Did you know that Pinterest is a very, very dangerous place? A place that throws things like healthy eating, budgets, and blog calendars to the wind? A place that embeds images of naughty and beautiful food into my brain, tormenting me into driving all over my teeny tiny town trying to find things like, say, coriander seeds, not letting me rest until I’ve successfully (or unsuccessfully–I’m talking to you, beautiful meltaway cookies) made said food myself?
Like these Surprise Cookies from Martha Stewart.
I saw them early last week and they have been all I can think about since then. I also couldn’t stop thinking about the name–have I ever mentioned that I am extremely not fond of the word “surprise” in recipe titles? Call me crazy, but I generally don’t like to be warned that my food is going to surprise me. If it’s a good surprise, surprise me! If it’s in something like, say, Halibut Surprise, all I can think about is what the surprise could possibly be. Because I’m a tiny bit neurotic, I automatically assume all the worst case surprise scenarios (and when we’re talking about surprises in my halibut, the list could be nearly endless).
I finally had a few minutes to make these cookies, although not so much time that I was in a position to experiment with cookie recipes. Chocolate cookies can be temperamental and I wasn’t prepared to invest all sorts of time and energy into a cookie recipe that wasn’t 100% tried and true, so I went with the easiest, most fail-proof chocolate cookie recipe I know: Cake Mix Cookies.
Oh, and just in case you were wondering if the “surprise” in these cookies is something horrific, it isn’t; it’s marshmallows. So you’ll need some of those, too.
Preheat your oven to 350. In the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer, combine the cake mix, eggs, and 1/2 cup of shortening.
Mix until completely combined. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a lined baking sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cookies appear cooked in the center but not completely solid. While the cookies are baking, use a pair of kitchen shears to cut each marshmallow in half.
(The stuff on my shears is marshmallow residue, I promise. I’m not gross.)
When the cookies are ready, remove the pan from the oven and place a marshmallow half, cut-side down, onto each cookie.
Place the pan back in the oven for another 2 minutes. Remove and very, very gently smoosh each marshmallow down just a little, just to ensure the marshmallow spreads out a little over the cookie. Allow to cool completely.
While the cookies are cooling, combine the powdered sugar and cocoa powder in a large bowl. Add the vanilla, milk, and melted butter and beat with an electric mixer on high speed until smooth, light, and fluffy. Spoon the frosting into an icing bag fitted with a large tip (I used a Wilton 1M tip) and swirl onto the cookies.
Now…some of you might be saying, “But Kate, these cookies sound awfully familiar. Kind of like the Mississippi Mud Brownies. Kind of like…the infamous Tim Riggins Brownies.” Yeah, that thought crossed my mind, too. But these cookies were, quite honestly, too good not to share. So. It’s almost Valentine’s Day. I love my friends. I don’t think it’s fair that my kids should get all the fun and get to give all their friends little fun cards and treats on Valentine’s Day–I should get to, too, right?! Yeah, I thought so.
I sent the file to Office Depot and had them printed out on glossy cardstock for less than a buck a page. Then I cut them out, cut some striped paper straws in half (but regular straws, toothpicks, skewers, or anything along those lines would also work) and taped them to the back of Mr. Riggins and popped them right into the frosting of the cookies. 
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Good thing my husband humors me.
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Click HERE for the Tim Riggins Valentine printable!
Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
Recipe by Our Best Bites, inspired by Martha Stewart
1 chocolate cake mix (we prefer Duncan Hines)
1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening
2 eggs
12 large marshmallows
1/2 c. melted butter
1/3 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 c. evaporated milk
1 lb. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350. Combine cake mix, eggs, and shortening in the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer and mix until well combined. Drop dough by the tablespoon onto a baking sheet and bake for about 8-10 minutes or until the cookies appear done but are still soft in the center.
While the cookies are baking, use a pair of kitchen shears to cut each marshmallow in half. When the cookies have baked, remove the pan from the oven and place a marshmallow half on each cookie, cut side down. Return the pan to the oven for about 2 minutes. Remove from oven and very gently push each marshmallow down. Allow to cool completely and repeat with remaining cookie dough.
When the cookies have cooled completely, combine the powdered sugar and cocoa powder in a large bowl. Add melted butter, vanilla, and evaporated milk and beat on high until smooth, light, and fluffy. Transfer the frosting to an icing bag fitted with a large tip and swirl onto the cookies. Makes 24 cookies.
hmm… married women swooning over men who are NOT their husbands. give me a break. i’m pretty sure these same women would slap their husbands silly and then call the bishop if their husbands oogled and swooned over another woman.
It’s a joke. 🙂 My husband was a full participant in the making of the printables if that makes you feel any better.
I am pretty sure every man alive (who is not gay) swoons over someone other than their spouse, whether they voice it or not LOL.
I mean to say over a woman, so I guess those in the parenthesis are included haha!
Kate, sometimes I feel bad that you have to put up with rude people who don’t understand jokes, are self-righteous and are “know-it-alls”. Your jokes and funny comments always make me laugh and I can tell you are a good wife and mother! I don’t think I would have the patience to deal with peoples’ comments the way you and Sarah do! I am always impressed with you two! Thank you for all of your hard work!
Kate,
You should just ignore the rude people because all your ideas are fantastic and I’m sure theyare just jealous!
these cookies look the best.. well I have just one problem. I dislike frosting. I know I must be the worst person around but I just don’t like it. My birthday cakes are all sans frosting. Any idea of what I can put on top to hide the surprise?
How do you feel about ganache? You could dip them in that! 🙂
https://ourbestbites.com/2010/03/super-easy-chocolate-ganache/
I think I’ll change mine to Tim Tebow Valentines…. 😉
This is the most amazing yummy thing I have ever seen…… And the cookies look delicious too. :0)
HA!! Love it! 🙂
Can’t wait to make these. I am going to use the new heart marshmallows.
You know you have single-handedly made 90% of the desserts that we have always put on our Christmas treat plates and people love and don’t know the recipes to?! At least I still like you guys. And hopefully people around here won’t take the time to make them by themselves.
Yup, Pinterest is evil. But I love it, I’m just having to adjust to being perpetually salivating 🙂 Love the printable!
Does it have to be butter flavored shortening?? Or can I use regular?
Regular would be fine! 🙂
Tim Riggins 4 eva.
Thanks for the printables! I love Valentine’s Day.
This is seriously awesome with the Valentine’s! Good job!
Hi Kate! Can I use butter instead of shortening? Btw -your adorable MIL showed up at our enrichment meeting and totally made my day! She’s o sad you and Sara aren’t doings timeout here in Seattle. Thanks!
Hi, Heike! You know, I truly don’t know if butter would work. The cookies will definitely be different, but I can’t say how. But you can always try it and see if it works! 🙂
I made these yesterday and used butter and they turned out great. I was making them GF so I had to tweak it a little, but turned out awesome!
Oh Tim RIggins. Swoon.
Love these cookies! Any cookies with a healthy dose of frosting is good in my book!
Who is Tim Riggins?
See comment 10.1 🙂
The cookies look fantastic but Tim Riggins looks even better!!
First of all, these cookies look amazing.
Secondly, I just now got over the fact that Friday Night Lights is over, and now your brought it all back up again. 🙂
I make cookies like this ALL the time and they’re definitely one of my favourite things. I sometimes even make them in little mini batches of like, six or eight, so I don’t end up devouring a whole batch in an embarrassingly short amount of time.
One thing I do differently, though, is that after I put the marshmallows on the cookies, I set the oven to Broil, not Bake, for the final two or three minutes, and then they get toasted a little bit, like s’mores. Yum!
I have never been more excited to hand out Valentines in my life!!
What do you think would happen if you used a whole flat marshmallow instead of cutting a regular one in half?
I would think you’re very smart. Also, in possession of flat marshmallows, which seem to have disappeared from my area. 🙂
That’s really rude that flat marshmallows have disappeared near you. Perhaps I need to send you a care package. Also, your photo presentation of these cookies beats Martha’s to pieces.
P.S. I’m excited for the pink or blue reveal today 🙂
You are killing me this week!!!! And I am too busy to bake right now. I know how I am spending my weekend.
who the hell is Tim Riggins??
Beautiful bad boy with a heart of gold from Friday Night Lights:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Riggins
I was wondering the same thing!
me too :/
looks delicious AND cracks me up…great combo :). also, you can spray your kitchen shears with nonstick spray to keep the marshmallows from sticking when you cut them. i’ve also read you can stick the marshmallows in the freezer for a while to keep them from sticking when being cut, but i’ve never tried that. you probably already know that but i thought i’d mention it. because i am That Girl. 🙂
Come on, Amelia, why do you have to be THAT GIRL??! 😉 Just kidding–not only are those awesome tips, but I’d never heard them before and will definitely try them next time I’m cutting up my marshmallows. 🙂
i can’t help it. but some days i hide it better than others ;). i hope they help next time!
I just watched every season of FNL on netflix and I’m so glad I did! Riggins Forever!
Best printable EVER!!!!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Best grown up valentine ever. Thanks for sending me into a sad spiral of FNL withdrawals!
It is a sad, sad spiral that usually ends in re-watching the series. 🙂
These look delicious and really simple to make. Definitely going to try them!
Love these!
I think these may be the greatest cookies known to man! #33
I love Tim Riggins too!!!! So hot!
OMG those cookies look so amazing, thanks for the printable!