Soft & Fudgy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Recipe
This Chocolate Crinkle Cookies recipe is a true holiday staple, delivering rich, fudgy flavor in every bite. These classic crackle-topped treats are soft, chocolatey, and beautifully coated in powdered sugar, making them one of the most irresistible cookies to bake during the Christmas season.
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Whether you’re prepping for Christmas cookie exchanges, filling dessert trays, or simply craving something sweet, this easy chocolate crinkle cookies recipe bakes up bakery-style results at home.
With simple ingredients and plenty of gooey chocolate goodness, it’s the perfect cookie to add to your holiday baking list.
The Players for Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Ingredients:
- Butter – Melted butter adds richness and moisture, creating a softer, fudgier cookie.
- Sugar – Plain, white granulated sugar is all you’ll need for these chewy chocolate crinkle cookies.
- Vanilla Extract – Using pure vanilla extract enhances the chocolate flavor.
- Eggs – Room temperature eggs add moisture and helps create that soft, brownie-like interior.
- Cocoa Powder – This is what gives your crinkle cookies their deep chocolate flavor. Use unsweetened cocoa powder for the best results.
- Flour – All purpose flour is what you’ll need to make this chocolate crinkle cookie recipe.
- Baking Powder – This is what helps the cookies rise and forms the crackly surfaces on top.
- Salt – A small amount of salt balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolate flavor.
- Powdered Sugar – Rolling the dough in confectioners’ sugar before baking creates the iconic crinkle effect. As the cookies expand, the cracks reveal the rich chocolate inside.
Tools:
- Cookie Sheet – To bake these best chocolate crinkle cookies, you’ll need a cookie sheet. I love using my Gold Touch Cookie Sheets for lots of my recipes including my Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies and these Copycat Panera Bread Lemon Drop Cookies.
How to Make Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
In a medium bowl, whisk together the melted butter and sugar until the mixture looks smooth and glossy.
Stir in the vanilla extract, mixing well. Add in the eggs whisking until fully combined.
Sift in the cocoa powder and mix until the batter is dark and smooth.
Add the remaining dry ingredients of flour, baking powder, and salt, mixing until a soft dough forms. Once everything is combined, you’ll end up with a sticky dough that needs to be chilled before rolling.
Chill the Dough
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Roll the Cookies in Powdered Sugar
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Add the powdered sugar to a shallow bowl and roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll all of the dough balls once in powdered sugar until lightly coated, then place them onto the prepared baking sheet.
Once all dough balls are placed on the baking sheet, roll each dough ball a second time in powdered sugar to ensure a thick, even coating.
Bake the Cookies
Place the cookies in the oven and bake for 12 minutes, or until the cookies have spread and the tops are crackled.
Allow the chocolate crinkle cookies to cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Storage and Freezing Instructions for Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
To Store:
Store the baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–4 days.
To Freeze:
To make these Chocolate Crinkle Cookies ahead of time, you can freeze the dough! Simply follow the instructions up through the chill time (you still want to chill them as the dough will be too sticky too handle). Once chilled, scoop into cookie balls. Place onto baking sheets and flash freeze for about 1 hour. Transfer the cookie dough balls into a freezer-safe container or freezer bags. Can be frozen for 3 months.
To Bake:
Roll each frozen dough ball in powdered sugar and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 13-14 minutes (1–2 minutes longer than usual).
Pin it for Later!
If you end up making these Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, leave me a comment. I’d love to chat with you!
Looking for other sweet treats? Check out these recipes next!
- Cranberry Orange Loaf with Orange Vanilla Glaze
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- Small Batch Rolled Christmas Sugar Cookies
- The Coziest Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins Recipe
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- Old Fashioned Jello Lemon Cake Recipe (and Video)
Soft & Fudgy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder, sifted
- 1 1/4 cup flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the melted butter and sugar until the mixture looks smooth.
- Stir in the vanilla extract, mixing well. Add in the eggs whisking until fully combined.
- Sift in the cocoa powder and mix well.
- Add the remaining dry ingredients of flour, baking powder, and salt, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the powdered sugar to a shallow bowl and roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll all of the dough balls once in powdered sugar until lightly coated, then place them onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Once all dough balls are placed on the baking sheet, roll each dough ball a second time in powdered sugar to ensure a thick, even coating.
- Bake for 12 minutes, or until the cookies have spread and the tops are crackled.
- Allow the chocolate crinkle cookies to cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Enjoy!
Notes
Psalm 128:2 - "You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours."
