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Desserts » Cocoa Drop Cookies

Cocoa Drop Cookies

Published: Dec 10, 2017 · Modified: Dec 6, 2021 by Kate Shungu · This post may contain affiliate links

Jump to Recipe
chocolate cookies with chocolate icing on a white plate.
chocolate cookies with chocolate icing on a white plate.
chocolate cookies with chocolate frosting on a silicone baking mat.
chocolate cookies with chocolate frosting on a silicone baking mat.

Grandma’s Cocoa Drop Cookies are a chocolate lover’s dream cookie. The cookie itself is soft and cakey, made with cocoa and chopped pecans. The frosting is a rich fudge-like topping that takes these cookies over the top. A glass of milk on the side is a must!

chocolate cookies with chocolate frosting on a sheet pan, sitting on a red towel.

If you love chocolate, Cocoa Drop Cookies are the perfect cookie to satisfy a chocolate craving.

The cookie is soft and chocolatey, which pairs perfectly with the walnuts folded inside, and the rich fudge frosting.

The recipe is from my Grandma Verie, and these chocolate drop cookies have been made for years by her, my mom, and now me. It’s not Christmas at our house without at least one batch of these.

I hope you enjoy a taste of this family recipe!

This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links support Gift of Hospitality at no additional cost to you. I receive a commission if you choose to make a purchase through these links.

Jump to:
  • How to make cocoa drops
  • How to make chocolate frosting
  • Cocoa Drop Cookies: Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Christmas cookie recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Related recipes
  • 💬 Reviews
cocoa drop cookies on a white christmas plate.

How to make cocoa drops

This cookie dough makes a very “wet” dough, more similar to brownie batter than cookie dough. As a result, it needs a few hours to firm up in the refrigerator, so take that into account when making these cookies!

  1. Using a stand mixer, start by creaming together the butter and the sugar.
  2. Add the egg and beat until combined.
  3. Turn the mixer to low and add the buttermilk and vanilla.
  4. With the mixer still on low, add the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Add the pecans and mix on low just until combined.
  5. Refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours, or until firm. You can refrigerate the dough, covered, for up to 48 hours before baking.
  6. Spoon the cookie dough onto sheet trays fitted with a silicone mat. Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the cookies no longer look wet on top.

A note on these cookies: they are known for sticking to pans, even the most well-seasoned cookie sheets. So I use a silicone baking mat (these are similar) when I make these.

chocolate cookies with chocolate frosting on a sheet pan, sitting on a red towel.

The cookies come off really easily, and I’m not left scraping the pan for little bits of cookie left behind. Parchment paper would work, too.

How to make chocolate frosting

The frosting comes from a family heirloom: the first edition Betty Crocker cookbook. It was published in 1950, and belonged to my great-grandmother. The cookbook holds a collection of cooking and entertaining tips, plus hundreds of recipes.

They re-printed the same Betty Crocker cookbook, which you can still get on Amazon. The chocolate frosting recipe is thick and fudge-like—perfect for these cookies!

To make the frosting, melt unsweetened chocolate and butter in a double boiler or in the microwave in 30 second intervals.

Using a handheld mixer, mix in the vanilla, milk, and powdered sugar until combined.

Once the cookies are cool, frost them with a generous amount of frosting.

chocolate cookies with chocolate frosting on a white plate surrounded by gold pinecones on a deep red tablecloth.

Cocoa Drop Cookies: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make homemade buttermilk?

To make homemade buttermilk, pour 1 tablespoon of vinegar into the bottom of a liquid measuring cup. Fill the rest of the cup with milk up to the ¾ cup line. Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes, and then it’s ready to use. You will see the vinegar curdling the milk—that is a good thing! You can use any type of milk (skim, 1%, 2%, whole) and either white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or white wine vinegar.

Can I make these cookies with vanilla frosting instead?

Yes! Simple omit the unsweetened chocolate from the frosting recipe and continue on with the instructions. You may need a little less powdered sugar. If the mixture gets too stiff, add a splash more milk until it thins to a spreadable consistency.

More Christmas cookie recipes

Cocoa Drops are part of a collection of Christmas cookie recipes from both of my grandmothers. You can find the rest here:

Grandma’s Rum Balls
Grandma’s Do-Re-Mi Cookies
Grandma’s Chocolate Peppermint Shortbread
Grandma’s Classic Ginger Cookies
Grandma’s Snowball Cookies
Grandma’s Schnitzer Doodles (Snickerdoodles)

Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or comment below!


cup of ambrosia and slice of banana cake.

📖 Recipe

chocolate cookies with chocolate frosting on a silicone baking mat.

Grandma’s Cocoa Drops

Kate Shungu
Chocolate lovers will adore these chocolate cookies with chocolate buttercream.
3.95 from 20 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 2 hrs 40 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 249 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the cookies:

  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • ¾ cup buttermilk (see substitute in notes below)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup cocoa
  • 1¾ cup flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

For the frosting:

  • 3 oz unsweetened chocolate
  • ⅓ cup (5⅓ tablespoons) butter, softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2–3 tablespoons milk

Instructions
 

For the cookies:

  • Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on medium speed until fluffy, about 3–4 minutes.
  • Turn off the mixer and add the egg and vanilla. Beat until combined.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the cocoa, flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine.
  • With the mixer on low, add half of the buttermilk. Once it is incorporated, add half of the flour mixture. Repeat with the remaining buttermilk and flour mixture.
  • Add the chopped pecans and mix until just combined. Refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours, or up to 48 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 375°. Use a spoon to scoop out one tablespoon of dough and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Repeat with the remaining dough, leaving 3 inches of space between each tablespoon of dough (the cookies will spread).
  • Bake for 8–10 minutes, until the cookies no longer look wet on top. Let sit for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet. Remove the cookies and place on a cooling rack.

For the frosting:

  • Place the unsweetened chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20 second increments until melted.
  • Place the softened butter, melted chocolate, powdered sugar, vanilla, and 2 tablespoons milk in a large bowl. Use a handheld mixer to mix until it reaches frosting-like consistency and the powdered sugar is incorporated. Add an additional tablespoon of milk if the mixture looks too stiff.

Frosting the cookies:

  • Use an offset spatula to spread approximately 2 tablespoons of frosting on each cookie. Serve with a tall glass of milk!

Notes

These cookies are known for sticking to baking pans, so use a silicone mat or parchment paper so you don’t have to scrape off crumbs later!
Don’t have buttermilk? Pour 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice into a glass measuring cup. Fill the cup up to the ¾ cup line with milk. Let sit for 5 minutes and use as directed. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 249kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 3gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 85mgPotassium: 99mgFiber: 2gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 222IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cocoa drops
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Related recipes

  • Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
  • Snowball Cookies
  • Grandma’s Do Re Mi Cookies
  • Grandma’s Rum Balls
« Chocolate Peppermint Shortbread
Snowball Cookies »
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jewel Brown says

    January 26, 2022 at 1:50 pm

    Recipe does not instruct when to add the vanilla. But I am sure people will know.. I have this recipe in my mother’s handwriting, written so many years ago. I enjoyed making it today.

    Reply
    • Kate Shungu says

      January 27, 2022 at 7:47 pm

      Thank you for catching that—I just fixed the recipe. I’m so glad that you enjoyed making it, and I love that you have it in your mother’s handwriting, too!

      Reply
  2. Jeff says

    April 30, 2021 at 2:48 pm

    Kate – Your instructions to make homemade buttermilk have a typo that could confuse people. The recipe should mention a tablespoon of *vinegar* NOT a tablespoon of buttermilk!

    Reply
    • Kate Shungu says

      April 30, 2021 at 5:27 pm

      Just fixed this! Thanks for your keen eye, Jeff!

      Reply
  3. Kit says

    August 27, 2020 at 7:27 am

    These cookies are delicious and remind me of my mother. 🙂 We always iced them with white icing. They taste like chocolate cake. Love them!!!

    Reply
    • Kate Shungu says

      August 27, 2020 at 9:57 am

      Oh, Kit, I just love hearing that! I bet they are delicious with white icing. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  4. Sarah says

    January 13, 2020 at 1:37 pm

    5 stars
    One of the best cookie recipes I’ve ever made!

    Reply
    • Kate Shungu says

      January 13, 2020 at 8:51 pm

      That’s so good to hear—thank you, Sarah! They are a long-time favorite at our house. 🙂

      Reply

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