Hot Cocoa Cookies

By garciamoss

Ingredients

• 1 stick (4 oz.) unsalted butter
• 12 ounces semisweet chocolate bars, plus 7.5 ounces cut into 1-inch squares and 5 ounces for garnish
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon espresso 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

Details

Adapted from sweetpeaskitchen.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and 12 ounces of chopped chocolate, stirring frequently, over medium heat until smooth. Let cool for 15 minutes.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder and salt.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the sugar, eggs and vanilla at low speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Mix in the cooled chocolate mixture until just blended. Add the flour mixture in 2 batches, mixing on low speed until just combined. Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour.

4. Preheat to 325 degrees F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Using a tablespoon, scoop the dough and roll between your palms to form 1-inch balls. Arrange about 16 balls 2 inches apart on each cookie sheet, flattening slightly. Bake until the tops of the cookies crack, about 12 minutes.

5. While the cookies are baking, cut 7.5 ounces of semisweet chocolate bars into 1-inch squares. Snip 8 marshmallows in half crosswise and stick 1 square of chocolate onto each of the cut sides.

6. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and gently press a marshmallow half, chocolate side down, into each cookie. Bake until the marshmallows are just softened, about 4 minutes. Transfer the pans to wire racks and grate the remaining chocolate over the hot cookies. Using a spatula, transfer the cookies to the racks; let cool 5 minutes before serving. Repeat the process with the remaining dough, marshmallows and chocolate. Bake each batch on a clean sheet of parchment. Serve warm.