Healthy Hot Cocoa Cookies

Healthy Hot Cocoa Cookies are like a cup of cozy hot chocolate in the form of little treats! They’re comforting and are gluten-free, flourless, and made with simple ingredients.

The most delicious healthy hot cocoa cookies

When the air is crisp, the holiday decorations are out, the Christmas music is playing, and there’s snow on the ground, who can resist a nice, cozy cup of hot chocolate? I know I can’t! There’s something about it that just puts me in the best mood.

This year, as I sipped on my first cup of hot chocolate of the season, I got an idea: hot chocolate cookies! These are a popular holiday treat that I see around each season, but I’ve never tried making them myself. I decided to give it a go, and the results were not disappointing!

As always, I swapped some traditional ingredients for some healthier options, and officially created healthy hot cocoa cookies. They’re gluten-free, flourless, and use simple ingredients.

Enjoy these treats alongside a hot beverage like coffee, and ohhh my gosh. The taste is unbeatable! They were a total hit in my house. I’m sure your family and friends will love them too! In my opinion, this is one of the best healthy cookie recipes I’ve created.

Ingredients required to make these treats

The ingredients in this recipe are simple and easy. We won’t be using any hard to find items; most of these are probably already in your house! For me, the only items I had to go get for this recipe were the marshmallows and the cocoa powder! Here’s a list of what you’ll need:

• Egg
• Coconut sugar
• Almond butter
• Vanilla
• Cocoa powder
• Baking soda
• Chocolate chips
• Mini marshmallows

Required kitchen tools

Since this recipe is so quick and easy, you’ll only need 4 kitchen tools. Before you begin preparing the cookies, gather a baking sheet, parchment paper, mixing bowl, and mixing spatula or spoon!

How to make healthy hot cocoa cookies

This healthy dessert recipe is very, very easy to make! All in all, it should only require about 20 minutes from start to finish.

Start by preheating your oven to 350F. Then, line your baking sheet with parchment paper.

Mix together the egg, coconut sugar, almond butter, and vanilla. Then, stir in the cocoa powder and baking soda. It gets thick at this step.

Next, add the chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. They may not stick in the batter, but just form them so extra marshmallows and chocolate chips are on the top of the cookies. Make them look “loaded.”

Next, roll the dough into balls, place onto the baking sheet, and flatten ever so slightly. They won’t (and shouldn’t) spread too much.

Bake for 12-14 minutes, and let cool completely before removing from the pan.

How to make vegan cocoa cookies

Many people love to veganize my recipes, because it’s always so simple! For this recipe, there are only two non-vegan items.

The first is chocolate chips, though these are an easy swap. Simply use a dark chocolate, milk free version!

The second non-vegan item in this recipe is the egg. This can be substituted by choosing from a few different options:

• Applesauce: Try ¼ cup applesauce! You won’t taste it, and the consistency works well to achieve the same binding effect as eggs.
• Ground chia or flaxseeds: Either option will work, though these may create a slight nut flavor. Purchase a ground version, or ground them yourself. Then, mix 1 tbsp of either seed with 3 tbsp water. Mix until they have fully absorbed the water, and then use in place of the egg. Here is a helpful infographic!
• Egg replacer: There are a bunch of vegan egg replacers to choose from, and the packaging should contain specific instructions for that brand.

How I created this healthy cookie recipe

Traditional hot cocoa cookies use ingredients like butter, flour, and regular sugar! I prefer using ingredients that have higher nutrition contents, so that’s what I did for this recipe.

• Sugar: For this recipe, I used coconut sugar in place of granulated. Both are sugars, but coconut sugar is slightly lower in calories and carbs. It also tastes great!
• Flour: I typically stay away from all-purpose flour when baking healthier treats, but I prefer to omit any type of flour when possible. With this recipe, I was able to cut it out completely!
• Butter: Instead of using regular butter, my recipe uses almond butter. It adds a fantastic taste and is perfect for giving the dough the required consistency. Plus, it adds protein! If you’d like, you can use peanut butter instead.

Try these chocolate treats too!

If you liked this tasty cocoa recipe, you’ll also love these delicious, chocolatey treats! Choose from brownies, fudge, muffins, and more.

• Peppermint Cocoa Tahini Freezer Fudge
• Paleo Chocolate Cupcakes (gluten free)
• Double Chocolate Mint Paleo Cookies
• Gluten Free Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
• Pecan Pie Brownies