I realized this morning that I probably should have posted these cookies last Friday, since they fall into the category of “holiday-type” cookies. Every year I see them on cookie trays, and everyone raves over them. I thought to myself, what’s so exciting about a chocolate cookie with a marshmallow middle and chocolate frosting?
Have I become that much of a cookie snob? Unable to conceive of spending time on such a simple cookie?
With a bit of ambivalence, I prepared a half batch last week. It wasn’t until I was able to wrestle the container away from the kids and their friends that I was finally allowed to try one.
Well, to quote The Monkee’s, “I’m a believer!” Now I see why these are so popular. Even though I’m not Jet-Puffed Marshmallow’s #1 fan, these are fun and tasty, and they really do surprise people when they bite into them.
Want to know what else I learned? That cutting them neatly for an interior shot bordered on insanity. I couldn’t get the chocolate frosting off the marshmallow to save my life.
It’s a good thing my life didn’t depend on it.
Speaking of frosting, you can use any kind of frosting you like, I just so happened to have Hershey’s chocolate frosting in the fridge, so I’ve included the directions for it.
Surprise Cookies - adapted from Martha Stewart
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
12 large marshmallows, cut in half horizontally
Chocolate Frosting (recipe follows)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light, about 2 minutes. Add egg, milk, and vanilla, and beat until well combined. Add flour mixture and mix on low speed until combined.
Using a tablespoon or #30 cookie scoop, drop dough onto parchment lined baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake until cookies begin to spread and become firm, 10 to 12 minutes.
Remove baking sheets from oven, and place a marshmallow, cut-side down, in the center of each cookie, pressing down slightly. Return to oven, and continue baking until marshmallows begins to melt, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Spread about 1 tablespoon of frosting over each marshmallow, starting in the center and continuing outward until marshmallow is covered.
Chocolate Frosting
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2/3 cup Hershey’s unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Melt butter, then stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.
I think I need to make these!!! YUM!
By: April on November 9, 2009
at 11:56 am
My husband is a bonafide marshmallow fanatic….and I do love them as well. I am bookmarking this!!!! These look YUMMY!
By: juju73 on November 9, 2009
at 12:20 pm
If you’d have cut from the bottom up the knife would have gone through the marshmallow first and it wouldn’t have got frosting on it
it doesn’t make them look any less tasty though!
By: Thom on November 9, 2009
at 1:41 pm
These sound wonderful to me!! I love a good chocolate, chewy, and gooey cookie. I can see why you would have to wrestle the container away!
By: Kim on November 9, 2009
at 1:49 pm
These look really good! The cookie/marshmallow/frosting combo sounds really yummy.
By: Jill on November 9, 2009
at 2:14 pm
Just one look at those scrumptious looking cookies I know my daughter will love them. I made something similar last year for Christmas an she keeps asking me for them. I like the sound of this recipe and they look so good!
By: Michelle on November 9, 2009
at 2:41 pm
I love the sound of these. The marshmallow inside is a nice change up from the peanut butter ones.
By: donna on November 9, 2009
at 3:31 pm
Wow!! Fantastic cookies!!
By: Michele on November 9, 2009
at 3:41 pm
I tabbed these when I got the MS cookie book but haven’t got around to making them. You’ve convinced me, they look great!
By: Margot on November 9, 2009
at 4:57 pm
You’ve been in a marshmallow mood lately! those cookies look delicious.
By: Wendy on November 9, 2009
at 6:48 pm
Those look like mini brownies or cupcakes with marshmallows on top! YUM.
By: Natalie on November 9, 2009
at 8:55 pm
Hahaha I get into food snob mode sometimes, too. I’m glad you snapped out of it and shared your AWESOME looking recipe!
By: Lele on November 9, 2009
at 9:57 pm
I think I feel a tear coming on..this is truly a special moment. My “little” sister actually, and correctly quoted…wait for it, wait…the Monkees.
My God she did pay attention to some of the music of her peers! Wooo Hoooo!
Before long she’ll be quoting Genesis, Styxx or Queen!
By: Big Brother on November 9, 2009
at 10:32 pm
I’ve actually never seen these cookies on holiday trays but they do look delicious. Kind of smore like which is a taste that I crave on occasion (but not constantly). Right now being one of the former moments.
By: Joanne on November 10, 2009
at 4:52 am
I love the surprise in your cookies! They look delicious
By: Karine on November 10, 2009
at 5:44 am
LOL! Us food photographers, aren’t we something? Worried about the chocolate on the marshmallow, that would SO have been me! They look delish!
By: Amanda Formaro on November 10, 2009
at 6:12 am
Yum! Like Mallows, only better!
By: Natashya on November 10, 2009
at 6:42 am
These look delicious! I love chocolate and marshmallows!
By: Erin on November 10, 2009
at 7:28 am
Hmmm? Chocolate or molasses? Chocolate or molasses? While I like a good spice cookie now and again at the holidays, I’m going to have to go for the CHOCOLATE. I’ve missed it the last two weeks of TWD and probably will again next week!
By: Katrina on November 10, 2009
at 8:33 am
These look great! I have a similar recipe passed on to me by grandma. Hers also has maraschino cherries in them. They’re a holiday staple here.
The spice cookies look great too!
By: basicallybaked on November 10, 2009
at 9:23 am
Woah – these look incredible! What a great concept for a cookie!
By: Meghan on November 10, 2009
at 12:34 pm
These look super decadent and really good!
By: DebinHawaii on November 10, 2009
at 2:35 pm
I always look at the pictures of those cookies and drool a little. I never bake them because they look like a sticky mess to make. I’d gobble them up if someone put them on a cookie tray though. Your cookies look delicious!
By: Jessica on November 10, 2009
at 7:37 pm
I’ve never seen these cookies before but they look really delicious! Chocolate and marshmallow – can’t go wrong with that combination!
By: Tracey on November 11, 2009
at 6:50 am
wow! nice surprise!
By: Dina on November 17, 2009
at 9:58 pm
I LOVE chocolate and marshmallows and will be printing this recipe out to try! It is heaven for me! They look so delicious! And why would you want to get the frosting off of the marshmallow? They are made to intermingle!
By: Jamie on November 18, 2009
at 4:55 am