January 10, 2017

Triple Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies

 

Four years ago, when my oldest daughter started marching band (yes, I promise this does relate to the cookies), I went to my first-ever high school football game. Everyone had on their team colors and shirts with our school name, but I told my husband, "I want a shirt that says, 'I'm just here for the band.'" I meant no disrespect for the football team, but I wanted to demonstrate my allegiance and passion for our under-appreciated marching band. 

We did end up getting shirts made, but my point is this: I know you're just here for the cookies. March on.

Triple Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies {print}

**Annoying-but-worth-it fact: the dough for these cookies cooperates better if you allow about an hour for chilling.**

What you need:
24 large round marshmallow OR 12 "s'more marshmallows," such as Jet-Puffed S'moreMallows (these are now available year-round, praise the Lord, in the marshmallow section of the grocery store...they're more tender and marshmallowy than other shapes on account of more marshmallow interior and less exterior cornstarchy coating)

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 packets (about 1 ounce each) instant cocoa mix (do not use sugar-free...I love Swiss Miss Dark Chocolate Sensation)

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips or chunks

1/3 cup milk chocolate chips or chunks or mini "kisses"

What to do:
1. Before you do anything else on these cookies (and you can do this up to several months ahead of time!), cut your marshmallows into pieces with kitchen scissors you've coated with vegetable oil or cooking spray: if you're using large round marshmallows, cut them in half horizontally. If you're using s'more marshmallows, cut them into sixths. Put your cut marshmallows in the freezer until further notice. You're going to all this hassle because marshmallows tend to disappear in the oven if they haven't been given the deep chill first. It will be worth the work, I promise.

2. Cream the butter and both sugars together until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and the vanilla.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, the NOT-sugar-free cocoa mix packets, the baking powder and baking soda, and salt.

4. Add the dry ingredients to your butter-sugar mixture and mix just until combined. 

5. Stir in the semisweet and milk chocolate chips/chunks.

6. Cover and chill for an hour. Your marshmallow pieces should still be camping out in the freezer.

7. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray or line it with parchment paper.

8. Form 1 1/2 tablespoon portions of dough into balls and place about an inch apart on the baking sheet. Do not flatten them. Your marshmallow pieces should STILL be in the freezer.

9. Bake the cookies for 4 minutes. Remove your marshmallow pieces from the freezer; open the oven door; and place marshmallow pieces in the center of each cookie. If you cut up large round marshmallows, use 2 pieces; if you cut up square "s'more marshmallows," use 3 pieces. You can overlap them a little.

10. Close the oven door. Return your remaining marshmallow pieces to the freezer, and bake the cookies for 4 more minutes. The marshmallows should be a least a little browned, and the cookie edges should be just starting to crack. Don't overbake these...gooey is good.

11. Remove from oven and cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool a little more or completely. If you have a kitchen blow torch (my favorite kitchen tool, as evidenced by its spot on this list), you can fire it up and give your marshmallows a little campfire-esque burn.

12. Repeat with remaining dough and marshmallow pieces (although you'll probably have some of those left over). Makes 18-24 cookies.






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The back of the aforementioned shirt, in case you've just been dying of curiosity...













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12 comments:

  1. can you exchange cocoa for cocoa packets or some nestles? 1/4 c perhaps? didn't want to go to the store even though it's across the street and not snowing in san luis obispo, ca nor has it ever, perhaps.

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    1. Hi, Sue! You certainly could try substituting cocoa for the instant hot cocoa packets, but the results won't be the same because the cocoa packets have sugar and milk in them, which the plain cocoa powder does not. You might need to add extra sugar if you try this. Let me know how it goes...and thanks so much for sharing this! Bless you! xoxo

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  2. "camped out in the freezer" I love it. Oh, how I've missed your posts!

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    1. Aw, thank you, my friend. You're the best, as always. Here's a virtual fax of cookies coming through to you right now...

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  3. Yet another cookie recipe to tempt me into the kitchen!! So neat that this recipe uses the cocoa packets (not sugar-free is good, cause we go full sugar all the way ;)

    Hope you and your family are doing well in this new year!

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    1. Tracey, I already considered you a kindred spirit, but this clinched it: "we go full sugar all the way"! Yes, sister! Among other reasons, the sugar adds volume, tenderness, and moisture to these cookies that no sugar-free packet can possibly replicate. Let's have cookies together in heaven someday, okay? :)

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  4. Replies
    1. Well, that IS the word on the street, Christine...or at least in my kitchen! ;) Thanks for stopping by, lovely lady!

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  5. Oh my, we make something very similar to these cookies, only we make a nice creamy buttercream frosting and smear it on top... we only use 1 half of a marshmallow though, but they are so tasty. Thanks for sharing your recipe and your story. I found you at #FridayFrivolity today

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    1. Yum! Really, isn't life always better with buttercream? :)Thanks so much for stopping by...I love #FridayFrivolity!

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  6. Oh lordy... chocolate attack!! These looks super yummy! Thank you for sharing at #FridayFrivolity... and we love you tooooooooo! ;P

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    1. Awww....thanks! And isn't a chocolate attack the best kind of attack? ;) Happy Friday Eve!

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I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to tell me what you really think. Years ago, I explained to my then-two-year-old that my appointment with a counselor was "sort of like going to a doctor who will help me be a better mommy." Without blinking, she replied, "You'd better go every day." All of which is just to say I've spent some time in the school of brutal honesty!