If you like chocolate cookies these are for you. IF you enjoy a little heat with chocolate, you will go crazy for these amazing Spicy Chocolate Cookies. And bonus these are gluten free cookies too!
These easy to make chocolate chili cookies are a favorite of mine. The funny thing is I am not the biggest chocolate lover, however, if you add some heat to chocolate in the form of red pepper / cayenne pepper, I am smitten!
Years ago when my husband kids and I first made chocolate bars in Hershey, PA at the Hershey's lab. One of the available ingredients was cayenne pepper. WE were obsessed with chili in chocolate from that moment. I even told the head of Hershey's marketing team back then that they HAD to make a spicy chocolate bar. She looked at me like I was a little nuts haha!
Not too long after that we began seeing boutique chocolate bars like Chocolove come out with spicy chocolate with cherries. I buy them by the handful for my husband, son and I to this day!
If you are a chocolate lover or enjoy the edges of brownies then these cookies are for YOU! The exterior is like baked meringue and the center is chewy-ish. Love!
Table of Contents
Why make Spicy Chocolate Cookies?
- These are super easy to make, just a handful of ingredients.
- These spicy cookies are gluten free. No flour is needed.
- These gluten free chocolate cookies are light as air! Crisp edges and exterior and fudgy bits inside.
- The kick of heat with the chocolate is pure Heaven!
- You can customize how spicy (or not) you decide to make them.
Don't they always say a bit of chocolate is healthy? And the same is said for cayenne pepper. Now you have both in one bite (or so I tell myself)!!
I have no idea where this recipe idea came from for these gluten free cookies as I have been making them for at least 15 years.
Cookie Ingredients
- powdered sugar
- cocoa powder
- salt
- egg white
- vanilla
- chocolate chips / chopped chocolate
- optional baking powder, espresso powder and or nuts
Cookie Variations
- If you add a ½ teaspoon of baking soda to the batter your cookies will blow up to twice the size, and I love that! They are crisp with some chewy areas. Like cloud bread in cookie form a chocolate cloud cookie with heat. (First photo is with baking soda, larger and thinner. Second photo is without baking soda. Third side view is with baking soda).
- If I am gifting these of placing on a cookie tray, I leave the baking soda out, so they are smaller uniform cookies. If making just for my family I add it it.
- If you do not enjoy spicy yet are looking for a flourless chocolate cookie, just leave out the cayenne pepper, these will still hit the spot!
- Add in ¼ teaspoon or more of espresso powder for a richer taste with a hint of coffee.
- Add in some finely chopped nuts.
Tips
- Refrigerating batter for at least 30 minutes is key.
- Place in the oven just after scooped onto the parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Allow cookies to cool for a minute or so then carefully transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Cookie recipes
Hope you enjoy this chocolate cookie with a kick! XO Colleen
Originally published November 2014, updated May, 2024.
Spicy Chocolate Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 large egg whites room temperature
- 1 TBS vanilla
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon cayenne "red" pepper add at least ½ tsp, the more pepper the spicier the cookie...yum
- Optional 1 teaspoon baking soda for larger, thinner, crisper cookies
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in your mixing bowl and mix well until all ingredients are incorporated.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Spray a cookie scoop or tablespoon. This batter spreads out, so you only want each cookie to have 1 TBS or so of batter unless you want to make these large. If so use full cookie scoop or 2 TBS and only bake about 5 at a time on a parchment paper lined sheet, spread out.
- Bake cookies for 11-12 minutes or until tops are cracked.
- Allow to set for a few minutes, transfer to cooling rack. When completely cooled place in cookie jar or sir tight container.
Marilyn says
My favorite Holiday Treat is Cheese Cake
Kahlolily says
I LOVE spicy chocolate. Lindt makes a Chili Bar. YUM!
Melissa Russo says
I want some NOW! Chocolate and spice - you can't go wrong!!
Debi H. says
My favorite holiday treat is anything chocolate.
Jessica says
We totally should have taste tested each others cookies for the real cookie swap! Or perhaps this is just my sneaky way of saying that these cookies sound amazing and I would love to have been in your kitchen when you made them???
Lauryn says
Colleen! These look so good and light. I love the idea of spicing them up. Chocolate and spice go so well together. And yes, coooookies are one of the best parts of the holiday! 😉
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
I became a believer in chocolate and spicy at a chocolate tasting. Oh my goodness it was memorably delicious. And the red pepper chocolate stuck in my mind. So these cookies should be wonderful.
candy kratzer says
My favorite holiday treat would be potato candy.
Sandy H says
My favorite holiday treat is Snickerdoodle cookies
Tabby says
I enjoy Tarte Tatin. I Will try this recipe as Chocolate is right up there tied for first place
sue hegle says
I love cookies!!!
Rusthawk says
My favorite holiday treat is italian cream cake.
BlessieNelson says
Delicious mini Christmas rum cake pies!
Catherine @ Evolving Mommy says
I am so making these! Do you have a preferred red pepper? Cayenne?
Lori Popkewitz Alper says
Yum! I want to make these right now. I'm on a cookie kick for the holidays. These have been pinned!
Laura Pelkey says
I love the maple pecan pie.
jerseygirl137 says
My favorite holiday treat is homemade spritz cooks made with a cookie press. I have had these since I was a little girl and I still love them.