Description
These Marshmallow Hot Cocoa Surprise Cookies combine the rich flavors of cocoa and hot chocolate mix with gooey marshmallows and a decadent chocolate drizzle. Perfectly chewy with a delightful marshmallow center, these cookies are a nostalgic treat that captures the essence of a cozy cup of hot cocoa in cookie form.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons (10ml) milk (any kind, dairy or nondairy, is fine)
Dry Ingredients
- 1 and 1/2 cups (188g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1/3 cup (27g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup (40g) dry hot cocoa mix
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Add-ins and Toppings
- 10–11 large marshmallows, cut in half
- 8 ounces (226g) semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
Instructions
- Mix the Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together on medium-high speed until fluffy and light in color, about 2–3 minutes.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Add the egg and vanilla extract, then beat on high speed until well combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed to ensure even mixing.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, hot cocoa mix, baking soda, and salt until fully combined.
- Mix Dry Ingredients into Wet: Add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients and beat on low speed until combined. The dough will be thick. Finally, beat in the milk until the dough is thick and sticky.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the dough tightly and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours and up to 3 days. Chilling is crucial for managing this sticky dough.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
- Scoop the Dough: Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator. Using a tablespoon (about 25-26g), scoop and roll the dough into balls, arranging them 2–3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake Cookies Partially: Bake the cookies for 10 minutes until they are set but not fully done.
- Add Marshmallows: Remove the cookies from the oven and gently press a marshmallow half into the top of each cookie. Return the cookies to the oven and bake for an additional 2 minutes.
- Press Marshmallows: Remove from oven and use the back of a spoon to gently press down on each marshmallow, flattening them slightly.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Melt the Chocolate: Melt the chopped semi-sweet chocolate either in a double boiler or microwave in 20-second increments, stirring thoroughly after each until smooth.
- Drizzle Chocolate: Spoon the melted chocolate over each cooled marshmallow-topped cookie. Allow the chocolate to set at room temperature for 30-60 minutes.
- Store Cookies: Once the chocolate has set, stack, store, or gift the cookies. Cover leftover cookies tightly and store at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is essential to handle the sticky texture and to achieve the best cookie consistency.
- Use parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent cookies from sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Press marshmallows gently to prevent them from spilling over the sides of the cookies.
- For a vegan version, substitute butter with plant-based margarine, use a flax or chia egg, and ensure the marshmallows and chocolate are vegan-friendly.
- The hot cocoa mix adds extra flavor depth beyond cocoa powder alone, making these cookies uniquely cocoa-rich.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them fresh and chewy.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
