Hot Cocoa Cookies – Fudgy, Cozy & Topped With Melting Marshmallows

🎉 Introduction

These Hot Cocoa Cookies taste exactly like a mug of rich, creamy hot chocolate — but in soft, fudgy, marshmallow-topped cookie form. They’re deeply chocolatey, slightly chewy, melt-in-your-mouth soft, and crowned with gooey marshmallows that resemble tiny pillows of melted cocoa topping.

Perfect for Christmas baking, winter nights, snow days, holiday cookie boxes, or anytime you want a warm, cozy treat that feels like wrapping up in a blanket. They’re festive, nostalgic, and incredibly easy to make — destined to become a December favorite.

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Mixing bowls
• Electric mixer
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper
• Cooling rack
• Cookie scoop

🛒 Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt

Wet Ingredients

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Hot Cocoa Mix-Ins

• ½ cup chocolate chips (milk or semi-sweet)
• ½ cup hot cocoa mix (NOT instant hot chocolate drink pads — the powdered mix)

Marshmallow Topping

• 12 large marshmallows, cut in half
  or 1–1½ cups mini marshmallows

Optional Finishes

• Chocolate drizzle
• Mini chocolate chips
• Crushed candy canes
• Hot cocoa mix dusting

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1: Make the Cookie Dough

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line baking sheets with parchment.

In a bowl, whisk together:

• flour
• cocoa powder
• baking soda
• salt

Set aside.

Step 2: Cream Butter & Sugars

Beat together:

• softened butter
• granulated sugar
• brown sugar

Mix until creamy and fluffy (2–3 minutes).

Add egg and vanilla.
Mix well.

Step 3: Combine Wet & Dry

Add dry ingredients to wet, mixing on low until thick and fudgy.

Fold in:

• chocolate chips
• hot cocoa mix

Dough will be thick — perfect for fudgy cookies.

Step 4: Scoop & Bake

Scoop dough (2 tbsp balls) onto baking sheets.

Bake 8 minutes, then remove briefly.

Step 5: Add the Marshmallows

Place a marshmallow half (cut side down) in the center of each cookie.
Return to oven and bake 2–3 minutes, until marshmallows puff and soften.

Cookies will finish baking underneath.

Step 6: Cool & Decorate

Cool 10 minutes on the baking sheet for perfect chewiness.

Optional toppings:

• drizzle melted chocolate over the marshmallow
• sprinkle hot cocoa mix
• add crushed candy canes
• top with mini chocolate chips

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Makes: 20–24 cookies
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Bake Time: 10–11 minutes
• Total Time: ~20 minutes

🧊 Storage & Freezing

Room Temp: 4–5 days in airtight container

Freeze:

• Freeze baked cookies up to 2 months
• Freeze dough balls up to 3 months (add marshmallow after baking)

Reheat cookies for a “fresh hot cocoa” vibe:

• 10 seconds in the microwave → gooey again!

🥄 Variations

1. Mint Hot Cocoa Cookies
   Add peppermint extract + crushed candy canes.
2. Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa Cookies
   Add caramel bits + sprinkle flaky salt.
3. Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies
   Add cinnamon + pinch of cayenne.
4. Triple Chocolate Version
   Use dark + milk + white chocolate chips.
5. White Hot Cocoa Cookies
   Use white chocolate chips + white cocoa mix.
6. Mocha Cocoa Cookies
   Add 1 tsp instant espresso powder.
7. Stuffed Marshmallow Version
   Wrap dough around one mini marshmallow.
8. Hot Cocoa Crinkle Cookies
   Roll dough balls in powdered sugar before baking.
9. Brownie Hot Cocoa Cookies
   Add melted chocolate to the dough for extra fudginess.
10. Christmas Sprinkle Hot Cocoa Cookies
    Add festive sprinkles on top.

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Why are mine spreading too much?
   Chill dough 20 minutes.
2. Can I use hot chocolate packets?
   Yes — as long as they’re powdered.
3. Why did my marshmallows melt too much?
   Add them in the last 2–3 minutes of baking.
4. Can I use mini marshmallows?
   Yes — sprinkle on top mid-bake.
5. Can I make them ahead?
   Freeze dough balls or bake 24 hrs ahead.
6. Why are my cookies dry?
   Overbaked — remove when edges set but centers look soft.
7. Can kids help make these?
   Absolutely — fun and easy recipe.
8. Can I make them gluten-free?
   Use 1:1 GF baking flour.
9. Can I add marshmallows inside the dough?
   Yes, but freeze mini marshmallows first to prevent melting out.
10. What kind of cocoa is best?
    Dutch-process gives the deepest chocolate flavor.

🏁 Conclusion

These Hot Cocoa Cookies are soft, fudgy, marshmallow-topped bites of pure winter comfort — like your favorite warm drink turned into the perfect holiday cookie. Easy to make, fun to decorate, and unbelievably delicious, they’re guaranteed to become a yearly Christmas tradition.

A cozy cookie for cozy nights.

Hot Cocoa Cookies – Fudgy, Cozy & Topped With Melting Marshmallows

These Hot Cocoa Cookies taste exactly like a mug of rich, creamy hot chocolate — but in soft, fudgy, marshmallow-topped cookie form. They’re deeply chocolatey, slightly chewy, melt-in-your-mouth soft, and crowned with gooey marshmallows that resemble tiny pillows of melted cocoa topping. Perfect for Christmas baking, winter nights, snow days, holiday cookie boxes, or anytime you want a warm, cozy treat that feels like wrapping up in a blanket. They’re festive, nostalgic, and incredibly easy to make — destined to become a December favorite.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Servings: 20 Cookies

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

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Ingredients

  

Dry Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• Wet Ingredients
• ½ cup unsalted butter softened
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Hot Cocoa Mix-Ins
• ½ cup chocolate chips milk or semi-sweet
• ½ cup hot cocoa mix NOT instant hot chocolate drink pads — the powdered mix

Marshmallow Topping

• 12 large marshmallows cut in half
• or 1–1½ cups mini marshmallows

Optional Finishes

• Chocolate drizzle
• Mini chocolate chips
• Crushed candy canes
• Hot cocoa mix dusting

Get Our Best App for Daily Great Recipes 🍽️

Discover warm, delicious, home-style meals — fresh recipes added every day inside Jacky’s Kitchen.

Coming Soon

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Electric mixer
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper
• Cooling rack
• Cookie scoop

Method

 

Step 1: Make the Cookie Dough

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Line baking sheets with parchment.
3. In a bowl, whisk together:
4. flour
5. cocoa powder
6. baking soda
7. salt
8. Set aside.

Step 2: Cream Butter & Sugars

1. Beat together:
2. softened butter
3. granulated sugar
4. brown sugar
5. Mix until creamy and fluffy (2–3 minutes).
6. Add egg and vanilla.
7. Mix well.

Step 3: Combine Wet & Dry

1. Add dry ingredients to wet, mixing on low until thick and fudgy.
2. Fold in:
3. chocolate chips
4. hot cocoa mix
5. Dough will be thick — perfect for fudgy cookies.

Step 4: Scoop & Bake

1. Scoop dough (2 tbsp balls) onto baking sheets.
2. Bake 8 minutes, then remove briefly.

Step 5: Add the Marshmallows

1. Place a marshmallow half (cut side down) in the center of each cookie.
2. Return to oven and bake 2–3 minutes, until marshmallows puff and soften.
3. Cookies will finish baking underneath.

Step 6: Cool & Decorate

1. Cool 10 minutes on the baking sheet for perfect chewiness.
2. Optional toppings:
3. drizzle melted chocolate over the marshmallow
4. sprinkle hot cocoa mix
5. add crushed candy canes
6. top with mini chocolate chips

Notes

🧊 Storage & Freezing

Room Temp: 4–5 days in airtight container

Freeze:

Freeze baked cookies up to 2 months

Freeze dough balls up to 3 months (add marshmallow after baking)

Reheat cookies for a “fresh hot cocoa” vibe:

10 seconds in the microwave → gooey again!

🥄 Variations

Mint Hot Cocoa Cookies
Add peppermint extract + crushed candy canes.

Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa Cookies
Add caramel bits + sprinkle flaky salt.

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies
Add cinnamon + pinch of cayenne.

Triple Chocolate Version
Use dark + milk + white chocolate chips.

White Hot Cocoa Cookies
Use white chocolate chips + white cocoa mix.

Mocha Cocoa Cookies
Add 1 tsp instant espresso powder.

Stuffed Marshmallow Version
Wrap dough around one mini marshmallow.

Hot Cocoa Crinkle Cookies
Roll dough balls in powdered sugar before baking.

Brownie Hot Cocoa Cookies
Add melted chocolate to the dough for extra fudginess.

Christmas Sprinkle Hot Cocoa Cookies
Add festive sprinkles on top.

❓ 10 FAQs

Why are mine spreading too much?
Chill dough 20 minutes.

Can I use hot chocolate packets?
Yes — as long as they’re powdered.

Why did my marshmallows melt too much?
Add them in the last 2–3 minutes of baking.

Can I use mini marshmallows?
Yes — sprinkle on top mid-bake.

Can I make them ahead?
Freeze dough balls or bake 24 hrs ahead.

Why are my cookies dry?
Overbaked — remove when edges set but centers look soft.

Can kids help make these?
Absolutely — fun and easy recipe.

Can I make them gluten-free?
Use 1:1 GF baking flour.

Can I add marshmallows inside the dough?
Yes, but freeze mini marshmallows first to prevent melting out.

What kind of cocoa is best?
Dutch-process gives the deepest chocolate flavor.

🏁 Conclusion

These Hot Cocoa Cookies are soft, fudgy, marshmallow-topped bites of pure winter comfort — like your favorite warm drink turned into the perfect holiday cookie. Easy to make, fun to decorate, and unbelievably delicious, they’re guaranteed to become a yearly Christmas tradition.

A cozy cookie for cozy nights.