Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

Dear Heather-of-the-Past,

I know you’re scared of the bate bate chocolate (and I know you have no idea who Dora the Explorer is, but it’s the same song you’re learning in Spanish class right now).  I know you’re scared of having chocolate with cinnamon, coffee (café), and spice to it.  I know you’re scared of eating anything chocolate that doesn’t have the word ‘milk’ in front of it.  And I know you’re scared of your bangs – it’s still scary when you grow up and look at pictures of yourself.

The good news is all of that will change and you will fall madly in love with cookies so decadent and flavorful that you won’t even realize that you were once afraid of the flavors in them.  You’ll bite into them and instantly crave 87 more.  Sadly the recipe doesn’t make 87, it only makes about 24, but maybe if you ask Mom enough she’ll let you have 2 more.  Just don’t whine – she hates that.  Trust me.

Love,

Future You

P.S. Here’s something to look forward to:  your hair will look better in the future!

MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE COOKIES

• 1 stick butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 Tbsp vanilla
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder, sifted
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 heaping tsp instant coffee or espresso powder
• 1 level tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  In a bowl combine the melted butter and sugars.  Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.  Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, coffee, and spices and mix until the dry ingredients are just incorporated.  Fold in the chocolate chips.  [If you're at high altitude it always helps to refrigerate the dough before baking to avoid flat cookies!] Drop by the spoonful onto a Silpat or parchment-lined baking sheet.  Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350.  Let cool slightly before eating.

And try to avoid making a double batch.  It might seem like a good idea at the time, but 87 cookies will actually make your tummy hurt.  And mom won’t feel sorry for you…trust me.

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Want to win a batch of these cookies for yourself?  Click on the link below to bid for them on Mara’s Online Flea Market for Pan(creatic) Cancer (link will be up by 8am CST and bids will be taken/updated all day til 9pm)!

Tagged as: bate bate chocolate, chili powder, chocolate chips, chocolate cookies, cinnamon, cocoa, coffee powder, Dora the Explorer, mexican hot chocolate, spiced hot chocolate