Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are deliciously soft, undoubtedly fuggy and they have a rich chocolate flavor paired with beautiful crinkles on the top. These classic cookies are always a hit! Not only are these cookies pretty, but they are pretty darn delicious.
The aroma of homemade Christmas cookies baking in the oven is like magic. Especially when you first take them out of the oven, they're just like air. They're so easy to make and the end results are just fantastic.
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What is a Chocolate Crinkle Cookie?
Chocolate crinkle cookies are a type of cookie that is soft and chewy on the inside with a crackly, powdered sugar coating on the outside.
To make chocolate crinkle cookies, the dough is formed into small balls and rolled in powdered sugar before being baked in the oven. As the cookies bake, they spread and crackle on the surface, creating a beautiful contrast between the dark chocolate cookie and the white powdered sugar.
Chocolate crinkle cookies are a popular treat during the holiday season, and are often served at parties or given as gifts. They are also a delicious dessert any time of year, and can be enjoyed with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee.
While chocolate crinkle cookies are typically made with cocoa powder, there are variations that incorporate other ingredients like nuts or peppermint for a unique twist on this classic recipe.
Why you'll love these Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- They're easy to make: Chocolate crinkle cookies are a simple and straightforward recipe that doesn't require any fancy techniques or equipment. They're a great choice for beginner bakers or anyone who wants a quick and easy dessert.
- They're rich and chocolatey: The combination of cocoa powder and chocolate chips in the dough gives these cookies a deep, rich chocolate flavor that's hard to resist. The addition of powdered sugar also gives the cookies a slightly sweet and tangy flavor that balances out the chocolate.
- They have a distinctive appearance: These cookies are instantly recognizable thanks to their crackly, crinkly exterior. This unique texture is created by rolling the dough balls in powdered sugar before baking.
- They're versatile: Crinkle cookies can be customized with a variety of add-ins and flavorings to suit your tastes. From peanut butter to peppermint to espresso, there are countless ways to put your own spin on this classic recipe.
- They're great for sharing: Chocolate crinkle cookies are a crowd-pleasing dessert that's perfect for sharing with friends and family. Whether you're making them for a bake sale, a potluck, or just a sweet treat to enjoy at home, these cookies are sure to be a hit.
Ingredients you’ll need
These cookies are made with chocolate, flour, sugar, eggs, and baking powder, and often include additional ingredients like vanilla extract or cinnamon.
- All-purpose flour: This is the base ingredient for the cookies and provides structure and texture.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: This gives the cookies their rich chocolate flavor and deep brown color.
- Baking powder: This is a leavening agent that helps the cookies rise and creates a lighter texture.
- Salt: A small amount of salt is added to enhance the flavor of the cookies and balance the sweetness.
- Granulated sugar: This sweetens the cookies and helps to create a crispy exterior.
- Brown sugar: This adds moisture to the cookies and contributes to their chewy texture.
- Melted butter: This helps to bind the ingredients together and contributes to the cookies' texture.
- Eggs: These provide structure and help to bind the ingredients together.
- Vanilla extract: This adds flavor and aroma to the cookies.
- Powdered sugar: This is used to coat the cookies before baking, creating the signature crackly exterior.
- Instant espresso powder: A small amount enrich the flavor of these cookies.
- Chocolate chips: For extra chocolate flavor.
How to make chocolate crinkle cookies
- Mix dry ingredients together. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, chocolate chips, espresso powder and salt. Set aside.
- Beat wet ingredients together. In a large bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil or melted butter until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine dry and wet ingredients. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until the dough comes together. The dough will be thick and sticky. Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight. Chilling the dough will help the cookies keep their shape and create the crinkly exterior.
- Roll cookie dough into balls. Using a cookie scoop or a spoon, form the chilled dough into 1-inch balls.
- Coat in powder sugar. Roll each ball in the powdered sugar, coating it completely. Place the coated balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are set and the tops are crackly. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Substitutions
Note that substitutions may affect the texture and flavor of the cookies. It's always best to stick to the recipe as much as possible for the best results.
- Sugar: You can use white granulated sugar or brown sugar interchangeably, depending on your preference. Brown sugar will give a slightly chewier texture and a deeper flavor to the cookies.
- Oil or butter: You can use either vegetable oil or melted butter in this recipe. If you prefer a richer flavor, use melted butter instead of oil.
- Eggs: If you don't have eggs, you can substitute each egg with ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce or ¼ cup plain yogurt.
- Vanilla extract: You can omit the vanilla extract or substitute it with any other extract such as almond or peppermint.
- Powdered sugar: You can use granulated sugar instead of powdered sugar for rolling the cookies, but the texture may be slightly different.
Variations of crinkle cookies
These variations can add new and exciting flavors to the classic crinkle cookies recipe. Don't be afraid to experiment and find your own favorite flavor combinations!
- Peanut butter chocolate crinkle cookies: Add ½ cup creamy peanut butter to the wet ingredients and mix well. Proceed with the recipe as directed.
- Mint chocolate crinkle cookies: Add ½ teaspoon peppermint extract to the wet ingredients and mix well. You can also add a few drops of green food coloring to give the cookies a festive look.
- Espresso chocolate crinkle cookies: Add 2 tablespoons of instant espresso powder to the dry ingredients and mix well. Proceed with the recipe as directed.
- Red velvet crinkle cookies: Substitute ¼ cup of the flour with ¼ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder and add a few drops of red food coloring to the wet ingredients. Proceed with the recipe as directed.
- Gingerbread chocolate crinkle cookies: Add 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon ground cloves to the dry ingredients and mix well. Proceed with the recipe as directed.
- Chocolate orange crinkle cookies: Add 1 tablespoon of orange zest to the wet ingredients and mix well. You can also add a few drops of orange food coloring to give the cookies a pop of color.
Equipment
To make chocolate crinkle cookies, you will need the following kitchen equipment:
- Mixing bowl: You will need at least two mixing bowls, one for dry ingredients and one for wet ingredients.
- Electric mixer: An electric mixer, either a stand mixer or a hand mixer, is recommended for making the cookie dough.
- Measuring cups and spoons: You will need measuring cups and spoons to accurately measure out your ingredients.
- Rubber spatula: A rubber spatula is useful for scraping down the sides of the bowl and ensuring all ingredients are mixed evenly.
- Baking sheet: You will need a baking sheet to bake the cookies on.
- Parchment paper: Parchment paper is helpful for lining the baking sheet to prevent the cookies from sticking.
- Cookie scoop: A cookie scoop is helpful for portioning out the dough and ensuring that all the cookies are the same size.
- Cooling rack: A cooling rack is necessary for allowing the cookies to cool properly and prevent them from becoming soggy.
Storage
- Room temperature: Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Be sure to let them cool completely before storing them.
- Refrigerator: You can store the cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. This can help keep them fresh and prevent them from becoming too soft or stale.
- Freezer: Chocolate crinkle cookies can also be frozen for longer storage. Place the cooled cookies in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw the cookies at room temperature before serving.
- Layering: When storing cookies, avoid stacking them on top of each other as this can cause them to stick together or become misshapen.
Top tips
By following these tips, you can make perfect chocolate crinkle cookies every time!
- Chill the dough: Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking helps it firm up and makes it easier to handle. This also helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking.
- Roll the cookies in powdered sugar just before baking: Rolling the dough balls in powdered sugar just before baking helps create the iconic "crinkle" effect as the cookies bake.
- Use a cookie scoop: Using a cookie scoop ensures that all of your cookies are the same size, which helps them bake evenly. A medium-sized cookie scoop (about 1.5 tablespoons) works well for this recipe.
- Don't over-bake: Crinkle cookies are meant to be slightly chewy and fudgy, so be careful not to over-bake them. The cookies should be set around the edges but still slightly soft and undercooked in the center.
- Let the cookies cool: These cookies will be quite fragile when they first come out of the oven, so let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store the cookies properly: Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them for longer storage.
Common Questions
To prevent crinkle cookies from spreading too much, make sure to chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking. Also, be sure to space the dough balls at least 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
To check if the cookies are done, you can gently press the top of a cookie with your finger. If it feels set and the powdered sugar coating is crackly, the cookies are likely done. Another way to check is to insert a toothpick into the center of a cookie – if it comes out clean or with a few crumbs attached, the cookies are done. Be careful not to overbake the cookies, as they can become dry and tough if left in the oven too long.
Too much liquid: If you added too much liquid, such as eggs or vanilla extract, to the dough, it can make the dough too wet. To fix this, you can try adding a little more flour until the dough comes together and is less sticky.
Humidity: High humidity can make the dough too sticky or wet. If you're baking on a humid day, you may need to add more flour to the dough to compensate for the extra moisture in the air.
Ingredient substitutions: If you made substitutions for some of the ingredients, such as using a different brand of flour or cocoa powder, it can affect the texture of the dough. Different brands of ingredients can have different moisture levels, so you may need to adjust the amount of liquid or flour accordingly.
Cookies Recipes You’ll Love
- No bake white chocolate chips cookies - These nutty cookies always hit the spot.
- Walnut butter cookies - tender and flavored with vanilla and walnut.
- Blue meringue cookies - light and pure, almost cloud-like cookies.
More favorite recipes to try:
What's your favorite way to enjoy these cookies, and what's a baking rule you've always wanted to debunk? Let us know in the comments below!
Recipe
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teablespoons of instant Instant Espresso Powder
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter softened at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup powder sugar for coating (icing sugar)
Instructions
- Whisk dry ingredients. In a medium-sized bowl, sift and whisk together the flour, salt, cocoa powder, baking powder. Add instant espresso powder and chocolate chips. Set aside.
- Prep your dough. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla until creamy and smooth. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. With mixer set on low speed, slowly add in flour mixture and mix until blended for about 1 minute.
- Cover and chill the dough. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and chill 2-3 hours or until firm enough to shape into balls.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees (180°C). Lightly grease 2 baking sheets or line them with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Pour powdered sugar into a bowl.
- Roll the cookies. Remove dough from refrigerator. Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop dough out and shape into balls about 1-inch each. Roll each cookie dough ball into powdered sugar until it is completely covered on all sides. Place the balls 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes or until they are crackled and puffed. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 3 minutes. With a spatula transfer the cookies to a wire rack, and let them cool until they reach room temperature. Repeat with any remaining batter.
Notes
- Enjoy them warm out of the oven with vanilla ice cream or at room temperature.
- Store for later in an airtight container up to 1 week.
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