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Rich and fudgy chocolate crinkle cookies with a crisp, powdered sugar exterior— great for holiday baking or whenever you crave a chocolaty treat! These crinkle cookies are famous for their superior taste, texture, and perfect round shape. This will be your go-to chocolate crinkle every time!
You’ll also love my Italian chocolate spice cookies and this baked zeppole recipe.
Why you’ll love these cookies…
The contrast between the dark chocolate dough and the powdered sugar coating creates an irresistible, signature crinkled appearance. You’ll love this irresistible classic chocolate crinkle cookie recipe:
- Chocolaty Goodness: The dough contains both cocoa powder and melted chocolate, so these cookies pack an intense, deep chocolate flavor that will satisfy any chocoholic.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: The dough needs to chill, meaning you can prepare it ahead of time, making it perfect for holiday baking or busy schedules.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a holiday cookie swap or an after-dinner treat, these cookies are always a hit for kids and adults.
P.S. If you are worried about making crinkle cookies that spread flat- no need to worry with this recipe! I have all the tips and tricks to keep that classic round shape!
Table of Contents
Simple Ingredients
Each ingredient plays a key role in creating the perfect chocolate crinkle cookies. You probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry, making these cookies easy to whip up whenever the craving strikes.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: This adds a rich, deep chocolate flavor to the cookies.
- Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create that soft, chewy texture.
- Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a subtle molasses flavor for extra richness.
- Unsalted Butter: Melted butter gives the cookies a soft, tender crumb.
- Semisweet Chocolate Chips: Melted chocolate adds a fudgy depth and enhances the overall chocolate flavor.
- Eggs: Eggs help bind the ingredients and give the cookies structure while also adding moisture.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor of the chocolate and gives the cookies a warm, aromatic note.
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and the base for the dough.
- Baking Powder: Gives the cookies a slight lift and helps create the crinkled effect.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolate flavor.
- Confectioners’ Sugar: Coats the cookies and creates that signature crinkle look as the cookies bake, leaving a sweet, powdered exterior.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These impressive chocolate crinkle cookies are easier to make than you might think! See these step-by-step photos for a visual guide and the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for more.
Melt the butter and chocolate.
Stand mixer or whisk.
Add the egg and mix again.
All of the wet ingredients are mixed until smooth.
Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl until combined.
Mix the wet ingredients and dry ingredients. The dough will be thick.
Take the chilled dough out of the fridge. Chilling the dough is essential for this recipe.
Make small dough balls with the chocolate cookie dough.
Roll dough balls in powdered sugar.
Rolling them on powdered sugar gives them that signature crinkle topping.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and bake the cookies.
Let the baked cookies cool a bit. They will be soft and then firm up as they cool.
Variations
- Double Chocolate Chip Crinkle Cookies: Fold in ½ cup of mini chocolate chips or chunks of dark chocolate to the dough for an extra indulgent, chocolate-packed cookie.
- Nutty Crinkle Cookies: Mix in ½ cup of finely chopped nuts, such as walnuts or pecans, to give a crunchy contrast to the fudgy texture.
- Orange Zest Crinkle Cookies: Add one tablespoon of freshly grated orange zest to the dough for a citrusy aroma and flavor that pairs beautifully with chocolate.
- Gluten-Free Crinkle Cookies: Swap out the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour blend designed for baking, ensuring you get the same fudgy texture without the gluten.
My Pro Tip
Recipe Tips
Following these tips will ensure your cookies turn out perfectly every time!
- Chill the Dough: Don’t skip the chilling step! It helps the cookies maintain their shape and achieve the perfect crinkled texture.
- Roll Generously in Powdered Sugar: Coat the dough balls well in the confectioners’ sugar to ensure they get that beautiful crackled effect during baking.
- Wet Hands for Shaping: The dough is sticky, so lightly wet your hands when rolling the dough into balls to make it easier to handle.
- Don’t Overbake: The cookies should be soft when they come out of the oven. They’ll firm up as they cool, so aim for slightly underbaked centers for a fudgy texture.
- Use High-Quality Chocolate: For the best flavor, use good-quality cocoa powder and chocolate chips for that extra rich and deep chocolate taste.
FAQs
Crinkle cookies are soft, chewy cookies made from a rich dough, typically chocolate, that cracks and “crinkles” as it bakes. The dough is rolled in powdered sugar before baking, which enhances the crinkled appearance as the cookies spread and crackle.
Flat cookies often result from not chilling the dough long enough. The dough needs to be cold to prevent excess spreading. Make sure to chill for at least 3 hours or overnight. Also, check that your baking powder is fresh to ensure proper rise.
If your cookies didn’t crack, it’s likely because the dough was too warm. Chilling the dough thoroughly before baking helps create the crinkle effect as the cold dough expands in the oven. Additionally, rolling the dough generously in powdered sugar can accentuate the cracks.
Absolutely! Roll the dough into balls, freeze them on a baking sheet, then transfer to an airtight container or bag. When ready to bake, thaw slightly, roll in powdered sugar, and bake.
Yes! You can prepare the dough and refrigerate it for up to 2 days. Let it sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before shaping and baking.
Storage Instructions
Store the chocolate crinkle cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For more extended storage, freeze the cookies for up to 3 months—thaw at room temperature when ready to enjoy!
Other Cookie Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
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Print
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 20 cookies 1x
Description
Rich and fudgy chocolate crinkle cookies with a crisp, powdered sugar exterior—perfect for holiday baking or whenever you crave a chocolaty treat!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips (milk chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips also work well)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
- Melt the butter and chocolate: In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and semisweet chocolate chips in 20-second intervals, stirring after each time until smooth and combined. Let the mixture cool slightly.
- Mix the wet ingredients: Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla to the melted butter and chocolate- whisk to combine until smooth. You can also use a stand mixer. Add the eggs and beat until the mixture is fluffy and smooth.
- Prepare the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until fully combined. The dough will be sticky, which makes it rich and fudgy.
- Chill the dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight. This chilling step is crucial for achieving the perfect texture.
- Prepare for baking: When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Let the chilled dough sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to make it easier to work with. If the dough is chilled overnight, let it sit for 20 minutes on the counter.
- Shape and coat the cookies: Using a small cookie scoop or a heaping tablespoon, portion out about 20 cookie balls. Wet your hands slightly to help shape the dough into even-sized balls. Generously roll each ball in confectioners’ sugar, making sure they’re well-coated.
- Bake the cookies: Place the coated cookie balls onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie. Bake for 10-12 minutes, depending on the size of the cookies. The cookies will appear soft but will firm up as they cool.
- Cool and enjoy: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy the fudgy centers and crisp outer crinkle!
These cookies are perfect for holiday trays, or any time you’re craving a rich chocolate treat!
Notes
Top Tips:
- Chill the Dough: Don’t skip the chilling step! It helps the cookies maintain their shape and achieve the perfect crinkled texture.
- Roll Generously in Powdered Sugar: Coat the dough balls well in confectioners’ sugar to ensure they get that beautiful crackled effect during baking.
- Wet Hands for Shaping: The dough is sticky, so lightly wet your hands when rolling the dough into balls to make it easier to handle.
- Don’t Overbake: The cookies should be soft when they come out of the oven. They’ll firm up as they cool, so aim for slightly underbaked centers for a fudgy texture.
- Use High-Quality Chocolate: For the best flavor, use good-quality cocoa powder and chocolate chips for that extra rich and deep chocolate taste.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Sweet
- Method: American
- Cuisine: American
Loved them! Very fudge-like center. Kids and family enjoyed!
So happy these were a hit with everyone!
These are delicious. light and airy, but fudgey as well. We will be making these again!
Yay! Happy you loved them!