These look like simple chocolate-frosted cookies. But take a bite and you'll uncover the reason they're called surprise cookies... there's a marshmallow hidden inside! These cookies will make you feel like a kid again.
Jump to:
I don't make cookies often enough (probably because I'm obsessed with making cupcakes), but I wanted to switch things up tonight for dinner with a friend.
Have you ever stopped to think about how many different types of cookies are out there? SO many. But after much looking at pretty much every cookie recipe in the world (no lie), I found a recipe that involves chocolate and marshmallows. That's all I needed.
These chocolate surprise cookies come from a Martha Stewart Kids recipe. But what differentiates a kid's cookie from an adult's cookie, I ask you? A simple marshmallow? Well, if that's the case, I think I'd prefer to be a kid forever, thank you very much.
I'm definitely not willing to give up marshmallows and I'm an adult that is going all in for the surprise aspect of these chocolate surprise cookies.
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
Who wouldn't love a cookie with a surprise inside? And even better when it's a marshmallow surprise!
These are such fun cookies to both make and eat. They're packed with delicious chocolate flavor and, of course, a fun fluffy marshmallow. You can top them with whatever sprinkles you want to make them fit all kinds of occasions.
These are the kinds of cookies everyone at the party will be talking about!
🗒 Ingredients
You don't need to much for these cookies and all the ingredients are pretty simple. Here's what you need (be sure to view the recipe card at the bottom of this post for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions):
- All-purpose flour
- Cocoa powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Unsalted butter
- Granulated sugar
- Large egg
- Vanilla extract
- Chocolate frosting (recipe provided)
- Marshmallows
- Sprinkles: optional for topping
Here's what you need for the frosting:
- Confectioners' sugar
- Cocoa powder
- Unsalted butter
- Vanilla extract
- Milk
🍪 How to make chocolate surprise cookies
The batter for the cookies is so simple to make even though they look pretty fancy!
To start, in a medium mixing bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together.
In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large bowl with a hand mixer or whisk, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg, milk, and vanilla, and beat until well combined.
Slowly add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, taking care not to over-mix.
Drop about a tablespoon of cookie dough (you can use a 
" data-eafl-id="70411" data-eafl-parsed="1" class="eafl-link eafl-link-text eafl-link-direct" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">#60 cookie scoop) onto an ungreased cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart.
And bake cookies for just for 9 minutes, before you take them out of the oven and push half a marshmallow (cut-side down) into the center of each. Then pop baking sheet back in the oven for another minute, until marshmallows begin to melt.
Remove from oven and transfer cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
How easy is that?
🧁 How to make chocolate frosting
The chocolate frosting is also incredibly easy to make.
Simply whisk together confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. And add melted butter and vanilla, while continuing to whisk until combined.
Mix in milk and whisk until smooth.
Now you're ready to finish the cookies and cover up that fun surprise. Put a tablespoon of frosting in the center of the cookie, covering the marshmallow (hence the surprise part of the cookie). Add sprinkles if you're planning on using them.
So sneaky...they seem like simple chocolate cookies! You would never suspect anything suspicious going on, right??
But look what's waiting for you when you cut them open! And how deliciously pretty they are.
They look a bit like Mallomars, which I'm actually pretty sure I've never even tried? But I have a strong picture of them in my head and I Googled them and it appears I'm correct.
These chocolate surprise cookies are a super easy-to-make version of Mallomars.
You definitely don’t have to add sprinkles on top of them, but I think they give them an extra special look and make these a bit more fun.
Because if you’re gonna call a cookie a surprise cookie, I feel like it should look extra freaking fun. I’m all about doing it up right.
⏲️ How to store
You can store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. If you're stacking cookies, be sure to put a sheet of parchment paper or waxed paper in between each layer.
🎉 Variations on recipe
Once you understand the technique, you can essentially make these surprise cookies with any kind of cookie dough you want. Just scoop the dough out, add a marshmallow, and then top with frosting. Some flavors that would be delicious include:
- Peanut butter cookies with chocolate frosting and mini Reese's Pieces
- Strawberry cookies topped with chocolate or white chocolate frosting and freeze dried strawberries
- M&M cookies topped with chocolate frosting and mini M&Ms
- Key lime cookies topped with white chocolate frosting and graham crackers
I recommend bringing these to a party and just setting them on the table without telling people what they are. They’ll likely innocently pick one up thinking, “oh, looks like a nice little chocolate cookie.”
But then they’ll bite into it and their eyes will light up with glee as they discover the gooey marshmallow and they’ll immediately grab another before running off to tell everyone else at the party how fabulous the cookies are. At least that’s my prediction.
👩🍳 More fun cookie recipes
Whether you consider them cookies for kids or just fun cookies that everyone will love, I have lots of unique and exciting cookie recipes for you! Here are some of my favorites:
- Fruity Pebbles Cookies
- Banana Split Cookies
- Strawberry Lemonade Shortbread Cookies
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Cookies
- Rose Pistachio Shortbread Cookies
- Momofuku Milk Bar Cornbread Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Fudge Stripe Cookies
- Strawberry Milk Cookies
- Chewy Oatmeal M&M Cookies (from For the Love of Cooking)
- Homemade Oreos (from Baking a Moment)
But seriously, these cookies are deliciously chocolatey and gooey and make me feel like a kid again. And in the words of Martha herself, I think that’s a fabulous thing.
What’s the most fun cookie you’ve ever had?
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Surprise Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Chocolate frosting (recipe below)
- 12 large marshmallows, cut in half horizontally
- Sprinkles, optional for topping
Chocolate Frosting
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 4 Tbsp (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large bowl with a hand mixer or whisk, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg, milk, and vanilla, and beat until well combined.
- Slowly add flour mixture and mix until just combined, taking care not to over-mix.
- Drop about a tablespoon of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake until cookies for 9 minutes before removing from the oven.
- Place a marshmallow, cut-side down, in the center of each cookie, pressing down slightly. Put the cookie sheet back into the oven and continue baking for just one more minute, until marshmallows begin to melt. Remove from oven and transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
- Starting in the center of the marshmallow and continuing outward, spread about 1 tablespoon of frosting over the marshmallow, until it's completely covered. Top with sprinkles if desired and let frosting harden before serving.
Chocolate Frosting
- In a medium bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder. Add melted butter and vanilla, while continuing to whisk until combined. Mix in milk and whisk until smooth.
Notes
- Recipe from Martha Stewart
Useful Products
nicoleantoinette says
I am SUCH a cookie person, and these look astoundingly good. I'm adding them to my "to bake" list.
Yes, I have a list. Shut up.
ps- I'm so glad you ladies started this blog, I'm really loving it.
Julie_Gong says
Um, if these had peanut butter in them I'd def kill someone for one... Not really but you know what I mean... or maybe you don't. Either way they look amazing.
L Sass says
Those are AMAZING looking. Delish!
Peter says
Damn you, Susie.
Julie Q says
I am SO making (or attempting) these this weekend!!! Chocolate, marshmellows and pb? my absolute fav
wasted_time says
Yum, those look awesome.
Nina says
Thanks for baking an entire batch of delicious marshmallow cookies and leaving almost all of them for your roommate to finish over the weekend....ill try to save you a few. Oh, and I love the peanut butter idea. Yum...
Meigan says
Cute blog! I'm going to have to try these with my kids this weekend - too fun.
Martha's best cookie (IMHO) is her daughter Alexis's chocolate chip cookies (google them). They're really flat & buttery but they disappear instantly. My male co-workers bring in the ingredients & beg me to make them about once a month!
Pomegranate says
I cant beleive u guys r not fat from all this delicious food!