Epic Hot Chocolate Cookies Recipe (with hot cocoa mix) (2024)

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Mmmm… Hot Chocolate Cookies are chewy, chocolatey perfection topped with sweet gooey marshmallow fluff. An easy holiday cookie recipe using hot chocolate mix, that kids will love to eat and help bake.

It’s time to step up your cookie game and bring something unique to your next Christmas cookie exchange! These festive hot chocolate cookies are simply irresistible.

Add to your Christmas cookie offering with these popular traditional shortbread cookies, Crumbl Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pfeffernusse or Koulourakia Butter Cookies.

Key Ingredients

• All-Purpose Flour | I use organic, unbleached all-purpose flour in my baking recipes.
• Hot chocolate mix | Use your favorite hot cocoa mix for that famous hot chocolate flavor. I like all-natural Silly Cow Hot Chocolate Mix.
• Kosher Salt | Just a sprinkle of salt will enhance the sweetness of this recipe.
• Baking powder and baking soda | Gives lift, make sure yours isn’t expired!
• Butter | I typically use salted butter because it’s what I have on hand, make sure it’s soft. If using unsalted butter, add ¼ teaspoon additional salt.
• Sugars | For this cookie recipe, you’ll add both brown sugar (light or dark) and granulated sugar to the dough. I use all-natural cane sugar in my baking.
• Eggs | I use large, room temperature eggs in all of baking.
• Vanilla | A couple of drops of vanilla extract give the recipe rich and warm notes.
• Marshmallow fluff | Use a dollop of marshmallow fluff or marshmallow creme to top each cookie and complete the iconic hot chocolate flavors.
• Optional toppings | If desired, you can sprinkle these hot chocolate cookies with crushed candy canes and mini marshmallows.

How to Make Hot Chocolate Cookies

This chocolate marshmallow cookie recipe only takes about 15 minutes to prepare and around 10 minutes cook time. Makes 36 mouth-watering holiday cookies.

Step 1 | Cream the Wet Ingredients

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees (375 for high altitude) and line several cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone mat. Set it aside for now until you’re ready to scoop the tasty cookie dough onto it.

Next, grab a large mixing bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat until it is light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes, a little longer if using natural cane sugar. Then, add the eggs one at a time beating 1 minute between additions and the vanilla extract.

Step 2 | Measure and Mix the Dry Ingredients

Add dry ingredients to a mixing bowl, then add the all-purpose flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and hot chocolate mix. Then, give that a quick whisk to incorporate.

Add a ½ cup at a time of the dry mixture into the bowl of wet ingredients and mix until just combined, avoid over mixing.

Next, use a rubber spatula to scrape the cookie dough and wrap it in plastic wrap or leave it in the bowl and cover. Allow the chocolate cookie dough to chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

Step 3 | Form the Cookie Dough and Bake

After adequately chilling, use a cookie scoop or your hands to form one-inch balls of dough and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet. Remember to leave about an inch of space between all the cookies.

I prefer using a cookie scoop when baking cookies, then they are all uniform in size and bake evenly. They are one of the most used tools in my kitchen.

Finally, bake the cocoa cookies as directed in the recipe card.

Step 4 | Cool and Add Topping

Allow the cookies to cool on a wire rack completely, so they do not fall apart or melt the gooey topping.

Drop a small spoonful of marshmallow fluff in the middle of each hot chocolate cookie. You won’t need much since the creamy marshmallow will spread over the top and flatten on its own.

If desired, garnish the tops of your delicious hot chocolate cookies with a few dehydrated mini marshmallows and sprinkle with crushed candy canes!

These cookies have been tested at sea level and high altitude, adjust accordingly. I bake at 5280 feet above sea level.

Toppings

Mini marshmallows and sweet crushed candy canes are an optional topping for these incredible festive treats. Shake on some “snowy” powdered sugar or colored sugar for a different look.

But to put this recipe over the top, drizzle the cooled cookies with chocolate ganache—YUM!

Variations & Substitutions

• Add Chocolate Chips | Add up to 1 cup of chocolate chips, or chocolate chunks, or even white chocolate chips stirring into the dough before chilling.
• Mimic a Real Hot Chocolate | Top the cooled cookies with a quick swirl of whipped cream just like you would do with a steaming mug of hot chocolate!
• Chocolate Dipped | Can you ever have too much chocolate? For a pretty presentation and even more chocolate flavor, dip the cookies in melted chocolate- dark, milk, or white- and allow the chocolate to harden. Like my Peppermint White Chocolate Cookies.
• Skip the Marshmallow Fluff | Instead top the cookies with a swirl of chocolate or vanilla buttercream. Kind of like the Crumbl Frozen Hot Chocolate Cookies.
• White Hot Chocolate Cookies | Replace the hot chocolate mix with white hot chocolate mix.

Storage Tips

Your hot cocoa cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for about one week. But like my whoopie pies, they are also delicious when chilled!

Freeze | You can freeze the cookies for up to three months, wrap well so they don’t absorb freezer flavors. I suggest skipping the topping until you are ready to eat the cookies and after they have completely thawed.

Refrigerate | You can also store the cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about five days.

Make Ahead Hot Chocolate Cookie Dough

If you’d like to get a jump start on your holiday baking, make up the hot chocolate cookie dough up to 3 days ahead of time. Place dough in airtight container in fridge. To scoop, it might be quite hard, remove from fridge and allow to soften; about 30 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Cookie Recipes for Holiday Baking

• Every holiday cookie exchange needs chewy chocolate chip cookies, try my gluten-free CCC too!
• Sugar Cookies | Whether you are making cut-out sugar cookies, copycat Crumbl Sugar Cookies or Sugar Cookie Bars, sugar cookies scream Christmas to our family!
• Chocolate peanut butter Whoopie Pies, oh my!
• Easy 5-Ingredient Raspberry Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
• These Christmas Reindeer Muddy Buddies are so fun! With free printable gift tags too!
• Speaking of gift tags, print out my free Christmas from the Kitchen of…Gift Tags!

I hope you loved this Hot Chocolate Cookie Recipe — if you did, would you share your creation onInstagram,FacebookandPinterest? And be sure to comment below!

Don’t forget to chill the cookie dough for at least one hour before scooping and baking. This will ensure your cookies come out in the perfect shape and do not spread or flatten too much.