Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies (Easy Recipe) (2024)

Hot Cocoa Cookies are the perfect cookie for the holidays.

A rich chocolate cookie that is studded with dehydrated marshmallows and chocolate chips in each bite.

Serve up as a dessert, pack in a gift box for loved ones, or plate up for Santa! Either way, these rich cookies will tickle your tastebuds.

Now if you are on the hunt for easier dessert ideas try my classic peppermint bark, or these meringue Christmas tree cookies. Both are great desserts for the Christmas season.

This recipe would be a great one for Christmas Cookie Exchange Parties too!

Reasons You Will Love These Hot Cocoa Cookies

• A made-from-scratch cookie that is full of rich chocolate and marshmallow flavors in each bite.
• Great for packing in a treat tin to gift at the holidays with Christmas recipes.
• These cookies are made with hot cocoa mix, for a real cocoa flavor.
• Soft-baked cookies that offer a nice chewy texture.

Ingredients

• Butter – Real butter is recommended for this recipe. If you use salted butter then leave out the salt in the cookie recipe.
• Sugar – Brown sugar and granulated sugar are both used to create dimension to the cookie batter.
• Eggs – Large room-temperature eggs are what I used.
• Flour – Make sure to measure your flour properly for this recipe. Scoop the flour into the measuring cup and then use a knife to level it off.
• Cocoa Mix – Reach for your favorite brand of hot cocoa mix to add to the cookie dough batter.
• Baking Powder – You will use baking powder to help the cookies rise to a fluffy texture.
• Chocolate Chips – Semi-sweet chocolate chips are what I used for this cookie recipe for the ultimate chocolate flavor.
• Dehydrated Marshmallows – You can buy these in the baking aisle or shop online. These are the perfect marshmallow for the cookies.
• Salt – A sprinkle of salt is going to help balance and bring out the flavors of the ingredients.

How to Make

Full steps on how to make these Hot Cocoa Cookies are in the printable recipe card.

This is a quick walk-through on how it is made.

Step 1: In a stand mixer or bow mix your butter, and sugars on medium speed until light and creamy.

Step 2: Add in eggs and extract, scraping down the sides of the bowl.

Step 3: Next work in the dry ingredients making sure to mix completely.

Step 4: Fold in the chocolate chips and marshmallows. Then cover the dough and refrigerate.

Step 5: Preheat oven and then scoop up cookies as directed.

Step 6: Bake and then let cookies cool on the baking sheet. Then move to a cooling rack.

Tips for Making Cookies

• Make sure to take the time to cream the butter and sugar together for a few minutes. This helps create a richer flavor for the cookies but also the texture is enhanced.
• Scrape the sides of the bowl to help remove any stuck-on ingredients.
• Once your dry ingredients are mixed, don’t overmix the batter. It will make the cookies dense and affect the result.
• Refrigerating the cookie dough is a must. Otherwise, the cookies will spread too much as they bake up.
• Allowing the cookies to cool a bit on the cookie sheet helps prevent the cookies from losing shape when you scoop, and move them to the cooling rack.

Storing

These hot cocoa cookies are able to be stored at room temperature in a sealed container for up to 5 days.

These cookies are best eaten within the first few days as they will dry out a bit.

How to Freeze Cookies

Or you can go a step further and freeze the cookies if you would like.

Freeze in a freezer bag or container for 4-5 months.

Then thaw on the counter when you want to eat them, or eat straight from the freezer.

MORE CHRISTMAS COOKIE RECIPES

If you like these yummy Christmas treats, you’ll love these ones too:

• Thin Mints Cookies– This is a copycat Girl Scout Thin Mints recipe.
• Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies– These cookies are the perfect treat to have on hand during the holiday season.
• Frosted Gingersnap Cookies– This old-fashioned Recipe for Gingersnap Cookies is a Christmas cookie classic.
• Melted Snowman Cookies– These cookies are SO simple to make and look great sitting on the dessert table!
• Gingerbread House Cookies– These are not quick and easy cookies to make, they require some extra effort and time, but the results are SO worth the wait!
• Ultimate Peanut Butter Cookies– This is a tried and true, soft and chewy peanut butter cookie.
• – These classic M&M Cookies are a must-have during the holidays, and they are super easy to make.
• Classic Snowball Cookies– A melt-in-your-mouth delicious cookie studded with chopped walnuts and rolled in sweet powdered sugar.