Hot Cocoa Brownies are chewy brownies, packed full of hot cocoa and tiny marshmallows bits. Make this easy cocoa brownies recipe and enjoy them with a mug of hot chocolate!
This hot cocoa brownies recipe is made using packets of hot cocoa! Homemade hot chocolate is great, but I loveeee instant hot cocoa. The kind that's just powder and in a mug with liquid. Seriously. Cold milk, a couple envelops of hot cocoa and a spoon. That's all I needed in my life. At least as a child it was until my Gram would realize what I was going to town eating on. Then, I would get a talking to and begin my planning of how I would get away it it the next time. She was the best Gramma. <3
Hot Cocoa Brownies with Marshmallows
So the thing I think I adore the most about these chewy marshmallow brownies is the crispy, shiny crust and the bits of marshmallows. If I had the entire pan of homemade brownies to myself, I could see myself scraping the tops off the brownies and eating them first. Don't worry, I didn't have a chance with other family members in the house scarfing them down.
These brownies aren't a rich dark brown color because I didn't load it up with cocoa powder. I wanted the hot cocoa flavor to shine through so I just added more hot cocoa instead of cocoa powder. I also added the tiny mallow bits into the batter and I think that added another layer of chewy.
How to Make Hot Cocoa Brownies:
Hot Cocoa Brownies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup butter melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 hot cocoa envelopes without marshmallows .73 oz
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup + 2 T tiny mallow bits
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 square baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and drape the parchment over two opposite sides of the pan. This will provide a handle to pull out the brownies. Then spray the parchment with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, add in the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Using a hand mixer, beat for 2 minutes until the mixture turns pale and becomes thick and fluffy.
- Add in the baking powder, hot cocoa envelopes and flour. Mix with the hand mixer on low until incorporated. Scrape down sides and give a quick mix to incorporate.
- Stir in ½ cup of mallow bits into the batter.
- Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Make sure to spread to all of the edges and corners.
- Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of tiny mallow bits on top of the brownies.
- Place into the oven and bake for 35 minutes or until done. Place a toothpick into the center of the brownies and if it comes out clean or with moist crumbs, it's done. If there's still batter, let bake a little longer.
- Remove from the oven and let cool.
- Cut into squares and serve!
(Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.)
Do you enjoy a cup of hot cocoa? Does it bring back childhood memories for you?
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
Super delicious stack! Love hot cocoa in my brownies!
Laura @MotherWouldKnow says
What a fun recipe for baking with kids! I used to love those envelopes of hot cocoa but never thought to use them in baking - so creative.
Amanda @ Cookie Named Desire says
Gah! I love that you used hot cocoa instead of regular cocoa powder. Pure genius. And so perfect for these last few weeks of winter. I need it!
lorraine says
These look amazing, I can't wait to make them! My only question is that the ingredients list doesn't have any baking powder, but it's in the instructions in step 3?
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says
Hot Cocoa brownies--oh my word! My kids would be in heaven.
Miranda says
Yesss! It's the perfect brownie for kiddies!
Lorraine says
Amazing! But how much baking powder is there meant to be? It's mentioned in the method but it's not in the ingredients
Miranda says
Thank you Lorraine for letting me know! It's 1 tsp. baking powder. I updated the recipe. 🙂
Cynthia Rusincovitch says
I LOVE hot cocoa. I even put it in my coffee, haha. These sound great and I can't wait to try them! Thanks for linking up with Delicious Dishes Recipe Party!
Amanda @The Kolb Corner says
Looks delicious! Thank you for sharing at Merry Monday!
JILL NELSON says
How do you manage to cut your brownies perfectly? Everyone loves brownies! I always make them for events but I do find it VERY difficult to cut them neatly. The only way I have found to cut them perfectly is to freeze them and then cut them....do you have any other suggestions? Thank you for the great recipe!!
Michelle says
I have found that using a plastic knife is the best way to cut brownies. A friend told me about the trick and I thought it sounded crazy, but it works.
Miranda C. says
I'll have to give this a try too! Thanks!
Kari Wagner Hoban says
Making these for Super Bowl!!
Liz W. says
Oh my...This looks wonderful!! I'm imagining solid hot chocolate. Thanks so much for linking up with us at Funtastic Friday!
Heidi says
What a great brownie idea! Featuring as part of our Valentine treat roundup tonight on Funtastic Friday at Building Our Hive!
Aliee says
Followed the recipe to a T, and even left the brownies in an extra 15 minutes because they weren't quite done yet, only to have a completely cooked exterior and doughy collapsed interior. Very disappointed
Penny says
Very little flavor, doubled the cook time and brownies were still wet and undercooked. Good if you don’t have an alternative.
Miranda C. says
Hi Penny! These brownies definitely have a lighter chocolate flavor than others. They are supposed to be more like a cup of hot cocoa rather than a super-rich, decadent brownie. Also, just a great way to use extra hot cocoa packs you may have on hand. If you want to add more chocolate taste, use three hot cocoa envelopes and 1 Tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder. Hope this helps! Enjoy.
Carrie says
Mine came out with no flavor. The only substitutions I had were margarine and I had to do everything by hand. Was just wondering what might have gone wrong? I see several people said they were going to make them but didn't so I'm not sure if it was the recipe or me lol that's why a 3.
Midnight says
Made these! Halved recipe, used mint hot chocolate, added semi-sweet chips, no marshmallows, decreased sugar to 1/3 cup (instead of one half for a halved recipe-which was just right since I added chips and there is sugar in the hot chocolate). I sifted the baking powder, flour, and chocolate together with the chips first. I used salted butter, but if I use unsalted in the future, I would add a 1/4 tsp. of salt. One more tip. The recipient calls for whipping up the butter mixture beforehand, which I did-but not until it was entirely fluffy. I might omit this step if I'm trying for fudgyier brownies. Right now they are akin to a chewy mint blondie because there isn't that dark look to them. Might consider adding melted chocolate next time. I also believe I could adjust this recipe to make peanut butter brownies at some point (use regular or maybe white hot chocolate instead of mint). So glad I Googled and found this recipe. Thank you!
Carol K. says
I think they were wonderful! Baked them last night and used brown sugar instead of white because was out of the white. I added about 1/3 cup coconut and 1/2 cup of walnuts and a little extra marshmallow on top. They came out perfect and this will now be one of my go to recipes! Thank you.
Miranda C. says
So glad to hear you loved them! Fun additions too 🙂
Sheila Van Hoeter says
Fifth time making these. I have used swiss miss mint cocoa, SM caramel cocoa and SW regular. Too good!!!