Now I don’t want to start an internet dessert war here, but hot fudge sundaes are just…not really my thing. Why would you want your precious ice cream to melt before you get the chance to enjoy it all? Why mix that delicious melty hot fudge with other things when you could just have it on its own (not that I’ve ever done that…)? So here’s the best solution ever: Hot Fudge Cookies! Everyone loves cookies, and you get all the flavor without the soupy chocolate mess at the bottom of a sundae. Win-win? I think so.

What You’ll Need to Make Hot Fudge Cookies:

1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar + 3/4 cup set aside
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp water
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups flour
1 jar hot fudge sauce

How to Make Hot Fudge Cookies:

Preheat your oven to 400 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a bowl, cream together the shortening and sugars. Add the eggs, vanilla, and water and mix well.

Fold in the flour until you’ve got a stiff dough.

Use an ice cream scoop to get a ball of dough, roll it into a ball, and smash into your palm to flatten it.

Spoon a bit of hot fudge sauce in the center of the dough, then roll the dough back into a ball.

Roll the cookie dough balls in the sugar that you set aside earlier and place them on a baking sheet.

Bake for 6-8 minutes.

Let them cool on the sheet for 1-2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Enjoy!

Pro-tip: For an interesting twist, try replacing the hot fudge sauce with caramel sauce!