• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
I Heart Eating
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
      • Work with Me
    • Rules and Disclosures
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Press
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Desserts » Mexican Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Mexican Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Published: Apr 24, 2019 · Modified: Mar 31, 2020 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Best Mexican chocolate chip cookie recipe! These soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies have extra oomph from cinnamon and cayenne pepper.

    Mexican chocolate chip cookies on a sheet of parchment paper

    I love the combination of flavors in Mexican hot chocolate!

    The chocolate, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper just go so well together.

    That combination of flavors was the inspiration for these Mexican chocolate chip cookies.

    I used one of my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes as the base for these cookies, and then added chocolate chunks, cinnamon, and cayenne.

    The cookies are soft and chewy and full of flavor!

    How to make Mexican chocolate chip cookies

    Butter and sugar in a saucepan

    Melt butter in a heavy saucepan. You want the butter to just melt - not hot and sizzling, not browned.

    Whisk brown sugar together with butter. Let it sit for 5 minutes.

    Cookie batter in a saucepan

    Whisk in egg and egg yolk. Add vanilla and whisk in.

    Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and cayenne pepper until combined. Stir in chopped chocolate. Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

    Mexican chocolate chip cookie dough in a glass bowl

    Scoop 1.5 tablespoon scoops of dough (medium cookie scoop), and place scoops of dough 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheet.

    Bake until the edges are light golden brown. The centers will still look soft and slightly underdone. This is the key to getting a soft and chewy cookie.

    How long will the cookies keep?

    The cookies will keep for 3-4 days at room temperature.

    Mexican chocolate chip cookies in a wooden boxTips to make perfect cookies

    1. First, the butter should just barely be melted. You won't want to cook the butter or brown the butter. Overcooking the butter or browning the butter will result in a dry dough.
    2. Be sure to properly measure the flour. Either weigh the flour or sift the flour, lightly spoon into the measuring cup, and then level. Packing in the flour will result into a dry dough or cookies that don't spread.
    3. A pinch or two of cayenne pepper (â…› teaspoon) will give you just a hint of heat. If you want more heat in the cookies, add more cayenne pepper to taste.

    Mexican chocolate chip cookie broken in halfMore chocolate chip cookie recipes!

    • Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
    • Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
    • Bakery-Style Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

    If you’ve tried this Mexican chocolate chip cookie recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes!

    You can SUBSCRIBE to receive my latest recipe newsletters or FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for even more delicious food.

    Mexican Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Soft chocolate chip cookies that have cinnamon and cayenne pepper in them
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American, Mexican
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes
    Chilling: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 27 minutes
    Servings: 36 cookies
    Calories: 140kcal
    Author: Kate @ I Heart Eating

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup butter
    • 1 ½ cups brown sugar packed
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 egg yolk
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    • 3 cups all-purpose flour¹
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt²
    • â…›-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • 4 ounces semisweet baking chocolate chopped
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Melt butter in a heavy saucepan. The butter should be just barely melted - not hot and sizzling, not browned.
    • Add brown sugar to a large bowl.
    • Pour melted butter over sugar.
    • Stir to combine butter and sugar. Let stand 5 minutes.
    • Add egg and egg yolk; stir to combine.
    • Stir in vanilla extract.
    • Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir until just combined. Please see the comments about flour in the recipe notes.
    • Stir in chopped chocolate.
    • Cover, and chill dough for 30 minutes. 
    • Toward the end of the chilling time, preheat oven to 375 F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
    • Using a medium cookie scoop (1.5 tablespoon), drop scoops of dough 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheet.
    • Bake for about 7-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are golden brown. The centers should look soft and slightly underdone.
    • Let cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes. Remove to wire rack to finish cooling.

    Video

    Notes

    1. Correctly measuring the ingredients is key. I suggest either weighing the ingredients or aerating the flour (sifting or fluffing) and then scooping and leveling. Packing in too much flour will cause the cookies not to spread or cause the dough to be dry and crumbly.
    2. Or scant ½ tsp. table salt
    3. I suggest stirring this recipe together by hand rather than using a hand or stand mixer.
    4. Nutrition values are estimates.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 140kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 128mg | Potassium: 44mg | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.8mg
    Tried this recipe? Rate it below. Mention @i_heart_eating on Instagram & tag #ihearteating!
    « Sopaipillas
    Flan de Queso »
    62.7K shares
    • Facebook
    • Email

    About Kate

    Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Karen

      August 12, 2021 at 6:37 pm

      5 stars
      Tried this recipe today, and we love these cookies! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Kate

        August 16, 2021 at 10:24 am

        Thank you so much!

        Reply
    2. Amanda

      August 06, 2021 at 6:28 pm

      5 stars
      These are fabulous turned out perfect and whole family raved. Garnished with a little powdered sugar and cinnamon hot out of the oven.

      Reply
      • Kate

        August 09, 2021 at 9:48 pm

        Thank you so much!

        Reply
    3. Lucy Marshall

      February 22, 2021 at 8:17 pm

      I'm not a big chocolate chip cookie fan, but I loved these! the cinnamon and cayenne pepper are perfect! Thanks for the recipe! I also had a about a half cup of cinnamon chips so I added those too.

      Reply
      • Kate

        February 23, 2021 at 12:57 pm

        Thank you so much! I bet the cinnamon chips were great in these cookies! Thanks for sharing that!

        Reply
        • Jennifer VN

          September 05, 2021 at 12:54 pm

          Hi there!
          Thank you for sharing your recipes. What does chilling the dough do? This is the first time I've read this in a cookie recipe.

          Reply
          • Kate

            September 06, 2021 at 12:19 pm

            Hi! Chilling the dough allows the ingredients to meld, the flour to fully hydrate, and the dough to firm up. Hope that helps! =)

    4. Silveria

      June 09, 2020 at 3:42 pm

      5 stars
      The recipe was so easy and quick to whip up! I used Ybarra Mexican chocolate and only did 1/8 tsp of cayenne and it came out so delicious.

      Reply
      • Kate

        March 12, 2021 at 5:20 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    5. Carmen Adams

      April 20, 2020 at 12:42 pm

      5 stars
      All I can say is Yum! The recipe yielded 3dozen for me! The cookies were gone within 48 hours! I used 1 stick of unsalted butter and 1 stick of salted butter since it didn’t specify. Followed the recipe and we all loved the cookies! Thank you, this recipe is a keeper!?

      Reply
      • Kate

        April 20, 2020 at 8:58 pm

        Thank you! I'm so glad that they were a hit. =)

        Reply
    6. Regina

      December 12, 2019 at 11:54 am

      I followed the recipe to the T came out fantastic love the taste I actually like the cayenne pepper very good will make again actually I’m taking my first batch to my Silver Sneaker class to share.

      Reply
      • Kate

        December 13, 2019 at 11:18 am

        Thank you! I'm glad that you liked the cookies, and I hope that they're a hit with your class. =)

        Reply
    7. Dominique

      December 08, 2019 at 12:09 am

      Can I use oil instead of butter?

      Reply
      • Kate

        December 09, 2019 at 9:49 pm

        Hi! I haven't tried using oil in this recipe to say for certain.

        Reply
    8. Carly

      November 16, 2019 at 4:07 pm

      Where did you get the wooden box the cookies are in? Your pictures are so beautiful!!

      Reply
      • Kate

        November 16, 2019 at 11:01 pm

        Thank you! I got that at H&M Home (online). =)

        Reply
    9. Allison

      July 30, 2019 at 4:03 pm

      5 stars
      Hi, I was just wondering if you used salted or unsalted butter in these and if you think it makes a difference? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Kate

        July 31, 2019 at 2:53 pm

        Hi! I usually use salted butter because that's what I have in my fridge. I don't think it makes much of a difference. I think in a recipe where you're making 2+ dozen cookies that a 1/4 teaspoon or so of salt isn't really noticable. Hope that helps! =)

        Reply
    10. Lizabeth

      May 20, 2019 at 9:35 pm

      5 stars
      Love the cayenne in these cookies, muy deliciosa!

      Reply
      • Kate

        May 21, 2019 at 10:16 am

        Thank you so much! I'm so glad that you liked the cookies. =) Thanks for commenting!

        Reply
    11. Kelsey

      May 09, 2019 at 8:56 pm

      5 stars
      I've been looking for the perfect cookie recipe. Think I found it! These cookies ROCK!!!

      Reply
      • Kate

        May 09, 2019 at 11:37 pm

        Thanks! I'm so glad you liked the cookies. =) Thanks for commenting!

        Reply
    12. Cheryl

      April 27, 2019 at 3:19 pm

      5 stars
      Fantastic cookie recipe! I weighed the ingredients, and everything was spot on. I did add a bit more cayenne because we like the heat.

      Reply
      • Kate

        April 27, 2019 at 3:28 pm

        Thanks! I'm so glad you liked them! Thanks for commenting.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Rate this recipe:




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    I’m Kate Dean- mom to five young kids, recipe developer, and photographer. Here at I Heart Eating®, I share my family’s favorite tried-and-true recipes.

    More about me →

    Summer Favorites

    • Zucchini Bread
    • Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
    • Pasta Salad Recipe
    • Homemade Funnel Cake
    • Golden Graham S'mores
    • Broccoli Salad

    Popular Posts

    • Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
    • Brownie Cookie Recipe
    • Whipped Buttercream Frosting without Powdered Sugar
    • Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal Muffins

    Subscribe via email

    to stay in the loop on new posts!

    Footer

    As Featured In

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Legal
    • Rules and Disclosures

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me
    • Press

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 I Heart Eating

    62.7K shares