These hot chocolate cookies have all the flavors you love in a mug of hot chocolate, rolled up into one delicious baked good. Add these to your baking list this season—just don’t forget the melty, gooey, roasted marshmallow topping.
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Hot Cocoa Cookies with Marshmallows
It’s practically impossible to pick a favorite cookie recipe, but when I’m craving something sweet this hot chocolate cookie recipe is definitely a favorite. If you want to try some more fantastic desserts, you’ll love these german chocolate cookies, these fudgy M&M cookies and this rich chocolate crinkle cookie recipe.
There are few things that paint a cozy scene more than sitting by the fire, sipping on hot chocolate. Add in a good book and some sweats, and you basically have described my ideal afternoon! If you’re a fellow hot chocolate lover, you have got to try these!
The hot chocolate cookies cookies combine all the rich, chocolatey goodness of my favorite warm drink into a warm, freshly-baked package. These treats are super soft with rich flavor—they are really, really good.
Recipe Ingredients
Most of the ingredients you’ll need for these hot chocolate cookies are pantry-friendly, but you may need to get some jumbo marshmallows.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: I use natural cocoa to make these cookies, but I like to sub in a bit of Dutch-processed cocoa powder to enrich the flavor.
- Unsalted butter: You want the butter barely softened by the time you need to cream it. We’re using unsalted so we can control the amount added to the dough. Learn tips for how to soften butter quickly.
- All-purpose flour: For amazing texture, be sure measure the flour correctly using the the spoon and level method.
- Marshmallows: I cut the jumbo marshmallows in half and place them on top of the baked cookie to roast them up a bit.
- Chocolate chips: I like to add in chocolate chips just to make these cookies even more decadent.
- Vanilla extract: Make sure you’re using the real stuff to really amplify the flavor.
- Eggs. The necessary binder that helps keep everything together.
- Granulated sugar. This helps cut the bitterness of the cocoa powder and give the cookie sweetness.
- Baking soda. The leavening agent that will gives these cookies their chewy texture.
Marshmallow Cookies
What makes this hot chocolate cookie recipe even more special is the topping. Just like its liquid counterpart, these are topped with gooey, melted marshmallows. In fact, if you’re looking for a dessert your kids will literally cheer for every single time, this is the one. My kids literally dance around the oven while these bake!
They are always so excited when the marshmallows get added to the tops. Maybe because they are just a teeny bit marshmallow obsessed. Now, I don’t love plain marshmallows…but a toasted marshmallow that’s perfectly crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside? That is definitely one I can get behind.
How to Roast the Marshmallow
Adding the roasted marshmallow on top is super simple. You don’t need to build a campfire to enjoy the perfect marshmallow, thankfully!
Once the hot chocolate cookies are done baking, take the baking sheet out of the oven, then set it to broil. Take some jumbo marshmallows that have been sliced in half (to make them thinner), and set one on top of each cookie.
Place the baking sheet back into the oven and keep a close eye on them. You’ll want to remove from the oven once they are lightly toasted. About a minute or two is ideal—do not let the marshmallow get too brown.
How to Make Hot Chocolate Cookies
- Make dough. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the butter and sugars together until smooth and creamy. Then beat in the eggs and vanilla until everything is smooth. Whisk in the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until everything is just combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Chill the dough for a few minutes.
- Scoop. Scoop the dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets using a cookie scoop.
- Bake. Bake until the cookies are crispy around the edges and still soft in the middle.
- Broil. Top each cookie with a marshmallow half. Broil just until the marshmallows are slightly toasted. You don’t want them to get too browned.
Variations to Try
This hot chocolate cookie recipe allows for some liberties to be taken to truly make it your own. Here are some of my favorite variations.
- Add extra marshmallows: If you are making these for a marshmallow lover (like my kids!) you can add even more of that marshmallow flavor. Try folding in an extra 1/4 cup of mini marshmallows to the batter once it’s mixed. It will puff up slightly and melt, giving them even more marshmallowy goodness.
- Add more chocolate: Additionally, if you prefer the taste of chocolate, add a subtle layer of richness by shaving some chocolate on top of the marshmallows right after you pull the cookies out of the oven.
- Add a S’mores flavor: S’more lovers will enjoy this fun twist! Try adding a mini Hershey’s bar to the top and 1/4 cup chopped graham crackers to the batter. It’s SO good.
Enjoy Your Hot Chocolate Cookie Hot
The hardest part about baking is often the wait time while waiting for your cookies to cool. It seems unfair to just have them sitting there on the counter! Thankfully, that’s not the case with this dessert, however.
Make sure to enjoy your hot chocolate cookie fresh out of the oven while it’s hot—no annoying wait time required. This will give you the best flavor and ensure you get to really enjoy all the yummy gooeyness!
Recipe FAQs
As tempting as it may be to skip the chilling step, it is important! Even though these cookies don’t spread too much while baking, chilling helps the cookies to keep their shape and not overspread while baking.
Too much flour in your dough can cause dry and crumbly cookies. Remember to accurately measure all of your ingredients. Here’s how I like to measure flour.
Sure! You can use any marshmallow that you normally put in your hot cocoa. There are so many fun flavors out these days. Peppermint marshmallows or chocolate would be yummy.
Storing + Freezing
Storage: Store hot chocolate cookies in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature up to 3 days.
Freezer: Let cool completely, then add to a freezer bag or container. Store in freezer up to 3 months. Let sit at room temperature to thaw or heat in microwave or oven until warm.
Craving more chocolate treats? I got you covered with my ultimate fudge frosted brownies, the best chocolate chip cookies, and Andes mint cookies.
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Hot Chocolate Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter , softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 18 marshmallows , cut in half
Optional topping: Hershey bars broken into squares
Instructions
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed. Mix in eggs and vanilla until well combined.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Slowly pour the flour mixture into the sugar mixture and mix on low until well combined. Fold in the chocolate chips. Cover and chill 15 to 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop the dough into 1 1/2-inch balls onto the baking sheet.
- Bake 7 to 8 minutes, or until slightly crisp around the edges and soft in the middle. Remove from oven and turn oven to broil. Place marshmallow halves on top of each cookie. Broil 30 seconds to 1 minute, or just until the marshmallows are slightly toasted. You don’t want them to get too browned.
- Add Hershey squares on top of the marshmallow, if using. Let cool on the sheet 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Video
Notes
- For marshmallow lovers, try adding 1/4 cup vanilla marshmallow bits (not mini marshmallows) to the batter.
- For chocolate lovers, try adding shaved chocolate to the tops of the marshmallows.
- For s’more lovers, try adding a Hershey’s kiss and 1/4 cup chopped graham crackers to the batter.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
How many cookies does this make? It says 36 servings, but only calls for 24 marshmallow halves.
Hi Elizabeth! Thank you for catching that. It is 36 servings so I just edited it to 16 marshmallows!
Such a fun cookie! Kids love them.
Perfect for the winter! It’s one of my kids favorite snacks after playing in the snow! 10/10 recommend.
I’m so glad your kids enjoy it! Thanks for leaving a comment and review Janelle. :)
That gooey roasted marshmallow on top is HEAVENLY! So delicious!
They sound so delicious! I’m going to try to cook’em today.
Thanks for the idea.
Ooo! I bet these are just fabulous when they’re right out of the oven! What a fun holiday treat!
These look so yummy!! My kids will love them!
Those cookies do look like they would be amazing with a mug of hot cocoa :-)
These are the best cookies I have seen all day!
These are sooo adorable and creative! Perfect for a cold day in the winter! (Oh, and you’re right … toasted marshmallows are 100 times better than plain ones!)
I am going to have to make some Hot Chocolate to go with these cookies!
This would be a fun treat for the kiddos!
Thanks Jamielyn, these cookies look SO yummy I want want right now! Pinning :)
My mom, my sisters, and my niece all love chocolate and marshmallows. The more chocolate the better they will always say. These will just be perfect for them and since I am the cookie baker at Christmas, they are going to squaf these down like they were the last cookies on the planet. I give you 5 stars for this recipe!