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    Home » Desserts » Cookies, Bars & Brownies » Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

    Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

    May 3, 2018 · by Valentina · 22 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies are little bites of melted chocolate, a subtle kick of heat from spices, and a whole lot of sweetness. Delicious for Cinco de Mayo, or any day!Close up of Small Mexican Hot Chocolate Spice Cookies in a pretty ceramic green, cream and yellow mug.

    I have three points I want to discuss in this post.

    1. the Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies
    2. a Mexican restaurant I love
    3. the coffee mug in the pictures

    The timing for all of this is perfect since Cinco de Mayo is Saturday, and I’m heading to Mexico tomorrow!

    3 stacked Mexican Chocolate Spice Cookies on a white cloth napkin.

    First, the cookies . . . 

    I’ve had this recipe for Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies in my mind for weeks, and can’t wait for you to try it!

    What is Mexican Chocolate?

    • Mexican chocolate is typically made with roasted, ground cacao nibs, sugar, and cinnamon.
    • Allspice, nutmeg, chiles and/or nuts are sometimes added as well.
    • Mexican chocolate is usually a bar shaped like a disc. It can be a bit granular in texture, but it melts beautifully.
    • In Mexico, this type of chocolate is commonly used to make a hot chocolate.

    Ibarra is my favorite Mexican chocolate, and my goal with the Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies was to create a similar flavor profile, with a bit of heat to put them over the top.

    I like to use my 1 inch cookie scoop to shape these cookies. I love them tiny because they're the perfect bite of sugar and spice.

    Mexican Chocolate Spice Cookies spilling out of a pretty, ceramic yellow and green mug onto a cloth napkin.

    Second, my favorite local Mexican restaurant, KAYNDAVES  . . .

    I met Dave many years ago when he started a small Mexican restaurant in Malibu, KAYNDAVES Mexican Cantina.

    Dave is a warm, super nice, incredibly hospitable guy. My family and I connected with him over our mutual interest in food right away. My parents quickly became regulars, going to the restaurant at least once a week from then on.

    Sign outside at KAYNDAVES Restaurant.Photo credit: Dave Licht

    Now Dave and his partner and wife, Jintana, own two KAYNDAVES Mexican Cantinas in the Los Angeles area — both are packed all the time. Jintana is equally as lovely as Dave, and together they are a powerful force of kindness.

    Should you be so lucky as to find one or both of them at the restaurant, they’ll treat you like family. No matter how busy the restaurant was, Dave and Jintana always made my parents feel special and welcome. The last few years, when my mom wasn’t well, I couldn’t see Jintana without her asking how things were, and handing me a flan for her.

    Valentina's husband and two boys at KAYNDAVES Restaurant.My husband and boys at KAYNDAVES, making a rare appearance here on COTW. 🙂 

    After losing my mom last year, we went to the restaurant on her birthday and I ordered the tortilla soup and flan — her two favorite things on the menu. A new tradition.

    Dave and Jintana aren’t chefs. The kitchens are run by Alejo and his brothers, Ruben and Roberto. Referred to as “Nos Tres Hermanos,” they learned to cook traditional dishes, using farm fresh ingredients, when they were kids, from their great grandmother in Oaxaca.

    Everything on the menu is consistently delicious. My husband and I absolutely love the Molcajete, which is steak, shrimp, chicken, relleno & guajillo chili sauce slow cooked in a sizzling molcajete. It's served with rice, beans & tortillas. (We usually share one order, but if you’re famished, get your own!)

    Close up of Small Mexican Chocolate Spice Cookies in a pretty ceramic green, cream and yellow mug.

    And finally third, the coffee mug . . .

    I was at KAYNDAVES for breakfast one day, and I was served coffee in a beautiful new mug. When I told Jintana what a great choice they were, she insisted I take this one home.

    Close up of half of a pretty ceramic, green and yellow mug with Small Mexican Chocolate Spice Cookies in it.

    Now, let’s make Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies!

    If you live in the LA area, you can find KAYNDAVES in Pacific Palisades and Culver City. Get more information here.

    I was not compensated in any way for this post.

    3 stacked Mexican Chocolate Spice Cookies on a white cloth napkin.

    Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

    Valentina K. Wein
    Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies are little bites of melted chocolate, a subtle kick of heat, and a whole lot of sweetness.
    *Makes about 4½ dozen / serving size: about 3 cookies
    4.58 from 7 votes
    Print
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Cooling Time 10 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 18
    Calories 165 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon semisweet chocolate chips

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 375°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
    • In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, salt and cayenne. Mix until smooth.
    • Add the egg and mix until it’s fully incorporated.
    • Now fold in the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and chocolate chips. Mix only until you no longer see dry spots.
    • Use a 1-inch cookie scoop or about ½ tablespoon to shape the cookies, adding them to the parchment-lined baking sheets as you go. There should be a couple of inches between them, as they will spread a little.
    • Bake in the 375°F preheated oven just until they’re solid, about 10 minutes.
    • Let them cool on the baking sheets for about 10 minutes before serving.

    Notes

    Depending on the the space size between the dollops of cookie batter, you may not use all of it between the two baking sheets. Simply repeat once you remove the cookies from the baking sheets — you can reuse the parchment paper.
    Calorie count is only an estimate.
    Keywords cookies, cookies with spices
    Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

    Cooking On The Weekends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.


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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Christina | Christina's Cucina

      May 03, 2018 at 5:02 pm

      Awww, what lovely restaurant owners! That's so great to hear, Valentina. I will be sure to check them out when I'm nearby.

      The cookies look fabulous, as always, but that mug is truly soooo cool! Perfect pairing with the cookies! Glad you had all three featured! Love the pic of your boys! 🙂

      Reply
      • valentina

        May 03, 2018 at 10:18 pm

        Thanks so much, Christina, for all of the kind words! Much appreciated! We should have our next get together there! 😀

        Reply
    2. sippitysup

      May 03, 2018 at 6:10 pm

      I love Mexican chocolate anything. The mug is a generous gift and having recently lost my dad I know how these small gestures (without saying so much about why) can mean so much. GREG

      Reply
      • valentina

        May 03, 2018 at 10:19 pm

        Thank you, Greg. You totally get it. xoxo

        Reply
    3. Terri Lyman

      May 03, 2018 at 8:18 pm

      Love it! I miss Mexican food so much! We can't even get the ingredients.

      Reply
      • valentina

        May 03, 2018 at 10:20 pm

        Thanks, Terri! I hope you feast on it when you're in town! 😀

        Reply
    4. Kavita Favelle

      May 04, 2018 at 9:30 am

      Was lovely to read about the inspiration for the recipe, and also your emotional connection to this restaurant, especially since the loss of your mum, and feeling connected by ordering her favourite menu items. Loving the sound of that Mexican spicing in the chocolate for these cookies.

      Reply
      • valentina

        May 06, 2018 at 10:18 pm

        Thanks so much! I appreciate you taking the time to read about my connection to this restaurant. 🙂 Enjoy the cookies, if you make them!

        Reply
    5. Vicky

      May 04, 2018 at 10:33 am

      Have a wonderful trip to Mexico! Maybe you can pack some of those yummy looking cookies for the flight. They look like they would travel well and get you more excited for your trip.

      Reply
      • valentina

        May 06, 2018 at 10:17 pm

        If I hadn't already given them to my brother and dad, I totally would have. Brilliant idea. 🙂

        Reply
    6. Beth

      May 04, 2018 at 10:52 am

      I love your stories about the restaurant and the mug! Family owned restaurants are the best! Sorry about your Mom but it's so nice you go there on special occasions and remember her fondly! These cookies look simply amazing! I have been looking for Mexican chocolate around me, when I find some I am definitely giving these babies a try!

      Reply
      • valentina

        May 06, 2018 at 10:16 pm

        Thank you so much, Beth! I agree, family run restaurants are indeed the best! Hope you love the cookies if you try them. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Rae

      May 04, 2018 at 12:23 pm

      Mexican chocolate is so underrated. I'm fortunate to live close to so many quality Mexican markets where I can always find it. I especially love it in hot chocolate—I need to try these cookies as I am sure they're the perfect treat!

      Reply
      • valentina

        May 06, 2018 at 10:15 pm

        You're so luck you can easily access Mexican Chocolate! Enjoy!

        Reply
    8. Cathy | ShePaused4Thought

      May 04, 2018 at 10:16 pm

      You always have the BEST cookie recipes! I would love to check out this restaurant as well. I love any restaurant that helps us commemorates our loved ones.

      Reply
      • valentina

        May 06, 2018 at 10:14 pm

        Aww, thank you Cathy. I hope you have restaurants like this in your life. And thank you so much for loving my cookies. 🙂

        Reply
    9. David

      May 07, 2018 at 6:52 am

      Love the recipe and the mug! I am with you - Ibarra is my favorite!

      Reply
      • valentina

        May 07, 2018 at 7:28 pm

        Thanks, David. Next thing I have to do is make Mexican hot chocolate and drink it from this mug. 🙂

        Reply
    10. Barb

      January 01, 2020 at 10:30 am

      These cookies are very good but only make two dozen. The ingredients are 1/2 the size of a "normal" batch of chocolate chips so obviously would make 1/2 the amount. Other than that delish.

      Reply
      • valentina

        January 01, 2020 at 3:34 pm

        Hi Barb, Thanks so much for writing in. The dough should make 4 1/2 dozen of the size indicated in the recipe. I make these particular cookies small because of the spice. A two-bite cookie seems to be just right. 🙂 Of course, they can be made into any size cookie you like. I'm so happy you like them, and happy new year! Thanks for visiting my site and checking out my recipes, too! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    11. Kitty

      May 05, 2021 at 11:55 am

      I made these for the first time today. I did use the 1" scoop and only got 30 cookies out of the dough (as Barb also commented). I would like to know what cookies were used for the photos as mine came out dark chocolate rather than the "chocolate chip" colored cookie that is in the photos. Once you add the cocoa powder there is no way the cookie will be tan in color. All in all a nice and easy cookie but not as expected.

      Reply
      • valentina

        May 05, 2021 at 1:14 pm

        Hi Kitty. Thank you for your notes. I'm not sure why the count is off (with the other comment as well). I always get around 50 small cookies, give or take a couple. With the 1-inch cookie scoop, I sort of level off the batter as I scoop, evening out the bottom of the scoop on the edge bowl (so it's flat on the bottom and round on top). As for the color, this might depend on the brand of cocoa powder -- some could be a bit darker than others. The cookies in my photos were made following this recipe exactly. I'm sorry they weren't as you'd expected, but I'm happy you still liked them. I really appreciate you writing, as I always want to know about any possible errors in my recipes, and will do my best to rectify them asap. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply

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