Cozy Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups Recipe: Bite-Sized Bliss!

Decadent hot chocolate cookie cups blend the comforting warmth of classic cocoa with a delightful chocolatey twist.

These irresistible treats promise to elevate your dessert game with their rich, indulgent flavor.

Soft, chewy chocolate cookies form perfect little vessels for creamy, luscious hot chocolate filling.

Each bite delivers a symphony of textures that dance across your palate.

The magic happens when the cookie cup cradles a silky chocolate ganache center, creating a dessert that’s both nostalgic and innovative.

Chocolate lovers will swoon over this playful, indulgent recipe that transforms a beloved winter beverage into a handheld delight.

Prepare to impress and delight with these show-stopping sweet treats that are sure to become an instant favorite.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Calories: 300 kcal

Servings: 11

Inside The Sweetness Of Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and tender texture for the cookie cups, choose unbleached flour for best results.
• Cocoa Powder: Delivers rich chocolate flavor, Dutch-processed cocoa offers deeper color and smoother taste.
• Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and creates soft, chewy texture, ensure it's fresh for maximum effectiveness.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness, use fine sea salt for even distribution.

• Butter: Creates richness and tender crumb, use room temperature unsalted butter for consistent mixing.
• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with cookie caramelization, brown sugar contributes moisture and depth.
• Eggs: Binds ingredients and provides structure, use large eggs at room temperature.
• Vanilla Extract: Boosts flavor complexity, choose pure vanilla for most authentic taste.

• Heavy Cream: Creates smooth ganache base, use high-fat content cream for luxurious texture.
• Chocolate Chips: Provides rich chocolate filling, semi-sweet or dark chocolate works best.
• Mini Marshmallows: Adds playful texture and visual appeal, choose fresh, soft marshmallows.
• White Chocolate: Optional decorative drizzle, select high-quality chocolate for smooth melting.
• Candy Canes: Provides festive crunch and peppermint flavor, crush finely for even distribution.

Tools To Bake Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups Quickly

• Mini Muffin Tin: Essential for creating perfect cookie cup shapes with consistent sizes.
• Large Mixing Bowl: Key for combining wet ingredients and creaming butter with sugars.
• Electric Mixer or Whisk: Crucial for beating butter, sugar, and creating smooth cookie dough.
• Small Saucepan: Needed to heat cream for ganache preparation.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Important for accurate ingredient measurements.
• Separate Mixing Bowl: Used for whisking dry ingredients before combining.
• Spoon or Rolling Pin End: Helps reshape cookie wells while warm.
• Piping Bag or Spoon: Useful for filling cookie cups with ganache neatly.
• Baking Spray or Butter: Ensures cookies don't stick to the muffin tin.
• Small Bowl: For melting chocolate and mixing ganache.

How To Bake Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups Just Right

• Cookie Dough Base

Combine softened butter with sugars until creamy and smooth. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Blend dry ingredients separately, then gently fold into wet mixture creating a rich chocolate dough.

• Muffin Tin Preparation

Generously coat mini muffin tin with cooking spray. Carefully press small portions of chocolate dough into each cavity, creating delicate little wells using your thumb or spoon.

• Baking Process

Place muffin tin in preheated oven. Bake until edges become slightly crisp and centers look soft. While still warm, reshape cookie cups using spoon or rolling pin end to maintain perfect cup shape.

• Ganache Creation

Warm cream until steaming. Pour over chocolate chips and let sit briefly. Stir until mixture transforms into silky smooth ganache with glossy chocolate texture.

• Filling and Decorating

Carefully spoon ganache into cooled cookie cups. Top with mini marshmallows. Optional: Drizzle white chocolate and sprinkle crushed candy canes for festive flair.

• Serving

Allow ganache to set at room temperature or refrigerate. Serve chilled or at moderate temperature for maximum flavor enjoyment.

Tips To Make Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups Even Richer

• Marshmallow Magic: Toast mini marshmallows with a kitchen torch for a campfire-style twist that adds a gorgeous golden-brown caramelized finish to your cookie cups.
• Dairy-Free Delight: Swap heavy cream with coconut cream and use dairy-free chocolate chips to create a luscious vegan version that doesn't compromise on rich, decadent flavor.
• Make-Ahead Marvel: Prepare cookie cups and ganache separately up to 3 days in advance. Store cookie shells in an airtight container and refrigerate ganache, then assemble just before serving to maintain perfect texture.
• Gluten-Free Option: Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend to make these delightful treats accessible for those with wheat sensitivities. Ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free for safe consumption.
• Flavor Expedition: Experiment with different ganache infusions like peppermint extract, orange zest, or a splash of Bailey's for grown-up versions that transform these cookie cups into exciting flavor adventures.

Ways To Serve Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups With Fun

• Cozy Cocoa Party Platter: Arrange these cookie cups on a festive wooden board with scattered mini marshmallows, creating an inviting dessert display that looks like a winter wonderland celebration.
• Gifting Gourmet Treat: Package these cookie cups in clear gift boxes tied with rustic twine, perfect for holiday hostess gifts or sweet surprise presents for chocolate lovers in your life.
• Dessert Drink Pairing: Serve alongside warm hot chocolate or peppermint mocha, allowing guests to enjoy complementary flavors and experience a delightful chocolate-on-chocolate indulgence.
• Seasonal Garnish Fun: Sprinkle crushed candy canes or add a tiny marshmallow swirl on top to enhance the festive Christmas vibe and create a visually stunning dessert centerpiece.

Store Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups Without Losing Flavor

• Chilled Delight Keeper: Store these cookie cups in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking and maintain their beautiful shape.
• Freezer-Friendly Trick: Individually wrap each cookie cup in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container. They'll stay delicious for 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the cookie bases and ganache separately, storing them in different containers. Assemble just before serving to keep the texture perfectly crisp and fresh.
• Temperature Tips: Keep these treats away from direct sunlight and warm spaces. Room temperature is okay for a few hours, but refrigeration helps maintain their delicate chocolate structure and prevents marshmallow softening.

Cozy Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups Recipe

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4.7 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 11 1x

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Description

Indulgent hot chocolate cookie cups blend rich chocolate cookies with creamy marshmallow-topped ganache. Sweet memories of winter comfort flow through each delectable bite you will savor.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1.25 cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
• 0.375 cups (90 g) cocoa powder
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 0.5 cup (100 g) brown sugar
• 1 cup (170 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 0.5 cup (120 ml) heavy cream
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• mini marshmallows
• crushed candy canes (optional)
• white chocolate, melted (optional, for drizzle)

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Thoroughly coat a mini muffin tin with cooking spray. Position the oven rack centrally and preheat to 350F (175C).
2. Dough Preparation: Cream butter with granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy. Blend in eggs one at a time, then incorporate vanilla extract for enhanced flavor complexity.
3. Dry Ingredient Integration: Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Gently fold into the wet mixture until a cohesive dough forms.
4. Shaping: Distribute one tablespoon of dough into each muffin cavity. Press carefully to create uniform wells, ensuring even coverage along sides and bottom.
5. Baking and Forming: Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges set. Immediately after removing from oven, use a small spoon to reshape wells while cookies remain malleable.
6. Cooling: Allow cookie cups to cool completely within the tin, maintaining their distinct shape and preventing structural breakdown.
7. Ganache Creation: Heat heavy cream until steaming. Pour over chocolate chips and let rest for 2-3 minutes. Whisk until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
8. Filling and Finishing: Once cooled, generously fill each cookie cup with ganache, ensuring precise and even distribution.
9. Decorative Touches: Garnish with mini marshmallows. Optionally drizzle with melted white chocolate and sprinkle crushed candy canes for festive flair.
10. Serving Preparation: Allow ganache to set at room temperature or expedite chilling in refrigerator for approximately 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

• Prevent Sticking Carefully: Generously spray mini muffin tin with cooking spray, covering every surface to ensure easy cookie removal.
• Master Dough Consistency: Whip butter and sugars until light and fluffy, which creates a tender, soft cookie base with perfect texture.
• Shape While Warm: Immediately after baking, use a spoon to reshape cookie wells while still warm and malleable, preventing potential cracking or misshaped cups.
• Ganache Perfection Technique: Allow hot cream to sit on chocolate chips for 2-3 minutes before whisking, ensuring a smooth, glossy ganache without grainy texture.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 11
• Calories: 300
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 11 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 45 mg