Winter’s biting chill is staved away thanks to a cup of hot cocoa. Piping hot and adorned with a variety of holiday toppings, it’s the perfect drink to begin or wind down a day. Here the festive drink gets a dessert makeover in the form of decadent chewy Hot Cocoa Brownies.

When we think of hot cocoa mix, we generally think of making a drink and not baking with it, but it’s a great addition to baked goods! Here, the hot cocoa acts like the cocoa powder in the batter, giving it a mild but deeply satisfying chocolaty taste! After heating up the butter and sugar, chocolate gets added and melted, giving the brownie batter an extra boost of chocolate flavor. 

A small handful of dry ingredients gets added to the batter, preceded by the eggs and vanilla. 

Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan and bake it for about twenty-five minutes. Pull the brownies out of the oven and set marshmallows on top. A classic large marshmallow cut in half is the perfect size.

Bake the brownies for two to three more minutes, and then use a spoon to flatten the marshmallows onto the brownie. Put the brownies back into the oven to give them a chance to get golden. 

Let the brownies cool completely before slicing up and serving!

The result? It’s like the winter season is in a bite! The brownie is chewy, rich, and fudgey, but has more of a pleasant mellow chocolaty flavor that makes it easy to eat square after square! 

Marshmallows on the top drive home that delightful hot cocoa feeling to the brownies, making them taste super special.

It’s a great treat to have with a cold glass of milk, or better yet, it’d pair perfectly with a mug of hot cocoa!