Dreamy Hot Chocolate Cookies Recipe: Cozy Sweetness in Every Bite

Crisp winter nights call for a magical hot chocolate cookies adventure that warms your heart.

These delightful treats blend the rich comfort of your favorite winter beverage into a sweet, chocolatey bite.

Cocoa powder and melted chocolate create an intense depth of flavor that surprises and delights.

Marshmallow chunks nestled throughout add a playful twist to each soft, pillowy cookie.

Milk chocolate chips melt into gooey pockets, creating irresistible moments of pure indulgence.

Cozy baking aromas will drift through your kitchen, promising pure comfort in every single crumb.

Why You’ll Want to Bake Hot Chocolate Cookies

• Effortless hot chocolate cookies bring cozy vibes to your kitchen in minutes.
• Perfectly portioned cookies make snacking and sharing super convenient for any gathering.
• Simple steps and fun marshmallow topping engage children in delightful dessert-making experience.
• Warm, chocolatey treats capture winter's magic and deliver nostalgic hot chocolate memories with every bite.

Hot Chocolate Cookie Ingredients

• Butter: Soft foundation for rich, creamy cookie texture, room temperature works best.
• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Sweet base with deep caramel notes, balanced sweetness.
• Egg: Binding agent for cookie structure, room temperature recommended.
• Vanilla Extract: Warm flavor enhancer, pure vanilla gives best results.

• All-Purpose Flour: Structural base for cookie dough, unbleached preferred.
• Cocoa Powder: Deep chocolate flavor, unsweetened dark cocoa recommended.
• Baking Soda: Leavening agent for cookie rise, fresh and unexpired.
• Salt: Flavor enhancer, balances overall sweetness.

• Chocolate Chips, Marshmallows: Classic hot chocolate inspiration, semi-sweet chocolate chips preferred, fresh marshmallows work best for melting and texture.

How to Make Hot Chocolate Cookies

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

Set your oven to 350F and grab two baking sheets. Line them with parchment paper for easy cookie magic.

Step 2: Create Dreamy Dough

• Softened butter
• Granulated sugar
• Brown sugar

Whip until the mixture looks fluffy and light. Crack in an egg and splash of vanilla extract, stirring until smooth.

• Flour
• Cocoa powder
• Baking soda
• Salt

Slowly combine dry ingredients with wet ingredients, stirring gently. Fold in chocolate chips with love.

Step 3: Shape Cookie Rounds

Scoop small spoonfuls of dough and roll into cute little balls. Place them on baking sheets, keeping about two inches between each cookie.

Step 4: First Bake Session

Slide the sheets into the oven and bake for 8 minutes. Pull out the cookies and gently press a marshmallow half into the center of each one.

Step 5: Final Melt and Bake

Return cookies to the oven for another 2-3 minutes until marshmallows look puffy and slightly melted.

Step 6: Cool and Devour

Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy these warm, gooey treats that taste like a hug from hot chocolate!

Cookie Tips for Soft & Texture

• Swap Marshmallow Sizes: Use mini marshmallows for uniform coverage or large marshmallows for a gooey, dramatic effect on each cookie.
• Control Cookie Texture: Slightly underbake cookies by 1-2 minutes to maintain a soft, chewy center that mimics the richness of hot chocolate.
• Enhance Chocolate Depth: Replace some cocoa powder with dark cocoa powder to intensify the chocolate flavor and create a more robust taste profile.
• Customize Mix-Ins: Add crushed candy canes, white chocolate chips, or a sprinkle of sea salt to elevate the classic hot chocolate cookie experience.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Substitute butter with coconut oil and use dairy-free chocolate chips to make these cookies suitable for lactose-intolerant or vegan diets.

How to Keep Hot Chocolate Cookies Fresh

• Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days, placing parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
• Wrap cookies individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months for maximum freshness.
• Remove frozen cookies from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before enjoying their soft, gooey texture.
• Warm refrigerated or thawed cookies in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or in a preheated 300F oven for 3-4 minutes to restore their fresh-baked warmth and softness.

What Goes with Hot Chocolate Cookies

• Complement these rich chocolate cookies with a steaming mug of classic hot cocoa topped with whipped cream, creating a delightful dessert experience that echoes the cookie's warm, comforting flavors.
• Elevate the chocolate-marshmallow combination by pairing the cookies with a peppermint mocha coffee, which adds a refreshing mint twist and enhances the decadent chocolate notes.
• Create a luxurious dessert by serving the warm cookies alongside a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, offering a delightful temperature and texture contrast that melts in your mouth.
• Combine the cookies with a smooth caramel latte, which adds a sweet, buttery dimension that complements the rich chocolate and gooey marshmallow center perfectly.

Tasty Twists on Hot Chocolate Cookies

• Gluten-Free Hot Chocolate Cookies: Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend or almond flour to make the recipe safe for those with gluten sensitivities.
• Vegan Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies: Swap butter with coconut oil, use a flax egg instead of a regular egg, and choose vegan chocolate chips and marshmallows for a plant-based version.
• Keto-Friendly Chocolate Cookies: Substitute regular sugar with erythritol or stevia, use almond flour instead of wheat flour, and select sugar-free chocolate chips to create a low-carb alternative.
• Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Cookies: Use dairy-free butter or coconut oil, select dairy-free chocolate chips, and ensure marshmallows are milk-free for those avoiding dairy products.

Hot Chocolate Cookies Recipe

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4.7 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 22 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Irresistible hot chocolate cookies blend winter comfort with sweet indulgence, delivering a warm embrace of chocolate and marshmallow magic. Rich cocoa notes and gooey marshmallow centers make these treats a delightful companion to your favorite holiday moments.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups (190 grams) all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup (30 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup (180 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Wet Ingredients:

• ½ cup (115 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (100 grams) brown sugar, packed
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Supplementary Ingredients:

• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 12 large marshmallows, cut in half

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Instructions

1. Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 350F (175C) and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper, ensuring even heat distribution and preventing cookie stick.
2. Create a luxurious cookie base by whipping softened butter with granulated and brown sugars until the mixture becomes airy and pale, developing a rich, caramelized foundation.
3. Introduce egg and vanilla extract into the butter mixture, blending until the texture becomes silky and uniform, creating a smooth backdrop for the chocolate flavor.
4. Separately combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt, whisking thoroughly to eliminate potential lumps and ensure consistent seasoning throughout the dough.
5. Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, folding gently to maintain the dough’s delicate structure, and gently mix in chocolate chips for bursts of intense chocolate flavor.
6. Form uniform cookie portions by scooping and rolling dough into perfect spheres, strategically placing them on prepared baking sheets with sufficient spacing to allow proper spreading.
7. Execute initial baking for 8 minutes, creating a soft, slightly underdone cookie base that will serve as a canvas for marshmallow integration.
8. Interrupt the baking process to delicately press marshmallow halves into the cookie centers, creating a picturesque and indulgent surface.
9. Complete the baking process by returning cookies to the oven for an additional 2-3 minutes, allowing marshmallows to transform into puffy, golden-edged clouds.
10. Facilitate cooling by letting cookies rest momentarily on baking sheets, then transferring to a wire rack to achieve optimal texture and prevent continued cooking.

Notes

• Achieve the perfect texture by using room temperature butter, which creams more smoothly and creates a softer cookie.
• Prevent dry cookies by carefully measuring cocoa powder using the spoon-and-level method, avoiding packing the powder into the measuring cup.
• Enhance marshmallow melt by choosing fresh, soft marshmallows and cutting them precisely in half for even placement on warm cookies.
• Customize the recipe for dietary needs by substituting gluten-free flour blend, dairy-free butter, and vegan marshmallows for a inclusive treat everyone can enjoy.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 157
• Sugar: 9g
• Sodium: 70mg
• Fat: 7g
• Saturated Fat: 4g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 23g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 2g
• Cholesterol: 15mg