Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Servings: 24
Yield: 24 servings

Description

These spicy chocolate cookies were inspired by Mexican hot chocolate that combines sweet dark chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla, and spicy cayenne pepper.

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups white sugar, divided
1 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
2 Beat together 1 1/2 cups sugar, butter, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in cream of tartar and baking soda. Beat in cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and cayenne powder. Beat in flour. Stir chocolate chips into dough until incorporated.
3 Mix together remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl.
4 Roll heaping tablespoons of dough into balls. Roll balls in sugar-cinnamon mixture and place 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
5 Bake in the preheated oven until centers are set and edges are slightly cracked, about 10 minutes. Cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.