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These delicious yet so easy Hot Chocolate Lace Cookies are the perfect holiday cookie. Made with double the vanilla and sweet brown sugar. These cookies are crisp, buttery, and perfectly sweet with hints of caramel throughout. They’re generously sandwiched with a sweet and creamy hot chocolate ganache that truly makes these cookies roll your eyes back delicious. The secret is in the combination of vanilla and brown sugar, which keep these cookies incredibly flavorful, crisp, and so delicious. Fun and easy to bake, delicious to eat, a great homemade gift, and a festive addition to your holiday cookie box!

front on photo of Easy Hot Chocolate Lace Cookies

Such an easy holiday cookie for you guys today! Sometimes I love a more involved cookie. But come December, I also like to have a few recipes on hand that really take no time at all.

Enter these lace cookies. I’ve literally been dreaming these up since last December. I had every intention of sharing them before the end of the holiday season, but as always December flew by. I never got the chance to share these delicious “hot chocolate” stuffed lace cookies so I decided to save them.

prep photo of cookie dough

The idea and the inspiration.

Funny enough the idea for these cookies all came from a cookie I shared in 2012, Nutella Oatmeal Lace Cookies. If you love a good trip down memory lane…or just a laugh. Read through this blog post. It’s so crazy to see how much I’ve really grown up over the years!

I remembered those lace cookies as being delicious, especially with that Nutella filling. I wondered if I could create a similar cookie but without the oatmeal and with the addition of a creamy hot cocoa center.

lace cookies after baking

The Details.

I tested them out…several times, and while these cookies took a while to perfect, I finally got them right. Honestly, they’re even more delicious than I had envisioned.

For any of you who might not be familiar, lace cookies are very thin cookies usually made from either nuts or oatmeal. They’re meant to be VERY thin and crisp and are often sandwiched with fillings like chocolate or buttercream.

It’s a classic Christmas cookie and one that’s so easy to make.

First, melt the butter on the stove, then stir in the brown sugar. Cook a minute, then add the vanilla. Stir in a bit of almond flour and a pinch of salt. Let this mix cool, then add an egg white.

And that’s your dough! It’s going to seem runny at first, but let the dough sit for ten minutes and it will stiffen slightly as it cools.

Now, these cookies are not like other cookies. For one, the dough is on the greasy side, so just be aware that a little butter around the sides of the dough is OK.

And second, we are making these dough balls small. One teaspoon dollops of dough to be exact. The cookies will spread a lot in the oven, thus the need for smaller size dough balls.

close up photo of Easy Hot Chocolate Lace Cookie

And lastly, stuff them with hot chocolate!

Well, kind of. Once the cookies cool completely, sandwich them with a thicker, creamier version of hot chocolate. It’s not quite hot chocolate, but all the same flavors.

And it makes for a truly delicious lace cookie filling!! Or keep it simple and spread each cookie with sweet milk chocolate. You can’t go wrong either way!

And trust me, these cookies are GOOD. Crisp and sweet on the outside, but the filling is soft and creamy. There are hints of browned butter and caramel, as well as sweet vanilla and even a touch of espresso.

All together they’re just delicious! Like grab a third…or fourth cookie (my mom says she did) kind of good.

front on close up photo of of Easy Hot Chocolate Lace Cookies

As mentioned, these are the perfect easy Christmas cookie to bake up. You can enjoy them yourself or gift some to friends and family. No matter who you’re gifting them to, they will be loved.

These aren’t your average cookie, but such a nice switch up!

So with that, let’s bake cookies on a December Friday night and enjoy them while watching your favorite holiday movie. Then take the leftovers and share them with friends. You’ll make everyone’s day.

‘Tis the season for giving after all! And let’s be real, there isn’t much else to do these days anyway! Embrace it!

front on close up photo of Easy Hot Chocolate Lace Cookies

Looking for other holiday cookie recipes? Here are my favorites: 

Slice n’ Bake Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cookies

Vanilla Wreath Cookies

Chai Spiced Santa Cookies with White Chocolate Frosting

Lastly, if you make these Easy Hot Chocolate Lace Cookies, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

Hot Chocolate Lace Cookies 

Author: Tieghan Gerard
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 16 cookies
Calories Per Serving: 317 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

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Ingredients

Hot Chocolate Filling

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • 1. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Once melted, whisk in the brown sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook 1 minute. Remove from the heat and transfer to a bowl. Whisk in the vanilla. Add the almond flour and salt mixing until combined. Let cool 5 minutes, then stir in the egg white. Let the dough sit 10 minutes to thicken. 
    2. Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
    3. If you can roll the dough into balls, add 1 tablespoons water to thin. The dough should be thiner and look like my photo above.
    4. Drop 1 teaspoons size amounts of dough on prepared baking sheet, placing each 3 inches apart. Bake for 7-9 minutes until golden brown around the edges. The butter will be bubbling up around the cookies, this is OK. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cook completely. 
    5. To make the filling. Combine chocolate and cream microwave-safe bowl and microwave, stirring every 45 seconds, until melted. Stir in the vanilla and coffee powder. Let cool 10 minutes, until slightly thickened and spreadable.
    6. Sandwich each cookie with the chocolate filling or melted milk chocolate. Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Notes

Nut Free Cookie: try my Oatmeal Lace Cookies.
All-Purpose Flour: I did not have success when I tested all-purpose flour, so I would recommend sticking to a nut flour or using the Oatmeal Lace Cookies.
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horizontal photo of Easy Hot Chocolate Lace Cookies

This post was originally published on December 4, 2020
3.89 from 1647 votes (1,507 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    These are amazing!!! I made them this morning, but I must have used less chocolate in them because I had about half the chocolate left over. Simple solution…I made another batch of cookies!!! My neighbors will love me. I have never made a bad recipe from your collection…thank you!!

    Reply

  2. Tieghen – looks delicious! Quick question, your description references almond flour and regular flour, yet the recipe only has almond flour. Can you clarify and correct? Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Hey Julie,
      Sorry for the confusion, the recipe is fixed, there is only almond flour used here. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply

    1. Hey Carol,
      So sorry the almond flour is key to this recipe. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply

    1. Hey Linda,
      This recipe only calls for almond flour:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply

    1. Hey Judy,
      You can freeze the cookies without the chocolate filling. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply

  7. 5 stars
    Generally, I prefer a chewy cookie like a oatmeal raisin, but these look really yummy. I want make these and I’ll know I’ll love them.

    Reply

  8. These sound delicious. Reading your description, it says almond and regular flour, but in the ingredients list, it just says almond flour. Just making sure almond flour is the only flour needed before I make these. Thank you!

    Reply

  9. Good Morning.
    what is the optional 12 oz milk choc needed in the cookie recipe. Did I miss something?
    Thanks.

    Reply

    1. Hey there,
      You can use milk chocolate as the filling or the hot chocolate recipe filling. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply

  10. Hi. You mention in the description that you add both almond and regular flour but I don’t see regular flour in the list of ingredients. Do you use almond flour only? Thanks!!

    Reply

    1. Hey Leah,
      So sorry for the confusion, the recipe has been fixed, you are only going to use almond flour. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply

  12. Hi Tieghan! love lace cookies and these look so good with the chocolate filling! In your description before the recipe you mention adding almond flour and regular flour but only almond flour is listed in the ingredients. Is there any regular flour?
    Thanks! Can’t wait to try them!

    Reply

    1. Hey Leigh,
      So sorry for the confusion, the recipe has been fixed, it only calls for almond flour. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply

  13. These look delicious and I’m so excited to make them. Can they be frozen or stored in the fridge? I would love to make these in advance if possible and send out with my family’s Christmas gifts.

    Reply

    1. Hey Amanda,
      You can store these in the fridge or freeze without the chocolate. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply

  14. Hello! These cookies look so delicious! I really want to try them! My children are all allergic to nuts. Can I sub in all purpose flour for the almond flour? If yes, is it a 1:1 substitution? Thank you and Happy Holidays!

    Reply