🎄 Christmas
Harry Potter Sorting Hat Cookies with a Surprise Center
Harry Potter Sorting Hat Cookies can be the sweet surprise at your magical party.
At our Harry Potter party (which was, dare I say, next-level), we had a full-on Sorting Hat ceremony.
I’m talking dramatic music, solemn faces, and an “actual” Sorting Hat… rigged, of course. We’d already decided the teams, but it was all part of the fun.
These cookies, though? They’re perfect if you want to leave the Sorting to fate.
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Each one hides M&M colors inside for a surprise Hogwarts house reveal: red for brave Gryffindor, blue for smart Ravenclaw, yellow for loyal Hufflepuff, and green for cunning Slytherin.
Or forget the sorting and just toss them on the dessert table for a sweet little secret your guests will love discovering.
Either way, these cookies should be at the top of your list for Harry Potter Party Ideas.
They’re a sure hit with every Harry Potter fan (even the Muggle kind).
Star Sorting Hat Cookies Ingredients
You’ll find the full list in the recipe card below, but here are the magical MVPs of these Sorting Hat Cookies:
- Butterscotch pudding mix – This is the secret ingredient that adds rich, caramel-y flavor and keeps the cookies soft and chewy. Don’t skip it!
- Mini M&Ms – You’ll need to sort these by color for the house reveal. You’ll be baking these right into the center of the dough as a surprise Hogwarts house reveal. Once cooled, each cookie hides a little burst of color magic—just bite in to see which house you got!
- Hershey’s Kisses – These go on right after the cookies come out of the oven while they’re still warm. Once slightly melted, you can even draw little Sorting Hat faces with a toothpick for extra charm. Just try not to eat them all before decorating.
🧙♂️ More Magical Harry Potter Party Ideas
Hosting your own wizarding world bash? These enchanting posts will help you bring the magic to life—no wand-waving required.
🧙♀️ Harry Potter Party for Adults – A magical bash full of themed decor, drinks, and surprises perfect for grown-up Potterheads.
🧩 Harry Potter Scavenger Hunt Games – Keep your guests guessing with these printable scavenger hunts, perfect for every Hogwarts house.
🌱 Mandrake Cupcakes – These screamingly fun cupcakes are a hit with older kids and adults alike.
📚 Monster Book of Monsters Cake – A jaw-snapping DIY cake that looks fierce but is surprisingly easy to pull off.
🎁 Harry Potter Gift Bags DIY – Learn how to make personalized treat bags to match each Hogwarts house.
🧪 Potion Bottle Labels – Grab these printable potion labels to turn plain bottles into a bubbling apothecary display.
🍽️ Harry Potter Party Foods – Tons of magical munchies and clever name ideas to charm your guests’ taste buds.
Sorting Hat Cookies Recipe FAQs
How far in advance can I make these cookies?
You can bake them up to 3 days ahead and store them in an airtight container. They actually stay nice and soft thanks to the pudding mix!
Can I use regular M&Ms instead of minis?
You can, but the mini ones fit better inside the cookie and give you more house color options without cracking the dough.
Do I have to draw faces on the Hershey’s kisses?
Nope! But it’s a fun extra if you want that full “Sorting Hat” look. A toothpick and some melted chocolate or edible marker does the trick.
Can I freeze the dough?
Yes! Freeze the rolled dough balls (before baking) on a lined tray, then transfer to a freezer bag. When you’re ready, just bake straight from the freezer but add a minute or two to the bake time.
What if I eat all four colors to become the Ultimate Wizard?
Then congratulations, you’ve achieved Peak Snack Wizard status. You may now duel with a spatula.
Hogwarts Sorting Hat Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 - 3.5 oz butterscotch pudding mix
- 2 eggs
- 1 t vanilla
- 2 ½ cup flour
- 3 Tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 Tbsp corn starch
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- Mini M&M’s - sorting into green, yellow, red and blue
- 10 oz package Hershey’s kisses, unwrapped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line your baking sheet(s) with parchment and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the sugars and softened butter. Cream until smooth.
- Add in the eggs, pudding mix and vanilla. Mix to combine.
- Add in the flour, cocoa powder, corn starch, baking soda and salt. Mix well - scraping down the sides and mixing again until thoroughly combined.
- Using a small ice cream scoop or tablespoon, scoop out the dough into 1-inch size balls.
- Place on your parchment lined baking sheets and press a finger into the center of each one.
- Fill the hole of each cookie with a different color of M&M’s. Should only fit about 3-4 candies.
- Roll the dough so that the candies are hidden within the dough.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 7 minutes. The edges should be set and the center no longer glossy.
- Immediately upon removing from the oven, place a single Hershey’s kiss on top of each cookie.
- After about 5 minutes, the heat from the cookie will soften the kiss. Use a toothpick to draw the eyes and mouth of the Sorting Hat on each kiss.
- Allow to cool for about an hour to allow the chocolate to solidify.
Notes
Storage: Cookies should be stored in an airtight container for about 3 days.
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