Peppermint Marshmallow Cookies

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o you have any foods that instantly take you back to your childhood? Marshmallow surprise cookies are one of those foods for me. Helping my mom push the marshmallows on top of the warm cookies and then putting them back in the oven and watching through the glass as they puff up. Everything about these cookies is a child’s food fantasy.

When I was young I lived in a very small rural country town. The town was so small and quaint there was even a local church cookbook. Everyone put their very best recipes in the cookbook…and everyone had the cookbook. When I became a mother making cookies with my own kids, I inherited my mom’s copy of this cookbook. One December while looking for one of my grandmother’s candy recipes I came across these cookies. I was instantly taken back to days of baking with my own mother and I knew I had to reinvent this cookie.

Now, I have altered the cookie to be a more dense, moist cookie, with homemade marshmallow. Since it was December and I was in Christmas cookie mode I also added crushed candy canes, but they are still reminiscent of the inspiring small town cookbook original. Bake these cookies today and just try to stop the child in you from sticking your finger in the gooey marshmallow center!!!

Ingredients:

Cookies:

1/2 cup salted butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1/3 cup evaporated milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 3/4 cup flour

Marshmallow:

2 envelopes of Knox Gelatine

4 Tbsp. cold water

1 cup boiling water

2 cups sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. peppermint extract

Instructions:

1. Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add egg, milk, and vanilla, beat until incorporated.
3. Slowly sift remaining dry ingredients into the wet mixture until well combined.
4. Using a medium-sized ice cream scoop, approximately 2 Tbs, drop dough on to cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
5. Bake in 350° oven for 8-10 minutes, or until firm.
6. Remove from oven and immediately press a slight well in the center of the warm cookies with the original medium-sized scoop or small measuring cup.
7. While cookies cool, begin making marshmallow center by adding gelatin and cold water in a mixing bowl.
8.  Add boiling water and stir until gelatin is dissolved.
9. Beat in sugar and salt until mixture reaches stiff peaks.
10. Slowly add peppermint extract until incorporated.
11. Spoon approximately 1-2 Tbsp of marshmallow into the chocolate cookies, smooth and allow to set completely.
12. Once set, spread chocolate frosting on top of cookies and decorate with crushed candy canes. (For Chocolate Buttercream recipe…Click Here )

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