These sweet and chocolatey Christmas cookies are a must-make treat to add to your holiday baking list. Hot Chocolate Cookies are rich and tender and super easy to make with hot chocolate mix.

These holiday cookies are the closest thing you’ll get to hot cocoa in a cookie format. They have a sweet fudgy flavor and are studded with chocolate chips and marshmallows. If you love hot chocolate, you are going to want to try these amazing cookies!

I love eating them while they are still warm with all the melty chocolate. The edges are crisp and the inside is soft. Pair this easy hot cocoa cookie recipe with a mug of hot chocolate and cozy up for some sweet comfort food.

Need a hot chocolate recipe? I recommend Cinnamon Hot Chocolate or Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate.

Ingredients

To make this simple cookie recipe, you’ll need these ingredients.

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Unsalted butter – Make sure it’s softened so it’s easy to cream together with the brown sugar.
Brown sugar – Dark or light brown sugar is fine.
Eggs – I use large eggs.
Vanilla extract – My preference is pure vanilla extract, but artificial vanilla extract is ok, too. I have a recipe on how to make your own homemade vanilla extract.
Hot chocolate mix with marshmallows – You’ll need to sift out the marshmallows to use for the cookie topping. I used Nestle Carnation Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows for this recipe.
Unsweetened cocoa powder
All-purpose flour
Baking powder
Salt
Semi-sweet chocolate chips

Use extra melted chocolate chips for drizzling and sprinkles for garnish, if desired.

ingredients to make hot chocolate cookies

How to Make

The full printable recipe card can be found at the bottom of the post.

1. Preheat oven to 350F.

2. In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar with a mixer on medium speed.

3. Add in vanilla and eggs and beat until combined.

4. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

5. Add the sifted hot chocolate mix (not the marshmallows) and unsweetened cocoa powder to the batter. Beat with the mixer on medium speed until combined.

6. Add half the flour mixture to the bowl and continue mixing on medium low until combined. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix again. Be careful to not over mix.

7. Stir in chocolate chips.

8. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Using a medium cookie scoop or a heaping tablespoon, drop cookie dough 1 inch apart on the cookie sheets. You should have 15 cookies per sheet.

9. Add 5 of the reserved marshmallows from the hot chocolate mix to the top of each cookie.

10. Bake for 10 to 11 minutes until lightly golden around the edges. Leave on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes to set and then transfer to a cooling rack.

11. For a festive touch, melt 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 15 second increments until melted. Transfer melted chocolate to a zip-top sandwich bag. Cut a tiny hole in one of the corners of the bag. Drizzle chocolate on the cookies and then garnish with sprinkles, if desired.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

These kitchen tools will help you make this recipe.

How to Store

Store your hot chocolate cookies in an airtight container on the kitchen counter for up to 5 days. They are great cookies to bring to a holiday cookie exchange!

If you know you’re having guests, feel free to make them in advance to their advance. As long as you store them properly, they should be fine.

Can You Freeze

Yes, you can freeze these cookies! Allow the cookies to cool completely and come to room temperature.

Place the cookies on a flat parchment lined surface like a baking sheet and put in the freezer.

Once the cookies are frozen, place them in layers in an airtight container. Place a piece of parchment paper or wax paper in between each layer.

Store the cookies in your freeze for up to three months.

Variations

If you can’t find hot chocolate mix with marshmallows, you can add some mini marshmallows to the tops of the cookies right after baking. Make sure to add them while the cookies are still warm. I don’t recommend baking them in the cookie because they will just melt everywhere and not look as nice.
If you can find dehydrated marshmallows, add them into the dough. Amazon has quite a few varieties.
Add some extra chocolate chips to the tops of the cookies right after they come out of the oven. They will melt slightly and add an extra element of chocolatey sweetness.

How to Serve

Hot Chocolate Cookies are yummy on their own. You could also serve them with a mug of hot chocolate for dipping. So decadent!

They also pair well if any type of hot coffee beverage. Try them with a Mocha Latte or Cinnamon Cappuccino.

Warning! They are addicting. This recipe makes 30 cookies, but you can easily double or triple it if you need to.

Christmas Cookies

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If you make the recipe, rate it on the recipe card below and tag me on Instagram and use #simplystacie. I like sharing the photos on my Instagram stories!

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Hot Chocolate Cookies