Surprise Cookies

        

Cookie dough:

1 3/4 c. all purpose flour

3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda 

1/2 tsp. coarse salt 

1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened 

1 c. white sugar 

1 egg 

1/2 c. whole milk 

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 

15 or so large marshmallows, halved* (SEE NOTE BELOW)

Frosting:

3 c. powdered sugar 

6 tbs. unsalted butter, softened 

1/4 c. + 1 1/2 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder 

1/4 c. + 2 tbs. whole milk 

3/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract 

• Preheat oven to 375 and line cookie sheets with parchment paper. 
• In a large bowl, sift flour, cocoa powder, soda and salt into a bowl. 
• Place butter and sugar into a large bowl and use an electric mixer to cream together until fluffy. 
• Reduce speed and add egg, milk and vanilla. Mix until incorporated. 
• Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture to combine. 
• Drop dough using a cookie scoop onto parchment paper spacing evenly. 
• Bake 8-10 minutes or until firm. 
• Remove cookies from oven and immediately press half a marshmallow on top of each cookie. 
• Return to oven and bake an additional 2-3 minutes or until the marshmallow begins to melt. 
• Cool completely prior to transferring off sheets. 
• For frosting, combine butter and cocoa powder in a small saucepan over low heat. 
• Once butter begins to melt, whisk cocoa powder until smooth.
• Place powdered sugar into a medium bowl. 
• Add butter mixture to sugar and whisk to combine. 
• Whisk in milk and vanilla. 
• Spread 1 tbs. or so of frosting onto each cookie to cover marshmallow. 
• Stand 10 minutes to set. 

* A variation on this recipe is instead of using marshmallows... use maraschino cherries. Simply drain off liquid and replace each marshmallow with a cherry and follow instructions as above. You'll be delighted!!!

  (Recipe adpated from Martha Stewart's "Cookies" cookbook)