Spicy Hot Chocolate Valentine Cookies

These cookies are the best of 2 worlds. The sweetness of chocolate with a kick from cayenne. Great texture and the cayenne is subtle to start and bites in the end. Ideal accompaniment is a tall glass of milk. Went to a church picnic last week and entering it into a cookie contest. I ended up winning the “best texture” category and the “best cookie overall” category! Got lots of compliments. Just enough kick to balance the chocolate. WINNER!

Spicy Hot Chocolate Christmas Cookies

Ingredients:

1 ¾ cups white sugar, divided

1 cup softened butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon sea salt

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips


Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Beat 1 1/2 cups sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and salt together in a bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs; add cream of tartar and baking soda. Beat in cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and cayenne powder. Beat in flour. Stir chocolate chips into the dough.

Mix remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon together in a bowl.

Roll heaping tablespoons of dough into balls. Roll balls in the sugar-cinnamon mixture and place on the prepared baking sheets.

Bake in the preheated oven until centers are set and edges crack slightly, about 10 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes.