Social Kitchen

We made bets last night.  Cookies were at stake.  The bet was to guess how much snow the northeast would get, city by city.  I clearly did not have much faith in the strength of this storm named Nemo, because I lost.  By a lot.

So I owe a lot of cookies to a lot of people.  Which is just fine because my informal poll shows that baking is one of the top snow day activities ever!  After playing in the snow, and coming back in to drink hot chocolate, that is.  But I’m about to say something controversial: hot chocolate is never all that satisfying.

No, people, I don’t hate hot chocolate and childhood memories, really.  But, eh, hot chocolate?  Just to get a warm treat?  The concept is so pleasing and delicious sounding – a steaming mug of chocolate liquid topped with melty marshmallows.  But does it ever live up to that?  I mean, let’s think about this together – hot chocolate that comes out of the packets is usually too thin if you “just add water,” and is always too sweet.  And hot chocolate made from the fancier cocoas are usually too thick and makes you feel uncomfortably full.

Hello?  Are you still there?  Sigh, I realize that I may be on my own in this.  But here I am giving you one better!  Warm, gooey, hot chocolate cookies (made with the aforementioned packets that will give you back your happy childhood memories…okay?) with an even warmer and gooier marshmallow on top.  Seriously, these warm, out-of-the-oven treats could beat out a warm cup of milk or water any day.  And we’re combining the two most beloved snow day activities (again, informal poll)!  Best snow day ever.

Hot Chocolate Cookies (recipe from A Pastry Affair)

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter
12 ounces (2 cups), a mix of dark and semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 packets hot cocoa mix
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
18 large marshmallows, cut in half
Chocolate shavings (optional)

In a small pot, melt together butter and chocolate chips over low heat. Stir until smooth and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat together brown sugar and eggs, until light in color and double in volume. Add vanilla extract and stir. Slowly incorporate flour, hot cocoa mix, baking powder, and salt. Mix in melted chocolate. Refrigerate cookie dough for 1 hour to solidify.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Scoop cookie dough by the tablespoon-full onto a baking sheet. Flatten each cooke dough ball slightly.  Bake for 12 minutes, or until cookie tops begin to crack. Pull cookies out from oven and press one marshmallow, cut-side down onto each cookie. Bake cookies for an additional 4-5 minutes, or until marshmallows are softened. Sprinkle chocolate shavings on top, if desired.

Serve warm or room temperature.  You should highly consider warming the cookie up in the microwave before eating, to get the warm, gooey, hot chocolatey taste.

This entry was posted on February 9, 2013 at 11:33 am and is filed under Uncategorized.