These Mexican hot chocolate caramel cookies will have your taste buds singing with joy, and will have you wondering where these delectable sweet and spicy cookies have been all your life.
We already established yesterday when I posted mini pumpkin muffins with sour cream and caramel frosting that this year I was going all-in with the flavors of fall…some might say I’ve fallen in love (get it…falling in love…with fall? haha, ok I’ll dry to put a lid on my dorkyness, at least for a few moments).
Side note- what am I not so excited about? Hurting my back and not being able to walk or cook for a few days…as in…I cannot move. At all! Luckily, I’ve got the rest of this week’s promised fall recipes all set to go (and some for the week after, and the week after, fall themed recipes galore!)
Now on to happy thoughts again…what has got me all jazzed up for fall? The flavors! Hand me anything with hints of cinnamon and my mind immediately goes to a happy place. Now, add some caramel to that, and I’m in an even happier place. You can experience this happy place too by making these cookies!

The cookies are made with Spicy Dark Chocolate Caramel, Mexican Chocolate and a pinch of Cayenne pepper and are rich, complex, and smooth in flavor and then are finished with a little kick from cayenne pepper. They’re not spicy in the ‘omg my mouth is on fire and I need a gallon of water and milk to calm down’ kind of way, it’s more of subtle tingle that is the perfect finish to these cookies.

You know the caramel sauces I’m always raving about…the delicious goat’s milk caramel (the same caramel I used to make the worlds best Bourbon Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies? Well, this Spicy Dark Chocolate Caramel is a new flavor from Fat Toad Farm, and because they’re so awesome and I love you guys, we’re giving away 4 Jars of their caramel sauce. This is one giveaway you definitely don’t want to miss!

To enter simply sign up for the Fat Toad Farm newsletter, comment telling me what flavor of caramel would you try first (the 4 in the gift box are: Original, Salted Bourbon, Spicy Dark Chocolate, and Cold Brew Coffee), and then make sure to fill out the widget so I know you entered (and there are additional, optional giveaway entry options)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
You’ll be pleasantly surprised at what adding a little cinnamon and spice can do for your cookies. It’s like biting into a rich and smooth chocolately cake cookie with a little after finish of heat (that you can certainly adjust up or down depending on your taste…mine were barely noticeable subtle spice, but if you like super spicy add more cayenne pepper.)


Mexican Hot Chocolate Caramel Cookies {and a GIVEAWAY!}
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Flour
- 1/2 Cup Sugar
- 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1/3 Cup Cocoa Powder
- 2 Tbs Spicy Dark Chocolate Caramel for the batter plus 1/4 cup for topping cookies
- 1 Stick of butter at room temp
- 2 Eggs
- 2.7 oz Taza Dark Chocolate two discs, finely chopped up, or you could use 70% dark chocolate
- 1 Tsp Mexican Vanilla Extract or you could use regular vanilla extract
- 1 Tsp Salt
- 1 Tsp Baking Powder
- 1 Tsp Cinnamon
- 1/4 Tsp Cayenne Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350, line two cookie sheets with parchment paper of silicone baking mats.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, cream butter (about 2 minutes). Then add the sugars and cream again (1 minute), Scrape down the sides and add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat until all incorporated. Add the 2 Tbs of Spicy Dark Chocolate Caramel and beat until creamy (1 minute).
- Next add all remaining ingredients except the chopped up dark chocolate (flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and cayenne.) Stir gently with a wooden spoon until all combined, then add the chopped up dark chocolate and stir to combine.
- With a cookie scoop or in 1 tablespoon drops, drop balls of dough onto the prepared cookie sheets. Have 1/4 cup remaining caramel in a small bowl, and then dip a spoon into the caramel and press it on top of each cookie, pressing the caramel in the center. Repeat with all cookies.
- Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from oven, allow to cool for a few minutes, then carefully transfer cookies over to a cooling rack and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Disclaimer: This is not a compensated post, Fat Toad Farm provided the 4 Caramel Sauces for the  giveaway and I am providing the shipping expenses for the lucky winner.  I  truly love their products, and as always, all thoughts and opinions are mine alone. Thank you for supporting the brands and products that make the Sweetphi blog possible!






Lynn Lovejoy from Order in the Kitchen says
OGOGMOGMG Obsessed with Mexican hot chocolate!!! Need these in my life <3
Sweetphi says
Thank for commenting girl…and guess what…there’s cinnamon in them 😉 so I know they’re calling your name!
cheryl says
: Original
Sweetphi says
Thanks Cheryl!
maya says
I love their original caramel the best, but I’ve been dying to try the salted bourbon!
Sweetphi says
Their Salted Bourbon caramel is the very first one of their caramels I had, so it holds a spot in my heart 🙂 Thank you for commenting and entering
Erika says
I would try the spicy dark chocolate, followed quickly by the rest!
Sweetphi says
I know, I’d try one, then all the others…very shortly after 🙂 Thank you for commenting and entering!
Jaye L. says
Yum! I’d try the original (of course) but the salted bourbon and coffee have piqued my interest too!
Sweetphi says
Don’t they all sound amazing? Thanks for entering and commenting 🙂
bonnie says
I would try the bourbon one first. Sounds amazing!
Sweetphi says
That one is definitely amazing! Thank you for commenting 🙂
Sarah Elyce says
The Salted Bourbon Caramel would be first on my list to try. Thanks!
Sweetphi says
The Salted Bourbon Caramel is so yummy, I can definitely see why you’d want to try that one first 🙂 Thanks for commenting and entering!
Sand says
The Spicy Dark Chocolate! Their vanilla one is amazing!
Sweetphi says
I haven’t tried their vanilla…now I feel like I have to!!! Thanks for commenting and entering 🙂
Inessa says
I’d love to try the spicy dark chocolate hands down. I’m a total sucker for spicy dark chocolate anything.
Sweetphi says
The spicy dark chocolate is such an amazing, unique and delicious caramel…I’m a sucker for the spicy dark chocolate anything too!!
Lisa says
Ooh probably dark chocolate!
Sweetphi says
It is a hard choice isn’t it! They’re all amazing, the spicy dark chocolate is especially yummy!
susitravl says
I want to try the Salted Bourbon!
Sweetphi says
The Salted Bourbon is aaaaammmmazing!
Holly E says
I would love to try the salted bourbon flavor. It sounds tasty.
Sweetphi says
The salted bourbon caramel is yuuuummmmy! Thanks for commenting and entering 🙂
JUlie Scott says
These sound so good. I am going to try them tonight.(PS my husband is Mexican)
Sweetphi says
That’s awesome! I know you’re going to loooove them 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
hillbillymammy63 says
I commented/tweeted/following. I want to try the Salted Bourbon and would like the cold brewed coffee without the coffee
lol
ami@naivecookcooks says
These cookies look so delicious!! I would love to try cold brew coffee flavor first!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
These cookies look and sound SO incredible Phi! I am totally craving one right now.. great recipe!
Kali Amanda Browne says
Mom is the baker in the house and she loved your recipe! I’m dying to try out the Spicy Chocolate.
floridagld says
Hi, I just signed up! Would love to try cold brewed coffee first..on ice cream..and, later, near the holidays the original for Southern Pralines….oh my goodness..so good. Thanks
Kim says
o my salted bourbon sounds really good. anything with bourbon sounds good. 🙂
Sweetphi says
Anything with bourbon is fantastic! Thanks for commenting and entering!
meredith says
I would try the Spicy Dark Chocolate sauce 1st!!!
Sweetphi says
The Spicy Dark Chocolate sauce is super yummy 🙂 Thanks for commenting and entering!
Natalie says
I hope you feel better soon! I would definitely open the jar of the Salted Bourbon Caramel Sauce first! They all look amazing but that would be the first one!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for your well wishes! The Salted Bourbon Caramel is totally worth opening first 😉 Thanks for commenting and entering!
AnnaZed says
I would try the spicy dark chocolate, first thing!
I subscribed using this other different box: annazed10 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Sweetphi says
The spicy dark chocolate is sooo yummy, perfect for cookies or by itself! Thanks for commenting and entering!
Samantha says
Those look so delicious….I’d try the spicy chocolate first but I’d pretty much follow up with the other three straight after.
Sweetphi says
Haha, I’m the same way, I would open one, take a spoonful out to try…and then follow that up with opening the remaining three to try! Thanks for commenting and entering 🙂
Jennifer Short says
Signed up for the newsletter and I’d try the original first!
Sweetphi says
Thanks for entering 🙂
Becky (The Cookie Rookie) says
Oh…my…goodness!! These look totally amazing!! I’m obsessed with the cookies, obsessed with that photography board (dark turquoise???), and obsessed with those caramels. I have got to try the salted bourbon!!!! Amazing post Phi, your pics are superb!!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for the comment Becky, totally MADE MY DAY!!! And you’ve got a good eye with the photography board…although I’d love to say it’s just my table, because, you know, I live somewhere where I can have different tables that are all vintage and beautiful lol 🙂 Thanks again for the comment, truly means a lot!
wen budro says
I would try the salted bourbon flavor first. Those cookies sound amazing.
Sweetphi says
The salted bourbon caramel is so delish, definitely one of my faves! Thank you for the compliment and for entering, best of luck 🙂
Amanda says
Oh my word! These cookies look awesome!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much Amanda 🙂
Ashley says
Oh no! I hope that your back gets better soon! What a bummer!
But hopefully you have some cookies leftover to cheer you up! These sound fantastic – I love anything mexican chocolate flavored!
Sweetphi says
Thank you for the well wishes…I hope it gets better soon, because I am dying not being able to be in the kitchen! And I’m the same way, anything Mexican chocolate flavored, sign me up!
couponboss says
I want to try the cold brew coffee flavor.
Sweetphi says
Yum, coffee and caramel melded together in a delicious caramel sauce, you’d love this one! Thanks for commenting and entering!
David Lintz says
I signed up with the email attached to this comment.
I am most interested in trying the salted bourbon variety
Sweetphi says
The Salted Bourbon Caramel is aaaamazing, but then again, they all are 🙂 Thanks for commenting and entering!
Michele Goat Girl says
I would have to try Original first!
Sweetphi says
The original is the one I had initially that made me fall in love with Fat Toad Farms, all their caramels are amazing! Thanks for commenting and entering
Nichole Smith says
Those cookies look so yummy! I would try the Salted Bourbon first, probably straight off the spoon!
Sweetphi says
Haha, yes, straight from the spoon is the way to go, this caramel is THAT GOOD! Thanks for commenting and entering!
William Radkovich says
Need to try this recipe
Sweetphi says
Thanks for the comment William, this recipe is definitely worth trying!
cheryl says
salted bourbon sounds good but they all do
Sweetphi says
I know, isn’t it hard to decide which one you’d try because they’re all so good! Thank you for commenting and entering!
Marcy says
I am dying to try the cold press coffee caramel. I love their products.
Sweetphi says
The coffee caramel one is out of this world delicious! Thanks for commenting and entering 🙂
charlotteclaypoole says
Phi – These look AMAZING! Also your photos are rocking! Great job girl! <3
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much lovely lady! Your compliment means so much to me because you inspired me to step it up in the photography department…so THANK YOU!!!
Sandee says
I would try them all and especially with your great recipes. These Mexican Hot Chocolate cookies look like the best. So I guess I would be trying the spicy dark chocolate one first.
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for your lovely comment Sandee, the spicy dark chocolate one is so amazingly delicious! I’m already making my Christmas gift giving list and am going to include that caramel in everyone’s’ stockings!
cheri says
Hi Phi, just got back to Phoenix. I would try the spicy dark chocolate for sure. Your cookies look amazing, love the fall jokes!!!
Sweetphi says
So glad to hear you got back to Phoenix 🙂 Thank for commenting Cheri, glad you appreciate my fall jokes lol!
Amy M. C. says
The Cold Brew Coffee variety sounds amazing! Thanks!
Sweetphi says
Who would have thought that caramel and coffee go together, right? Wait, I take that back, they’re like a flavor combination that was just meant to be together lol, that one is so yummy! Thanks for commenting and entering!
Robin Hallmann says
It would be so hard to pick which one to use first! But the salted bourbon is calling to me!
Sweetphi says
I know, I’d have a hard time choosing which one to try first because they’re all so amazing! Thanks for commenting and entering
nyfoodhistorian says
I’d love to try the salted bourbon flavor first. sounds oh so good!
Sweetphi says
The salted bourbon flavor is probably one of my all time faves (although they are all so good!) Thanks for commenting and entering 🙂
Monet says
I am so so sorry about your back! The same thing happened to me last week. It must be in the air!??! These look amazing though. Thank you for sharing!
Sweetphi says
Thank you for the sweet comment, back pain is THE WORST, I feel totally disabled! I hope you healed quickly, and here’s to hoping no one else gets back pain! Thank you for your comment on the cookies 🙂
Ally says
I’d try spicy dark chocolate!
Sweetphi says
The spicy dark chocolate is out of this world…so good 🙂 Thanks for commenting and entering!