Hot Chocolate Cookie Recipes That Are A Must Try!

Hot chocolate just may be the drink of the season, more so even than egg nog. The warm, rich and creamy substance makes any day better. For those more adventurous types, homemade hot chocolate may be the ticket, for others the pre-measured packets do just fine.

But what else can be done with the chocolaty goodness? Betty Crocker has a cupcake mix available, and it is pretty tasty.

Yet, cookies are a seasonal favorite, and my favorite too. And what’s better than hot chocolate cookies?

The first recipe comes from Swiss Miss®, an iconic name in the the hot cocoa business.

Hot Cocoa Cookies (Swiss Miss®)

• 1-1/4 cups butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3-1/4 cups flour
• 3/4 cup or 4 envelopes Swiss Miss® Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix (Do not use No Sugar Added mix)
• 1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup semi–sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup Kraft® Jet-Puffed® Vanilla Mallow Bits

As with most bakery tasks, start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. While the oven is getting p to temperature add your sugars and butter into your mixing bowl and beat thoroughly. When the mixture lightens in color and becomes fluffy add your eggs and vanilla. Mix those in well. Next, add the flour, the hot chocolate mixes, baking soda, and baking powder. Once added, beat the mixture until blended. After all ingredients are combined gently stir in the chocolate chips and Mallow bits. The batter has to chill, covered, in the refrigerator for about an hour before they are ready to bake. Once everything has cooled down, drop two tablespoons of dough two inches apart on your baking sheets. Bake the cookies 9-11 minutes. Let them cool on the pan for five minutes before placing them on a cooling rack. This recipe makes 48 cookies.

Rachel Ray Magazine isn’t being left out of this hot chocolate party. The magazine’s website offers up a decadent, from-scratch cookie that is a beauty.

Hot Cocoa Cookies (Rachel Ray Magazine)

• 1 stick (4 oz.) unsalted butter
• 7 – 3 1/2 ounce bars semisweet chocolate 12 oz. chopped, 7.5 oz. cut into 1-inch squares and the rest for garnish
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups (packed) light brown sugar
• 3 eggs, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 30 marshmallows

In a medium sauce pan melt the butter and chopped chocolate over medium heat. Be sure to stir frequently to prevent burning and allow for even melting. Once melted, let the butter and chocolate mixture cool for 15 minutes. In a bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder. Set aside and, using an electric mixer, slowly blend together the eggs, sugar, and vanilla. You’ll need to blend the melted chocolate into the eggs and sugar. Next, add the dry ingredients in two batches and mixed until just combined. Refrigerate the batter for at least one hour. While the batter cools down, start preheating the oven to 325 degrees. Be sure to position the oven rack in the upper third of the oven.

Line cookies sheets with parchment and begin doling out the dough. Take a tablespoon of dough and roll it between your palms to form balls and line them along the pan, about two inches apart. Flatten them slightly before baking for 12 minutes, or until the tops of the cookies are just cracked. Take a square of the left over chocolate and half of a marshmallow (just snip the marshmallow in two), and place on the cookies. The chocolate goes in first, and makes sure the cut side of the marshmallow is pressed into the cookie. Bake for another four minutes or until the marshmallows soften. Let cool for five minutes before shaving chocolate over the still warm cookies. Using a spatula, transfer the hot chocolate cookies to a cooling rack to rest. This recipes makes 60 cookies.

Hot chocolate in any form is delicious. Whether you are making a more simple cookie or breaking out all of your baking skills, these recipes are sure to be a hit at any holiday gathering. The only question you must ask is if you will be having hot chocolate with your hot chocolate… cookies. Enjoy.

[Image via commons.wikipedia.org]