These Cocoa Cookies are perfection! They are fudgy, chocolate cookies that melt in your mouth and will quickly become a Christmas staple at your house.
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Why this Hot Cocoa Cookie Recipe is a Keeper
These hot cocoa cookies are a perfect example of that type of semi-homemade cooking. They are quick, but lack nothing in the flavor department. They will become a must make cookie to add to your holiday baking.
- 5 Minute Prep: Want to make a homemade cookie in minutes? This recipe takes just 5 minutes of prep.
- Easy Ingredients: You will need six ingredients to make these cookies; All ones you have on hand!
- Family Friendly: These soft and chewy chocolate cookies are amazing, especially warm from the oven. Your kids will love them!
- Adaptable Recipe: You can make this fluffy chocolate cookie recipe with different chocolate chips and candies to make them special.
What Type of Cocoa Powder is Best for these Christmas Cookies?
You can use any kind of cocoa powder for these cookies as you are just sprinkling it on top of the cookies. I like to use Hershey’s unsweetened cocoa powder for the best chocolate cookies, but you can also use natural cocoa powder.
Ingredient Notes to Make this Recipe for Cocoa Chocolate Cookie
You will need just a few super simple ingredients to make this cookies with cocoa powder recipe. They’re all easy to find at the store, but you may even have some of the ingredients in your kitchen already.
- Brownie Mix Try any flavor or brand that you like. These have all the dry ingredients, like the granulated sugar, brown sugar and baking soda or baking powder, and will bring all the chocolate flavor.
- Cocoa Powder: A good quality dutch processed cocoa powder makes for a really rich and delicious cookie.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for Dutch Process Cocoa Powder Cookies
Preparing steps ahead of time can really help to save you time and kitchen space if you’re hosting a party!
- Make Dough: Make the dough ahead of time and refrigerate cookie dough balls for up to 24 hours until you’re ready to bake! Unbaked cookie dough balls freeze well
Special Equipment Needed for Cocoa Cookies
When you make a recipe, sometimes there’s a step that can go much faster or be easier with the right piece of kitchen equipment!
- Cookie Scoop: Use a cookie scoop, or small ice cream scoop, to scoop the perfect amount of cookie dough every single time.
Pro Tip for Chocolate Cocoa Powder Cookies
Use Room Temperature Ingredients: This will help the ingredients blend together more easily.
How to Make Cocoa Christmas Cookies
This recipe comes together in just 4 quick and easy steps. These cookies are so good, you’ll be making them every winter!
These are the basic steps for making Hot Cocoa Cookies. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Preheat Oven and Prep Pan
Preheat oven to 350°f and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
2. Make Dough Balls
Add the dry ingredients like brownie mix and add the flour, to the eggs and olive oil. Take one tablespoon of dough at a time and roll the dough into balls. Place on prepared baking sheet 2 inches apart.
3. Bake and Add Marshmallows
Bake the cookies for 5 minutes. Then, open the oven and place marshmallows onto the cookies. Bake for an additional 2 to 3 minutes then remove the cookies from the oven.
4. Let Cool on the Baking Rack and Dust with Cocoa on Cooled Cookies
Use a cookie spatula transfer the cookies from the cookie sheet to a cooling rack. Once the cookies are cooled sprinkle with dark cocoa powder.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftover Cocoa Cookies
- Storing: Store the cocoa cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week. You can also store in the fridge for about two weeks or the cookies freeze well for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: If you would like to enjoy warm cookies, you can place them on a baking sheet in the oven at 300 degrees until they’re warm.
- Using Leftovers: Enjoy leftover dutch cocoa cookies with Oreo Hot Chocolate Balls or make frozen cookies into ice cream sandwiches with marshmallow ice cream.
Variations and Substitutions for Hot Cocoa Cookie Dough
This light and fluffy cookie recipe is super easy to customize to make it your own! Try taking it to the next level by trying different ingredients and different mix-ins.
- Olive Oil: Vegetable oil or even butter can also be used in this recipe.
- Marshmallows: Sugar free, gluten free or freeze dried marshmallows are all good choices for your favorite recipe.
- Different Dusting: Instead of dusting with cocoa powder over the tops of the cookies, try using powdered sugar.
Hersheys Cocoa Cookies Recipe FAQs
Serve your new favorite cookie recipe with Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate Bombs, White Hot Chocolate with Chocolate Chips or Crock Pot Hot Chocolate.
Add caramels, peppermint stick pieces, chocolate chips or other milk chocolate candy bars.
Your cookies should already be pretty moist, but add a little sour cream to the dough to make sure they stay moist after they’re baked cookies.
Yes! In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add your ingredients and mix until combined.
Expert Tips for Making This Cocoa Christmas Cookies Recipe
- Add Mini Marshmallows: They are a fun twist, they even have fun Christmas colored ones.
- Variation: Try to whisk in a teaspoon or two of vanilla extract to the wet ingredients for even more flavor. Add the eggs and vanilla at the same time.
- Sticky Dough: If your dough is too sticky you should add more flour.
- Alternate Cooking Method: Try making this recipe in the air fryer. Especially if you only want a few fresh, hot cookies. The first batch should only take about 8 minutes.
- Add Spice: Try using a little chili powder or chipotle to taste for some heat.
- Use Flavorings: Try a little chopped mint candies, a drizzle of caramel or some espresso powder.
- Parchment Paper: If you happen to have a ton of unsalted butter wrappers, you can use those in place of a sheet of parchment paper.
- Frosting: Make a basic frosting for these soft chocolate cookies with butter and sugar in a medium bowl. You should use powdered sugar over white sugar.
Hot Cocoa Cookies
Equipment
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Ingredients
- 18 ounces Brownie mix, 1 box
- 1 ½ cup Flour
- 3 Eggs
- ⅓ cup Olive oil
- 1 cup Marshmallows
- 4 tablespoons Cocoa powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- Mix together brownie mix, eggs, olive oil, and flour. Take about one tablespoon full of dough and roll in your hand into a ball. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. About 2 inches apart works as they cookies will expand as they cook.
- Bake for 5 minutes. Open the oven and place marshmallows on to the cookies. Stick the marshmallows well into the cookie top. Bake 2 to 3 minutes and remove from oven. Using a cookie spatula remove the cookies from pan to cooling rack.
- Once the cookies are cooled sprinkle with cocoa powder.
Christina’s Notes
- Add Mini Marshmallows: They are a fun twist, they even have fun Christmas colored ones.
- Variation: Try to whisk in a teaspoon or two of vanilla extract to the wet ingredients for even more flavor. Add the eggs and vanilla at the same time.
- Sticky Dough: If your dough is too sticky you should add more flour.
- Alternate Cooking Method: Try making this recipe in the air fryer. Especially if you only want a few fresh, hot cookies. The first batch should only take about 8 minutes.
- Add Spice: Try using a little chili powder or chipotle to taste for some heat.
- Use Flavorings: Try a little chopped mint candies, a drizzle of caramel or some espresso powder.
- Parchment Paper: If you happen to have a ton of unsalted butter wrappers, you can use those in place of a sheet of parchment paper.
- Frosting: Make a basic frosting for these soft chocolate cookies with butter and sugar in a medium bowl. You should use powdered sugar over white sugar.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.