondering why on earth it’s so hard to find the one thing you actually want. Cherry filled Hershey Kisses are the "white whale" of the candy world. Honestly, it’s frustrating. One year they’re everywhere, and the next, you’re digging through a bin of plain milk chocolate like a person possessed.
These aren't just your standard solid chocolate drops. We’re talking about the Hershey’s Kisses Cherry Cordial Crème. It’s a very specific experience. You bite through the classic Hershey’s milk chocolate shell and hit a gooey, thick, pink center that tastes exactly like a liquid maraschino cherry. It’s nostalgic. It’s messy. It’s kind of polarizing, too.
The Identity Crisis of the Cherry Filled Hershey Kiss
People get confused. Are they the same as the "Cherry Dipped" ones? No. Definitely not. Hershey often releases a "Cherry Dipped" version that is just solid chocolate flavored like cherry, or sometimes a "Lava Cake" version that leans more into cocoa than fruit. But the true cherry filled Hershey Kisses—the ones with the cordial filling—are a different beast entirely.
The ingredients list is basically a chemistry set of sugar, corn syrup, and red dye 40, but that’s why they work. You get that hit of invertase, which is the enzyme that turns the center into a liquid over time. It’s the same science used in Queen Anne or Cella’s cherries. If you eat them too early after production, the center is a bit firm. If you wait, it turns into that iconic syrup.
Why the Scarcity? It’s All About the Calendar
Hershey doesn't treat these like the Almond or Caramel flavors. They aren't "everyday" items.
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- Valentine’s Day is King. This is the primary window. If you don't see them by February 1st, you’re probably looking at a dry year for your local CVS or Walgreens.
- The Christmas Crossover. Occasionally, they appear in holiday-themed bags with red and silver foil, but they often get overshadowed by the "Candy Cane" peppermint flavor.
- Retailer Exclusives. Sometimes, Walmart or Target will snag the exclusive rights to carry certain "filled" varieties for a season. If your grocery store doesn't have them, it’s not because Hershey stopped making them; it’s because the buyer for that store chose the "Strawberry Ice Cream Cone" flavor instead. Bad call, in my opinion.
Supply chain issues actually hit the "filled" Kisses harder than the solid ones. Think about it. It’s a two-part manufacturing process. You have the chocolate shell and the injected center. If the line for the liquid filling is down, or if there's a shortage of the specific cherry flavoring, the whole product line gets paused. Unlike the plain milk chocolate versions, these aren't produced in massive, year-round surpluses.
The Flavor Profile: Love It or Hate It
Let's be real. If you’re looking for "organic, hand-picked black cherry notes," you are in the wrong place. These are unapologetically artificial. They taste like childhood.
The chocolate is the standard Hershey’s milk chocolate—slightly tangy, very sweet. The filling? It’s a sugar bomb. But the acidity of the cherry flavoring cuts through the fat of the chocolate in a way that’s weirdly addictive. Some people complain they’re too sweet. Those people are usually right, but it doesn't stop us from eating five in a row.
Texture Matters
A common complaint found in online reviews (check any Amazon listing for these) is that the filling sometimes leaks. Because the shell is thin at the "bottom" (the flat part), any temperature fluctuation can cause the chocolate to crack. You end up with a sticky, red mess inside the foil. It’s the price you pay for the cordial experience.
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How to Source Them When the Shelves are Empty
If you are craving cherry filled Hershey Kisses in July, you’re going to have a hard time. But you have options.
- Online Bulk Sellers: Sites like Blair Candy or Candy Warehouse often stock seasonal overruns. You might pay a premium for shipping, but they usually have the "Cordial Crème" version in stock longer than big-box stores.
- The "Off-Season" Discount Stores: Check places like Big Lots or Ocean State Job Lot. They often buy the remaining stock after Valentine's Day. It’s a gamble on freshness, but the sugar content in these things makes them shelf-stable for a long, long time.
- Amazon (With a Warning): You can almost always find them on Amazon, but watch the seller. Third-party sellers often price-gouge, charging $15 for a bag that costs $4. Also, ordering liquid-filled chocolate in the summer is a recipe for a melted blob.
Baking with Cherry Cordial Kisses
You can't just throw these into a cookie like a regular chip. They’ll explode. The liquid center expands under heat. If you want to use them for those "Blossom" cookies (the ones with the Kiss pressed into the center of a peanut butter or sugar cookie), you have to be tactical.
Don't bake the Kiss.
Bake the cookie first. Let it cool for about two minutes. Then, press the cherry filled Kiss into the center. The residual heat will soften the chocolate and warm the filling without causing the whole thing to rupture and bleed red syrup all over your baking sheet.
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The "Fake" Cherry Kisses to Avoid
Be careful when grabbing a bag in a hurry. Hershey has released "Cherry Cheesecake" Kisses and "Chocolate Covered Cherry" (solid) Kisses. Neither of these has the liquid center. If the bag doesn't say "Cordial Crème," you are not getting the liquid filling. Look for the picture on the front of the bag—it should show a Kiss with a literal drop of red liquid oozing out.
Actionable Steps for the Cherry Obsessed
If you want to ensure you actually get your hands on these this year, don't wait for the clearance rack.
- Set a Google Alert: Set one for "Hershey's Kisses Cherry Cordial" around early January. You’ll see when the first press releases or "new at Target" blog posts start popping up.
- Check the Bottom of the Bag: If you find them in-store, gently feel the bottom of the bag. If it feels sticky or if the bags are clumped together, one has leaked. Put it back and find a "dry" bag.
- Freeze Them: Honestly, these are incredible frozen. It changes the viscosity of the center from "runny" to "chewy." It also prevents the leaking issue if you're storing them for a few months.
- Verify the Label: Always look for the word "Cordial." If it’s not there, it’s just cherry-flavored wax. You deserve the real thing.
Stock up when you see them. The window is short, the supply is fickle, and once they’re gone, you’re stuck waiting another 365 days for that weird, wonderful red syrup.