Hot Cho Cookies

I don't know about you but I am not a fan of the way that Winter is playing peek a boo this year.  Severe snow storms one day and signs of early spring the next, no one likes a tease mother nature. So if you're struggling with this whole Winter thing as much as me, hopefully you'll find comfort in these easy & delicious hot chocolate cookies.

Yes that is correct, actual hot chocolate in these cookies.  I literally can not describe how wonderful these chewy cookies truly are. The best chocolate cookie I've had by far, and topped with marshmallows? Crazy delicious.

I recently bought a bulk bag of Raw Sugar from Costco and I've been extremely excited to use it. The recipe I originally found called for brown sugar, but I did some work to make my own with the raw sugar. 

Don't fret when I say made my own. By that I simply mean that I combined a bit of raw sugar with a bit of maple syrup before I mixed it with the butter. If you don't have raw sugar, and you'd prefer to use brown sugar, no problem. Same goes for if you choose to combine granulated with maple syrup as well. 

The cookies don't take long to bake, and they come out much flatter than when they go in, so be sure to spread them out and give them plenty of room to expand. 

And of course, what is a cup of hot cocoa without a few marshmallows on top? After they've baked and you've let them cool a bit, you'll top them with mini marshmallows. And if your previous cooking experience is anything like mine you'll use the broiler on the oven for once in your life to toast the marshmallows. Watch them carefully as they toast though, they are very easily burnt.

Fun fact: if you bake (rather than broil) any baked goods with marshmallows they'll expand while they are in the oven and they'll disappear when they cool after they come out. Hence, broiling to enjoy these toasted marshmallows on top.

And there you have them. The wonderful hot chocolate cookie. So stay warm and toasty, they're predicting 50's this weekend but I'm just not convinced that it will last just yet. 

And here's the recipe to save for your next snow day: 

1 cup raw sugar & 2 tablespoons maple syrup (OR 1 cup granulated & 2 tbsp syrup OR 1 cup packed brown sugar)

1/2 cup or 1 stick butter, softened
2 eggs
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 packets hot cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup mini marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together sugar (and maple syrup if applicable), and butter until creamy. Add the eggs and the vanilla. Combine the cocoa powder and cocoa mix and add to the wet ingredients. Mix together remaining dry ingredients, and add to the rest of the dough. 

Place tablespoon sized cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet (with plenty of room for expansion) and cook for 10-12 minutes. 

Switch oven to broiler.

Once the cookies have cooled a bit, top with mini marshmallows and place as close to the broiler as possible, watching carefully as the marshmallows puff and turn golden brown. (This happens quickly so keep a close eye)

Voila, hot chocolate cookies to enjoy with your hot chocolate on that snow day we're all hoping won't happen again, but lets be real it probably will. (I should also mention that if hot chocolate isn't your thing, stay tuned for chai spice snickerdoodles coming soon. :) )

Nomnomnom until next time. 

recipe adapted from: http://eclecticrecipes.com/hot-chocolate-cookies