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.
Why You Will Love this Recipe
- Festive Flavors | Hot chocolate season! Curl up with a rich mug of hot cocoa paired with these hot chocolate cookies and taste all the sweet flavors of winter!
- Easy Recipe | No melting of chocolate, we use hot cocoa mix instead, you won’t even need unsweetened cocoa powder.
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!
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Fresh Tips
- DON’T RUSH | It’s best not to rush the recipe—Don’t skip chilling the cookie dough before scooping it onto the sheet. Otherwise, the cookies will spread a little too much, resulting in a thinner and wider shape – which may affect how they bake.
- Marshmallow Fluff Tip | Start with a smaller amount when topping hot cocoa cookies, you can always add more if preferred. Marshmallow fluff spreads and flattens over the surface of the cookies and will run off the sides and make quite a mess if you use too much.
These cookies have been tested at sea level and high altitude, adjust accordingly. I bake at 5280 feet above sea level.
High Altitude Tips Hot Chocolate Cookies
- Increase the oven temperature to 375 degrees F. Typically I bake my cookies a little less. Be sure to keep an eye on them to avoid over-baking the recipe.
- Increase flour by 2 level tablespoons
- Decrease baking soda to ¾ teaspoon
- Decrease baking powder to ¾ teaspoon
- Decrease granulated sugar to ¾ cup
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
Yes! That’s exactly what we did here, substituted hot cocoa mix (powder) in place of cocoa powder, reducing the sugar slightly as well. You can typically substitute it for cocoa powder in many recipes.
You sure can! Replace the flour with a good all-purpose gluten free flour, and you’ve got yourself a gluten-free version of this tasty recipe! Most hot chocolate mixes will be gluten-free, you’ll want to double-check.
These hot chocolate cookies are perfect for making into jumbo cookies! All you need to do is double-scoop (or triple) the dough onto the cookie sheet and slightly adjust the baking time. Check out my Oreo Crumbl Cookie recipe for tips and tricks about making delicious giant cookies.
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!
What to serve with Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
These hot cocoa cookies are best enjoyed with a steaming cup of hot chocolate or another seasonal drink. Here are some of my delicious recipes to pair with these cookies:
- Starbucks White Hot Chocolate Recipe
- Hot Buttered Rum (made with our without alcohol)
- Homemade Chai Tea Latte or this Christmas Morning Chai Latte!
- This easy Wassail Hot Cider Recipe is so good!
- Chocolate brownie ice cream
- Moose Tracks Ice Cream Recipe {No Churn}
- Easy Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe
- Old-Fashioned Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
- Don’t forget if you are making a sundae to add the homemade hot fudge!
I hope you loved this Hot Chocolate Cookie Recipe — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? 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.
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Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened, use real butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar reduce to ¾ cup high altitude
- ½ cup brown sugar packed, light or dark
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour + 2 tablespoons for high altitude
- ¾ cup hot chocolate mix I like Silly Cow All-Natural Hot Cocoa mix
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder ¾ teaspoon for high altitude
- 1 teaspoon baking soda ¾ teaspoon for high altitude
Optional Toppings
- marshmallow fluff or marshmallow creme
- candy canes crushed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (375 for high altitude). Line several cookie sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, or in a stand mixer cream butter and sugars on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs, beating 1 minute between each egg, then mix in vanilla extract.
- Whisk together flour, salt, hot chocolate mix, baking powder and baking soda in a medium bowl. Then with mixer on low, add ½ cup of dry mixture to butter mixture, mixing only until all dry ingredients are incorporated. Don't overmix.
- Cover dough and chill in refrigerator for one hour.
- Use a small or medium cookie scoop and form one inch dough balls, place 1 inch apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes (8-10 for high altitude). Let cookies cool on baking sheet 2 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.
- Drop a small spoonful of marshmallow fluff onto the middle of each cooled cookie. Garnish with dehydrated mini marshmallows and crushed candy canes if desired.
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Notes
- Increase flour by 2 tablespoons
- Decrease baking soda to ¾ teaspoon
- Decrease baking powder to ¾ teaspoon
- Decrease granulated sugar to ¾ cup
- Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes – don’t over bake
- Do not use too much marshmallow fluff on the cookie tops. Start with a little and add more, too much and it will run off the sides.
- You can freeze the cookies for up to three months without topping. Apply topping when ready to eat after cookies have thawed.
Nutrition
Becky Boman
Made these yesterday and took to a cookie exchange. They were a hit!!! And I might add, I got a prize! Let me just say, this is the perfect taste of hot cocoa in cookie form – ooey, gooey marshmallows, cocoa cookie with a touch of crushed peppermint on top. Yummy!
Thank you so much, Becky! So glad you loved them!!! Merry Christmas. ????
Jamie
These turned out so good! I baked these hot chocolate cookies over the weekend and enjoyed them with hot chocolate. So delicious!
Perfect!
Sara Welch
Whipped up a batch of these and they were a sweet success! Such a fun and festive treat for the holidays; will make excellent gifts this year, indeed!
Love to hear that, thank you so much and yes, they make great gifts!
Sharon
This is such a cute idea! The platter turned out beautiful and was ooohed and ahhhed at when I brought it for our kids party. Thanks so much!
So glad you enjoyed them!
Gina Abernathy
These are so cute and festive. I am a huge fan of marshmallow fluff.
Thanks Gina!
Charles
Wow! Hot Chocolate Cookies! This is my first time hearing of these! I cannot wait to pair them with a frothy mug of hot chocolate! Thanks
Hope you love them!
Jamie
The marshmallow fluff was so good on these cookies! My niece loved making these with me. Thank you!
So glad you loved them and so fun to make them with your niece!
Chenée
These cookies look so good and they will be perfect as part of our Christmas Eve movie night! Thank you so much!
So perfect, thank you Chenee!
Kris
These were so tasty and the kiddos loved them! Will make again!
Wonderful, thank you so much Kris!
Vicky
Is there anything better than a cup of hot cocoa on a cold winter’s day? There is when you add one of these cookies. All of my favorite hot cocoa flavors complete with candy canes in a few bites. The perfect holiday cookie!
Exactly! Thanks so much Vicky!
Jen
My kids love these cookies. The marshmallow fluff on top is their favorite!
Mine too! Thanks so much Jen!