Hot Chocolate Cookies — The Ultimate Cozy Winter Treat
There’s nothing more comforting on a chilly day than wrapping your hands around a warm mug of hot cocoa. Now imagine capturing that same nostalgic, chocolatey, marshmallow-stuffed goodness inside a soft and chewy cookie. Hot Chocolate Cookies are the perfect (new) way to warm up your taste buds over the holidays. Featuring rich cocoa and pockets of gooey marshmallows, these cookies taste exactly like everyone’s favorite winter drink — but in dessert form!
These Hot Chocolate Cookies are the ideal treat for cookie exchanges, gifting, cozy movie nights, and holiday celebrations. They’re soft in the center, lightly crisp around the edges, rolled in sugar for sparkle, and filled with melty marshmallows that ooze with every bite. Whether you’re baking with kids or prepping for a festive gathering, this recipe guarantees smiles all around.
📌 Why You’ll Love These Hot Chocolate Cookies
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✔️ Easy to make — simple pantry ingredients
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✔️ No chilling required — faster from bowl to oven
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✔️ Extra chocolate flavor from both cocoa powder & hot cocoa mix
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✔️ Marshmallow center for the ultimate gooey surprise
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✔️ Perfect for winter & holiday baking
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✔️ Freezer-friendly — bake ahead for parties
If you love hot cocoa, just wait until you try these cookies!
📝 Key Ingredients for Hot Chocolate Cookies
To make this recipe authentic and delicious, we combine both hot chocolate mix and unsweetened cocoa powder. Then we tuck marshmallows inside for gooey goodness!
Here’s what you’ll need:
Dry Ingredients
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All-purpose flour — creates structure
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Hot chocolate mix — brings nostalgic hot cocoa flavor
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Unsweetened cocoa powder — adds deep chocolate richness
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Baking soda — helps the cookies rise and crack beautifully
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Kosher salt — balances sweetness & enhances chocolate taste
Wet Ingredients
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Unsalted butter — softened for that perfect creamed texture
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Light brown sugar — helps keep cookies soft & chewy
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Granulated sugar — adds sparkle and structure
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Egg — binds ingredients together
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Vanilla extract — rounds out the flavor
Mix-Ins
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Mini marshmallows — the heart of every hot chocolate treat
Pro tip: Use fresh mini marshmallows — stale ones won’t melt as well.
🍪 Hot Chocolate Cookies — Recipe Card
Hot Chocolate Cookies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Resting Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Ingredients
1x / 2x / 3x options included
| Ingredient | 1x | 2x | 3x |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsalted butter (softened) | 10 Tbsp | 20 Tbsp | 30 Tbsp |
| Light brown sugar | ½ cup | 1 cup | 1 ½ cups |
| Granulated sugar (divided) | ¾ cup | 1 ½ cups | 2 ¼ cups |
| Egg | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Vanilla extract | 1 tsp | 2 tsp | 3 tsp |
| All-purpose flour | 2 ¼ cups | 4 ½ cups | 6 ¾ cups |
| Hot chocolate mix | 1 packet (1 oz) | 2 packets | 3 packets |
| Unsweetened cocoa powder | 3 Tbsp | 6 Tbsp | 9 Tbsp |
| Baking soda | ½ tsp | 1 tsp | 1 ½ tsp |
| Kosher salt | ½ tsp | 1 tsp | 1 ½ tsp |
| Mini marshmallows | 120 | 240 | 360 |
Instructions
1️⃣ Prep
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
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Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
2️⃣ Cream Butter & Sugars
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Beat butter, brown sugar, and ½ cup granulated sugar until soft and fluffy (2–3 minutes)
3️⃣ Mix Wet Ingredients
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Add egg and vanilla extract
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Beat just until combined
4️⃣ Add Dry Ingredients
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Mix in flour, hot chocolate mix, cocoa powder, baking soda & salt
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Do not overmix — stop when dough forms
5️⃣ Stuff Marshmallows
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Scoop dough into 24 portions (1½–2 Tbsp each)
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Flatten into discs & add 5–6 mini marshmallows in the center
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Wrap dough around marshmallows, pinching seams shut
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Roll into smooth balls
6️⃣ Coat & Bake
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Roll dough balls in remaining ¼ cup granulated sugar
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Bake 10–12 minutes, or until tops crack & marshmallows peek through
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Remove and cool 15 minutes before serving
🔥 Expert Tips for the Best Hot Chocolate Cookies
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Use a cookie scoop for uniform baking
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Don’t overbake — they should look slightly underdone when pulled from the oven
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Cool on the tray to allow marshmallows to set
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If marshmallows leak out, gently reshape while warm
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For extra gooey results → press a few more marshmallows on top immediately after baking
🍫 Ingredient Substitutions
| If You Don’t Have… | Try This Instead |
|---|---|
| Hot chocolate mix | Extra Tbsp of cocoa + 1 Tbsp powdered sugar |
| Mini marshmallows | Cut regular marshmallows |
| Brown sugar | Add 1 tsp molasses to white sugar |
| Kosher salt | ¼ tsp table salt |
Want a richer chocolate treat? Swap mini marshmallows for chocolate-filled marshmallows!
🎄 Seasonal Variations
| Variation | What to Add |
|---|---|
| Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies | Add crushed candy canes + peppermint drizzle |
| Mocha Hot Chocolate Cookies | Add 1 tsp espresso powder |
| S’mores Hot Chocolate Cookies | Add crushed graham cracker crumbs |
| Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies | Add cinnamon + pinch of cayenne |
| Double Chocolate Chunk | Add chocolate chips inside and out |
These are the ultimate holiday baking canvas!
🍪 Make-Ahead, Storage & Freezing
Storage
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Keep cookies in an airtight container
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Stay fresh 4–5 days at room temperature
Freezing Dough Balls
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Freeze stuffed cookie dough up to 2 months
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Bake from frozen: add 2 extra minutes to bake time
Freezing Baked Cookies
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Freeze up to 3 months — thaw at room temperature
Tip: To refresh softness, warm in the microwave 5–7 seconds.
💡 Troubleshooting Guide
| Issue | Why It Happens | Fix It |
|---|---|---|
| Marshmallow leakage | Seams not sealed | Pinch dough tighter |
| Dry cookies | Overbaked | Reduce bake time |
| Flat cookies | Butter too soft | Chill dough 10 minutes |
| Marshmallows disappear | They melted fully | Add some on top after baking |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use different hot cocoa flavors?
Absolutely! Try salted caramel, dark chocolate, or peppermint cocoa mix.
Can I add chocolate chips?
Yes — mix 1 cup into the dough for extra indulgence.
Can I use natural vs Dutch-processed cocoa?
Natural cocoa works best here because baking soda needs acidity.
Can kids help make these cookies?
They’ll love stuffing the marshmallows inside!
🥛 What to Serve with Hot Chocolate Cookies
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A warm mug of hot cocoa (double the chocolate joy!)
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Holiday cocktails for grown-ups
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A cozy winter charcuterie board of sweets
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Ice cream sandwiches in peppermint or vanilla
They’re a hit at cookie exchanges and holiday dessert tables.
PrintHot Chocolate Cookies — The Ultimate Cozy Winter Treat
Warm up your holiday season with these soft, chewy Hot Chocolate Cookies—the perfect way to enjoy the cozy flavor of hot cocoa in cookie form! Each cookie features a rich chocolate dough wrapped around gooey mini marshmallows for the ultimate winter treat. Perfect for Christmas cookie trays, cookie swaps, holiday parties, or simply enjoying with a mug of cocoa.
Ingredients
(1x batch)
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▢ 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
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▢ ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
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▢ ¾ cup granulated sugar, divided
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▢ 1 large egg
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▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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▢ 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
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▢ 1 ounce packet hot chocolate mix
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▢ 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
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▢ ½ teaspoon baking soda
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▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
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▢ 120 mini marshmallows
Instructions
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Prep
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. -
Cream the Butter & Sugars
In a large bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, and ½ cup of the granulated sugar until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes). -
Add Wet Ingredients
Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until smooth and combined. -
Add Dry Ingredients
Add flour, hot chocolate mix, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix until a soft dough forms—avoid overmixing. -
Shape Cookies
Use a 1½ – 2 tbsp cookie scoop to portion 24 dough balls. Flatten into discs. -
Add Marshmallows
Place 5–6 mini marshmallows in the center of each disc, wrap the dough around them, and pinch to seal. Roll into smooth balls. -
Coat in Sugar
Roll each dough ball in the remaining ¼ cup granulated sugar to coat. -
Bake
Place on prepared baking sheet several inches apart and bake 10–12 minutes, until tops are crackled and marshmallows peek through. -
Cool
Allow cookies to cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
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Seal well: Ensure marshmallows are fully enclosed to prevent too much oozing.
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Don’t overbake: Slightly underbaked equals a softer, gooier center.
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Extra gooey option: Add a few extra marshmallows on top right after baking.
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Chill if needed: If dough feels too soft, chill for 15 minutes before shaping.
Final Thoughts — Hot Chocolate Cookies
If you’re looking for the perfect winter baking recipe that captures the magic of the holidays in every bite, these Hot Chocolate Cookies are it. They’re warm, melty, chewy, and full of nostalgic cocoa flavor. With a gooey marshmallow surprise in the center, they transform a classic seasonal drink into a handheld dessert everyone will crave.
Bake up a batch for your next gathering — and make sure to set a few aside for yourself because they disappear fast! Pair them with a cozy drink, a fuzzy blanket, and your favorite holiday movie, and enjoy every chocolatey bite.
