Marshmallow Surprise Cookies

9 Nov

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?

1030 021
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.

1030 041-2
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.


26 Responses to “Marshmallow Surprise Cookies”

  1. April November 9, 2009 at 11:56 am #

    I think I need to make these!!! YUM!

  2. juju73 November 9, 2009 at 12:20 pm #

    My husband is a bonafide marshmallow fanatic….and I do love them as well. I am bookmarking this!!!! These look YUMMY!

  3. Thom November 9, 2009 at 1:41 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!

  4. Kim November 9, 2009 at 1:49 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!

  5. Jill November 9, 2009 at 2:14 pm #

    These look really good! The cookie/marshmallow/frosting combo sounds really yummy.

  6. Michelle November 9, 2009 at 2:41 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!

  7. donna November 9, 2009 at 3:31 pm #

    I love the sound of these. The marshmallow inside is a nice change up from the peanut butter ones.

  8. Michele November 9, 2009 at 3:41 pm #

    Wow!! Fantastic cookies!!

  9. Margot November 9, 2009 at 4:57 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!

  10. Wendy November 9, 2009 at 6:48 pm #

    You’ve been in a marshmallow mood lately! those cookies look delicious.

  11. Natalie November 9, 2009 at 8:55 pm #

    Those look like mini brownies or cupcakes with marshmallows on top! YUM.

  12. Lele November 9, 2009 at 9:57 pm #

    Hahaha I get into food snob mode sometimes, too. I’m glad you snapped out of it and shared your AWESOME looking recipe!

  13. Big Brother November 9, 2009 at 10:32 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!

  14. Joanne November 10, 2009 at 4:52 am #

    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.

  15. Karine November 10, 2009 at 5:44 am #

    I love the surprise in your cookies! They look delicious :)

  16. Amanda Formaro November 10, 2009 at 6:12 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!

  17. Natashya November 10, 2009 at 6:42 am #

    Yum! Like Mallows, only better!

  18. Erin November 10, 2009 at 7:28 am #

    These look delicious! I love chocolate and marshmallows!

  19. Katrina November 10, 2009 at 8:33 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!

  20. basicallybaked November 10, 2009 at 9:23 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!

  21. Meghan November 10, 2009 at 12:34 pm #

    Woah – these look incredible! What a great concept for a cookie!

  22. DebinHawaii November 10, 2009 at 2:35 pm #

    These look super decadent and really good!

  23. Jessica November 10, 2009 at 7:37 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!

  24. Tracey November 11, 2009 at 6:50 am #

    I’ve never seen these cookies before but they look really delicious! Chocolate and marshmallow – can’t go wrong with that combination!

  25. Dina November 17, 2009 at 9:58 pm #

    wow! nice surprise!

  26. Jamie November 18, 2009 at 4:55 am #

    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!

Leave a Reply