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Easy Hot Cocoa Peppermint Cookies Recipe with a Cake Mix

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It is officially my favorite season…COOKIE BAKING SEASON!  There is absolutely nothing I love more than baking cookies for the holidays.  I especially love to use flavors that make you think of Christmas and come up with new recipes.  These Easy Hot Cocoa Peppermint Cookies are awesome because they start with a cake mix.  I love everything about them.  They are soft, chocolatey, have just the right amount of peppermint and don’t even get me started on the mini marshmallows.  You need these cocoa cookies in your life!

Do you love peppermint desserts?  Try this Chocolate Peppermint No Bake Cheesecake!

Easy Hot Cocoa Peppermint Cookies Recipe with a Cake Mix by top US cookie blogger, Practically Homemade

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Perfect for the Holidays

If there was ever a cookie that is perfect for the holidays then this is it.  Peppermint is always perfect for the holiday season…especially in a cookie form.

These sweet babies can be made for a holiday party, given as a gift or plan a day and make these Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies with family and friends.

I am thinking of planning a cookie swap just so that I can make these Hot Cocoa Cookies.  Wouldn’t that be so much fun!

Easy Hot Cocoa Peppermint Cookies Recipe with a Cake Mix by top US cookie blogger, Practically Homemade

Ingredients in Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies

  • Chocolate Cake Mix-it is such an easy and delicious recipe to use and it saves so much time.
  • Hot Chocolate Mix-you can’t have a hot cocoa cookie without the addition of hot cocoa mix.
  • Eggs-added to the cookie dough for moisture and structure.
  • Vegetable Oil-for a perfectly moist and delicious cookie.
  • Chocolate Chips-I opted for semi-sweet but milk chocolate would be great too.
  • Marshmallow Bits-tiny dehydrated marshmallows that are perfect for baking…and hot cocoa.
  • Crushed Peppermint-I used these sprinkles but crushed candy canes would be wonderful too.

How to make Hot Cocoa Cookies with a Cake Mix

  1. Combine the cake mix with the hot chocolate mix in a medium bowl.
  2. Whisk the cake mix and hot chocolate mix together until they are nicely combined.
  3. Add the eggs and vegetable oil to the dry ingredients and mix together using a handheld mixer {or by hand}.
  4. Add the chocolate chips, marshmallow bits and crushed peppermint to the cookie dough and mix until they are evenly distributed in the dough.
  5. Use a medium cookie scoop to scoop mounds of dough onto a silicone mat {or parchment} covered baking sheet.
  6. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 9-11 minutes or until the cookies are set.
  7. Remove from the oven and add additional chocolate chips, marshmallow bits and peppermint to the top of each cookie {if desired}.  Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.

Easy Hot Cocoa Peppermint Cookies Recipe with a Cake Mix by top US cookie blogger, Practically Homemade

Tips for making the perfect Peppermint Cocoa Cookies

  • Don’t skip whisking the cake mix and hot chocolate mix together before adding the wet ingredients.  This will ensure that the hot cocoa mix is evenly distributed in the cookie dough.
  • Omit the crushed peppermint if you don’t like it.  Not everyone is a mint fan and that is totally fine.  You will still have super delicious and soft Hot Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies.
  • Don’t over bake the cookies.  It can be kind of hard to tell if they are done because they are chocolate but bake until they are set up nicely and they will be perfect.
  • Add the extra chocolate chips, marshmallow bits and crushed peppermint to the top of the baked cookie!  It is such a great way to add extra flavor and it makes the top of the cookie look wonderful.

Can I use regular mini marshmallows?

You can use regular marshmallows but you can’t add them to the dough.  Regular marshmallows will melt from the heat of the oven.

I would cut them into quarters and add them to the top of the cookie after baking if you don’t have mini marshmallow bits to add to these Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies.

Easy Hot Cocoa Peppermint Cookies Recipe with a Cake Mix by top US cookie blogger, Practically Homemade

Recipe Variations

Cake Mix-Use any variety of chocolate cake mix or even a brownie mix {just add 1/4 cup of flour to the dough}.

Chocolate Chips-I have used semi-sweet chocolate chips but any kind of chocolate chips that you enjoy would work great.  A milk chocolate or even white chocolate chip would both be tasty.

Peppermint-In this recipe I have used crushed peppermint sprinkles but crushed candy canes works great too.  You can also add 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract to the cookie dough if you love peppermint flavor.

How to store these cookies

These Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

They can also be frozen for up to 3 months.  The key is to be sure that you cover them well or double bag them in a freezer zipper bag.

Easy Hot Cocoa Peppermint Cookies Recipe with a Cake Mix by top US cookie blogger, Practically Homemade

Do you love chocolate cookies?  Try these recipes…

Easy Hot Cocoa Peppermint Cookies Recipe with a Cake Mix

Hot chocolate and peppermint are combined with a delicious chocolate cake mix to create the ultimate winter cookie in history! Soft, full of chocolate flavor and super easy to make...these cookies are just what you are looking for.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
5 from 5 votes
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Ingredients

  • 1-15.25 ounce box chocolate fudge cake mix
  • 4 packages hot chocolate mix
  • 2 eggs
  • ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • ½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips {plus more for the top}
  • ½ cup marshmallow bits {plus more for the top}
  • ¼ cup crushed peppermint {plus more for the top}

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • In a medium bowl combine the chocolate cake mix and hot chocolate mix, whisk to combine. Add eggs and oil, mix with a hand held mixer {or by hand} until you have a thick dough. Add chocolate chips, marshmallow bits and crushed peppermint, mix in by hand until everything is evenly distributed. Note: Be sure to mix gently so that none of the add-ins break.
  • Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop mounds of dough onto a silicone mat {or parchment} lined baking sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until the cookies are set up.
  • After baking, add extra chocolate chips, marshmallow bits and crushed peppermint to the top of each cookie {making sure to press down gently}. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes and then move the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
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