Hot Chocolate Cookies

• servings: MAKES 12 COOKIES
• total time: TOTAL TIME 59 MINUTES

Ingredients

FOR THE COOKIES

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 large egg, at room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1¼ cups all-purpose flour

⅓ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

FOR THE TOPPING

1 cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips

12 large marshmallows

Directions

1 First, make the cookies. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper.

2 In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter and brown sugar and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

3 Add the egg and vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is light and pale in color, about 2 minutes, scraping down the bowl as needed.

4 Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt and beat on low speed until just combined and no streaks of flour remain.

5 Use a 1½-ounce cookie scoop to portion out equal amounts of dough (a large spoon also works; the ball should be about 3 tablespoons). Roll the dough in your hands to smooth the edges, then place 2 inches apart on the prepared sheet pans.

6 Bake until the cookies have puffed up and are set and firm around the edges but still somewhat soft in the middle, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the sheet pans from the oven and allow the cookies to cool slightly on the sheet pans, about 15 minutes.

7 Once the cookies have cooled slightly, make the topping. Set the oven to broil on high.

8 In a small microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips. Microwave in 30-second increments, using a silicone spatula to stir between each, until the chocolate is fully melted.

9 Spoon about 2 teaspoons of melted chocolate over each cookie, leaving a slight border along the outside edges of the cookie. Squish the marshmallows flat between your palms and place one marshmallow on top of each cookie.

10 Place the sheet pans, one at a time, on the middle rack of the oven and broil on high until the marshmallows are golden brown and melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Keep an eye on them because they will toast very quickly! Remove the sheet pans from the oven and allow the cookies to cool slightly on the pan before serving.