Frosted Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
If you lived in Eugene, Oregon or went to college in Eugene during the 80s and into the 90s, I’m betting you remember The Cookie Cottage in Valley River Center (VRC) shopping mall. And if you were not in the vicinity of Eugene during this time, you’ll wish you were once you see the cookies I’m about to tell you about. The Cookie Cottage featured a black pot-bellied stove and they sold several warm cookie varieties — but their specialty (or the most original) was a large chocolate cookie covered in chocolate frosting with a marshmallow filling. They were on the south end of the mall outside of Meier & Frank (where I happened to work during college). Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any information on the internet to confirm which years they were at the mall. I do know that when I was in college, and not naming names, we would make a special trip to Valley River for one of these cookies. Several of my sorority sisters (and my own three sisters) still talk about the renowned chocolate marshmallow cookies. In the words of one of my favorite sisters in the bond, they were “a fine product.”
When I searched “The Cookie Cottage Eugene” online, I did find a couple of cookie lovers who shared how they recreated the chocolate marshmallow cookies at home. One woman used a cake mix for the cookies. The other used a recipe similar to one I later found attributed to Martha Stewart. (Obviously Martha must have shopped at VRC; I mean how else did she know about these cookies?) I vaguely remember the cookie place moving to the other end of the mall for a short period of time and then they were gone. There was a rumor that Mrs. Fields bought them but I have no idea if that’s true. I don’t think there was ever a Mrs. Fields in Valley River Center. Digressing a moment, I credit Mrs. Fields for starting the popularity of cookie establishments. When I was in high school, our family did a road trip to Disneyland and on the way we visited my dad’s brother in the Bay Area. One of my cousins worked at Mrs. Fields Cookies and after dinner he went and picked up cookies for us. Being from little Eugene, I remember it being a really big deal to buy “gourmet” cookies. Or at least it’s a memory that’s stuck with me.
Anyhow, these cookies have been on my list to make for a long time. Then, a few days ago I thought about how these cookies would be a fun Easter treat, you know with the marshmallows and all. I contemplated stuffing a marshmallow Peep inside the cookie but stopped short of that, because I really only know one person who likes Peeps. (And do Peeps even melt in the oven?)
These chocolate marshmallow aka Valley River Center cookies are the mall’s claim to fame and a nostalgic walk down memory lane for some of us. Well, that and when the 1980 movie How to Beat the High Cost of Living was filmed at the mall. Big happening for a small town.
Without further ado … THE cookies.
Frosted Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
Cookie dough (Makes 12 large cookies)
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 egg
¼ cup whole milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 ¾ cup flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp kosher salt
½ cup Dutch processed cocoa
6 large marshmallows, cut in half
Directions
Cream butter and sugar by hand or in a mixer. Add egg, milk and vanilla and mix well. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in separate bowl and whisk together. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture and mix until well incorporated.
Divide the dough into 12 equal balls. It’s easier if you have a cookie or ice cream scoop. I used my 3 tablespoon-sized ice cream scoop. Place the scoops of dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
I cooked six cookies at a time. Bake at 350 degrees for 7-8 minutes. Meanwhile, cut marshmallows in half with kitchen shears. When you take the cookies out of the oven, immediately press a marshmallow half, cut side down, onto each cookie, flattening the cookie as you press. Return to the oven for 3 minutes. With an offset spatula, smoosh the marshmallow down; or use your fingers, bottom of a glass, etc. Let cool on pan for 4 minutes and transfer to rack. Cool completely before frosting.
Frosting
I distinctly remember the mall cookies having a chocolate frosting that was lighter in color than the chocolate color of the brownie-like cookies. To recreate this, I opted for a milk chocolate frosting found on Deliciously Sprinkled. But one of my sisters remembers the cookies having dark frosting like Martha’s version. So you can use the chocolate frosting of your liking, but because I think they are much prettier with the light whipped frosting contrast, that’s what these received.
1 (4.4 oz. king size) Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 ½ cups powdered sugar
¼ cup heavy whipping cream
½ tsp vanilla
Microwave broken up candy bar at 30-second intervals, stirring after each (mine just took 1 minute total). Set aside to cool slightly. In stand mixer or with hand mixer, beat softened butter for 1 minute. Add sugar and beat 2 minutes more, until light and fluffy, scraping bowl as needed. Add cream and vanilla.; mix until incorporated. Add milk chocolate and mix on low until fully mixed.
*Note you’ll have extra frosting. Half a batch may do the trick for the 12 cookies. But I was’t sure it it would be enough. So now I have some frosting in the freezer for next time.
To finish off the cookies, put a large spoonful of frosting on top of the cookies and spread with a small offset spatula or knife. I added Maldon Flaky Sea Salt (a staple in my house) to some of the cookies — which I really liked, as it complemented (or cut?) the sweetness. The others I decorated with Hangin’ With My Peeps Sprinkles Mix from Sprinkle Pop. You certainly don’t need to make these for Easter, they can be made anytime. If desired, you can warm them up in a toaster oven or microwave for a few seconds, just so they are slightly warm and the marshmallow is a bit melty.
And just because these Frosted Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies are so good, here is another photo to entice you to make them soon for your own peeps. And if you try these with leftover Peeps, let me know!
