Marshmallow Surprise Cookies

Jack went through one of my cookbooks (Cookies by Martha Stewart) and marked all the recipes he wanted to try.  At the top of the lists was this recipe for Surprise Cookies.  He decided to make them for an end of summer church party, and he had a few friends who decided to help with the baking.  

If you want to see a picture perfect version of these cookies, be sure to click over to the recipe linked above.  Ours may not have been as pretty, but they sure were pretty tasty!

These cookies are a soft chocolate cake cookie topped with a marshmallow and creamy, chocolate frosting.  Aside from the marshmallows, you probably have all the ingredients in the pantry.

Here's the recipe:

COOKIES
1 3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick butter, room temp
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
about 15 marshmallows, cut in half

1.  Preheat oven to 375F.

2.  Sift together or mix with a whisk flour, cocoa, soda and salt in a bowl.

3.  In a mixer, cream butter and sugar for cookies until pale and fluffy.  Reduce speed.  Mix in egg, milk and vanilla.  Mix in flour mixture, a little at a time.

4.  Using an ice cream scoop, drop dough onto parchment lined baking sheets.  Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until firm, about 8-10 minutes.  When they are out of oven, immediately press a marshmallow half on top of each cookie.  Put back in oven and bake about 2 minutes more, til marshmallows melt.  Remove and let cool completely on wire racks.

FROSTING
3 cups powdered sugar
6 tablespoons butter, room temp
1/4 cup + 1 1/2 teaspoons cocoa powder
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla

5.  For frosting, put powdered sugar in a bowl.  Melt butter with cocoa powder in pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally.  Add butter mixture to sugar.  Whisk in milk and vanilla.

6.  Spread about 1 tablespoon frosting on top of each cookie to cover marshmallow.  Let stand until set, about 10 minutes.

Jack's helpful hints:

• These would be even tastier with a whole marshmallow on top.  It really melts into the cookie, so the added marshmallow would be a nice topping.
• These would also be good without the marshmallows.  
• Be sure not to bake the cake-like cookies.

ENJOY!