Description

Hot Chocolate Cookies are soft, chewy treats bursting with rich cocoa flavor reminiscent of your favorite hot chocolate drink. Easy to make with simple ingredients, these cookies offer melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and delightful chocolate chips, making them perfect for any season and ideal for sharing with friends and family.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend for gluten-free version)
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips or chunks (regular, dairy-free, or mint-flavored as preferred)

Instructions

Prepare Your Ingredients: Gather all ingredients, letting the butter soften to room temperature for easy mixing, and preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute all dry components and avoid clumps.
Cream Butter and Sugars: Using a mixer or a sturdy spoon, cream the softened butter with both brown and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create the perfect texture.
Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract, mixing well after each addition to fully incorporate flavors.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry mix to the wet ingredients, stirring gently just until no streaks of flour remain—overmixing can toughen the dough.
Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in your choice of chocolate chips or chunks to ensure a melty, chocolatey cookie center.
Scoop and Bake: Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a lined baking sheet, spacing them evenly, then bake in the preheated oven for about 10 to 12 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft.
Cool and Enjoy: Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet briefly before transferring to a wire rack—this helps them finish firming up without losing softness inside.

Notes

Use high-quality Dutch-processed cocoa powder for a smoother, less acidic flavor.
Don’t overbake; cookies might seem soft when pulled from the oven but will set as they cool.
Chill the dough for 30 minutes to reduce spreading and improve texture.
Use a cookie scoop for uniform size and even baking.
Experiment with mix-ins like nuts, marshmallows, or different types of chocolate chips.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Desserts
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 150
Sugar: 12g
Sodium: 120mg
Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 2g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 20g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 30mg

Keywords: hot chocolate cookies, cocoa cookies, soft cookies, chocolate chip cookies, homemade cookies, gluten free cookies