Hot Cocoa Cookies

I made these cookies the other day in less than 30 minutes!  Even though I love my breads, they take a long time to cook, about an hour.  I was invited to go out last minute to a friends house and wanted to bring something, so cookies that cook in 10-12 minutes worked perfectly.

As I rummaged through my baking cabinets I found a thing of hot cocoa that was almost done.  I do not like wasting anything and since it is the end of winter, I thought I might as well use it.  Plus, I have another big thing of hot cocoa too!  I'm all about having extras of things and buying things on sale.  That I get from my wonderful Italian mother.

Anyways, I know hot cocoa powder is a combination of cocoa and sugar.  So, I did not put any cocoa in the cookies and decreased the sugar in a normal cookie recipe by about a third.  I also added about a third cup applesauce and did not add any butter.  Instead I used coconut oil.  I have been finding coconut oil and applesauce keeps the cookies soft and moist longer.  Plus, it they're healthier that way!!  :)

So, if you have left over hot cocoa from the winter try this recipe to use it up before the beautiful spring weather comes. 

Hot Cocoa Cookies

Ingredients

* makes 2 dozen cookies

• ½ cup coconut oil
• 1/3 cup applesauce
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2/3 cup hot cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cups semisweet chocolate chips (dairy free)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix wet ingredients: coconut oil, applesauce, eggs, sugar and vanilla.
3. Mix dry ingredients: flout, hot cocoa, salt and baking soda.
4. Fold wet ingredient mixture into dry ingredients.
5. Add in chocolate chips.
6. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and with a spoon drop cookie dough.  
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
8. Enjoy with milk or hot cocoa haha!