The holiday candy aisle is getting a little more colorful this year, and Hershey’s is bringing some familiar faces along for the celebration. The chocolate brand is introducing two limited-time treats inspired by Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, combining festive flavors with playful packaging that fans of the classic holiday story will recognize.
The seasonal lineup features Cindy-Lou Who Strawberry Sugar Cookie Kisses and Hershey’s Hugs with Max the Dog Foils. While one introduces a fruity, cookie-inspired flavor, the other gives a longtime chocolate favorite a holiday makeover with special character-themed wrappers.
Whether you’re filling stockings, putting together a dessert tray, or simply looking for something different to enjoy during a Christmas movie marathon, these additions offer two ways to bring a little extra sweetness to the season.
1. Hershey’s Kisses Cindy-Lou Who Strawberry Sugar Cookie
Sugar cookies are already a holiday favorite, but Hershey’s is giving the classic treat a fruity twist. The new Cindy-Lou Who Strawberry Sugar Cookie Kisses combine strawberry-flavored creme with crunchy sugar cookie pieces, creating a candy that brings together two familiar dessert flavors in one small bite.
The strawberry creme provides the sweetness, while the cookie pieces add a little crunch to the smooth texture. Instead of the traditional milk chocolate flavor associated with Hershey’s Kisses, this version leans into a bakery-inspired combination that feels especially fitting for the holiday season.
The candies take inspiration from Cindy-Lou Who, the kindhearted character who helps bring out the Grinch’s softer side. Their festive pink foils give the familiar Kisses shape a cheerful makeover, making them stand out among the usual red, green, and silver holiday chocolates.
That colorful presentation makes these Kisses an easy addition to seasonal candy bowls and homemade gift baskets. They can also add a decorative touch to a dessert spread, particularly when paired with sugar cookies, brownies, or other holiday sweets.
For anyone who enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, the strawberry-and-cookie combination offers a few possibilities. Try using the candies as a topping for freshly baked cookies, adding them to a holiday dessert board, or serving them alongside hot chocolate for an extra-sweet treat.
The limited-edition Kisses are available in seasonal sharing bags and giftable candy cane packaging. Those options make them convenient for holiday gatherings, small gifts, and stocking stuffers without requiring much extra preparation.
They may be especially appealing to shoppers who already enjoy Hershey’s sweeter creme-based Kisses varieties and want to try something different from traditional chocolate.
2. Hershey’s Hugs With Max the Dog Foils
Not every holiday candy needs a new flavor to feel special. Hershey’s is also giving its classic Hugs a festive update with limited-edition foils featuring Max, the Grinch’s loyal dog.
The familiar candies combine milk chocolate with white creme, creating the striped appearance that has made Hershey’s Hugs a recognizable part of the brand’s lineup. Their creamy, chocolatey flavor remains the same, but the seasonal wrappers add a playful connection to How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Max has long been one of the story’s most lovable characters, and his appearance on the candy foils brings a little extra personality to an otherwise familiar treat. The themed packaging gives shoppers something festive to enjoy without having to try an unfamiliar flavor.
That makes these Hugs a particularly easy choice for families with different candy preferences. While the strawberry Kisses offer something new, Max-themed Hugs stick with a classic chocolate combination that many shoppers already know.
The character-inspired wrappers also make the candies a fun addition to holiday celebrations. Scatter a few across a dessert table, add them to treat bags for a Christmas party, or tuck them into stockings alongside other small surprises.
They would also fit naturally into a Grinch-themed movie night. A bowl of Max-themed Hugs paired with the Cindy-Lou Who Strawberry Sugar Cookie Kisses creates a simple candy spread that ties into the film without requiring elaborate decorations.
Hershey’s Hugs with Max the Dog Foils are available in seasonal share-size bags, making them convenient for gatherings or for keeping a little chocolate on hand throughout December.
Unlike the new strawberry variety, the appeal here is the limited-edition presentation rather than a different recipe. For longtime Hugs fans, that familiar flavor may be exactly what makes the holiday version worth picking up.
Both treats are part of Hershey’s limited-time holiday collection, with distribution planned through retailers nationwide. Availability may vary by store, so shoppers looking for a particular variety or package size may have better luck checking seasonal candy displays as the holidays approach.
With one new flavor and one festive twist on a classic, Hershey’s is giving Grinch fans a couple of sweet ways to celebrate the season.
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