Hot cocoa cookies

Photo Credit: http://www.pipandebby.com

Hot cocoa cookies

Original Recipe: http://www.pipandebby.com/pip-ebby/2011/11/14/hot-cocoa-cookies.html


Ingredients:

• 1 stick (4 oz.) unsalted butter
• 7 bars (3.5 oz. each) semisweet chocolate 12 oz. chopped, 7.5 oz. cut into 1-inch squares and the rest for garnish
• 1 ½ cups flour
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 ¼ cups light brown sugar
• 3 eggs, at room temperature
• 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 30 marshmallows

Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and chopped chocolate, stirring frequently, over medium heat. Let cool for 15 minutes.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. 
3. Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar, eggs and vanilla at low speed until smooth, 2 minutes. Mix in the cooled chocolate mixture just until blended. Add the flour mixture in 2 batches, mixing on low speed until just combined. Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour.
4. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a tablespoon, scoop the dough and roll between your palms to form 1-inch balls. Arrange about 16 balls 2 inches apart on each cookie sheet, flattening slightly. Bake until the tops of the cookies crack, about 12 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, snip 8 marshmallows in half crosswise and stick 1 square of chocolate onto each of the cut sides.
6. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven; gently press a marshmallow half, chocolate side down, into each cookie. Bake until the marshmallows are just softened, about 4 minutes. Transfer the pans to racks to cool for 5 minutes; grate the remaining chocolate over the hot cookies. Using a spatula, transfer the cookies to the racks; let cool. Repeat the process with the remaining dough, marshmallows and chocolate. Bake each batch on a clean sheet of parchment.