Hot Cocoa Cookies - A Virtual Cookie Swap

I love Christmas cookies and other goodies, but I generally don't enjoy baking the cookies.  I leave that to other family members that actually enjoy it.  However, a few weeks ago I happened across a virtual cookie swap coordinated by Julie of White Lights on Wednesday.  The premise was simple: write out your favorite holiday cookie recipe and mail a copy to one person.  They make your recipe and blog about it, then everyone links up for one big virtual recipe exchange.  I received a recipe for Hot Cocoa Cookies from Susan at Adventures in My Kitchen.

 Don't they look yummy?  Susan's original recipe on her blog called for raspberry soda pop base or extract, so I thought that would be a yummy choice.  I popped in to a local grocery store to pick up some extract, but THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY!!!!!  I almost settled for orange since that was the only hot chocolate-compatible flavor they had.  Then I spotted my secret ingredient:

Duncan Hines Frosting Creations flavor mix.  I figured I had nothing to lose, and actually, it worked wonderfully.  The cookies were devoured that night and the next day.  This will definitely be a repeat recipe.

Here's my version of Susan's recipe:

Raspberry Hot Cocoa Cookies
1 stick + 2 Tbsp room temperature butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 packet Duncan Hines Frosting Creations flavor mix in White Chocolate Raspberry
1 1/2 cups + 2 Tbsp. flour
2 packets (or a heaping 1/4 cup) hot cocoa mix
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
mini marshmallows

Cream together butter and sugars.  Add egg and frosting flavor mix.
Combine all dry ingredients in a separate bowl.  Mix with wet ingredients. (Batter will be very thick.)
Scoop onto baking sheet.
Bate at 350 for 8-11 minutes.  Immediately after removing from oven, top with three mini marshmallows.  Allow to cool, then enjoy!

Be sure to check out the other recipes included in this blog hop!