Chocolate Crinkles Easy Recipe (2024)

by Jolina | | | 64 Comments
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Chocolate crinkles are soft, chewy, very chocolatey and also ridiculously easy to make. They’re on everyone’s favourite Christmas cookie list every year!

(What to try something different this year? Make a batch of delicious ube crinkles or molasses crinkle cookies and wow your family and friends!)

Chocolate Crinkles Easy Recipe (1)

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What are chocolate crinkles

How to make

Make ahead

Storage and shelf life

Holiday cookie swap recipes

Very Chocolatey Chocolate Crinkles

And just like that Thanksgiving is over. Hope you had a wonderful one! Did you score any good deals on Black Friday? It’s Cyber Monday today so if there are any last-minute things you want to buy, now is the time.

You also know what this all means, right? Everyone’s now looking to Christmas! It will be here sooner than we think –Christmas parties, menu planning, gifts (…calories…just sayin’).

This week we are doing Christmas cookies.

Whether you want to give them out as gifts, bring them to your office potluck or serve them at your next get-together (or for when Santa comes to visit!), these cookies are crowd pleasers at Christmastime (or anytime).

First up are these soft, chewy and so very chocolatey chocolate crinkles.

What are chocolate crinkles

Chocolate Crinkles Easy Recipe (2)

Chocolate crinkles are simply chocolate cookies that have those distinctive cracks on top (some people call them chocolate crackle cookies).

That happens because you roll the dough in sugarChocolate Crinkles Easy Recipe (3) which then bakes, expands and crackles into these delicious, textured and pretty-as-a-snowflake cookies (or, in simpler terms, oven magic happens).

They are chocolatey, not very sweet (despite being rolled into sugar) and most definitely chewy (so right up my alley! Have you seen these chewy double chocolate chip cookies?)

How to make

Chocolate crinkles are very easy to make, another reason they’re a favourite holiday cookie.

1. WHISK FLOUR MIXTURE. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

2. COMBINE COCOA MIXTURE. In a larger bowl, stir cocoa powder, sugar and oil until combined.

3. ADD EGGS. Then you want to add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then add vanilla extract and stir. Your mixture should be quite thick at this stage.

3. ADD DRY TO WET INGREDIENTS. Add your flour mixture on top of your cocoa mixture and, using a fork, stir to combine until smooth and well incorporated. Cover your bowl with plastic wrap and chill for at least 4 hours (I like to chill mine overnight).

4. PREHEAT OVEN. When your cookie dough is ready, preheat your oven to 350F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

5. SCOOP AND ROLL. Scoop your dough into 1 to 2 inch balls (2-inch balls will give you jumbo cookies like the ones you find in Starbucks). Thoroughly coat each ball with confectioner’s sugar before placing it on the cookie sheet. The cookies will spread a bit so space your cookies about 2-3 inches apart.

6. BAKE AND ENJOY! Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the edges start to brown and the tops start to crack. Cool slightly on the cookie sheet (about 2 minutes) then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Make ahead

Chocolate Crinkles Easy Recipe (12)

This cookie batter freezes very well. You can roll them into balls, place on a baking or cookie sheetChocolate Crinkles Easy Recipe (13) and freeze until firm. Then you can transfer them into a freezer-friendly container or Ziploc bagChocolate Crinkles Easy Recipe (14).

When you’re ready to bake, simply get as many balls as you like from the freezer, thaw for about 30 minutes (watch that it doesn’t become too soft otherwise they will spread too thinly), roll in the sugar and bake as directed.

(Buttermilk scones also freeze very well and are perfect to make ahead and serve on Christmas morning! Check out this classic buttermilk scones no-fail recipe or this lemon buttermilk scones recipe to mix thingsup.)

Storage and shelf life

Once baked, assuming we don’t eat it all lol, these chocolate crinkles will last 2-3 days in an airtight container. So that’s something to keep in mind if you’re planning to give these out as presents (great idea by the way!).

(Another easy and delicious foodie gift for Christmas? Homemade chocolate bark! Fun to make and even funner to give away.)

Holiday cookie swap recipes

Looking for more cookie recipes for holiday cookie swaps? Check these out:

  • are chewy, chocolatey and so easy to make! Perfect if you’re looking for a last-minute holiday treat.
  • White chocolate pistachio cookies are delightfully sweet and salty in one delicious bite.
  • are the best kind of chocolate cookies — soft and chewy, so chocolatey and a breeze to make!
  • While soft and chewy ginger molasses cookies are sweet, indulgent and will make your house smell like Christmas.

Chocolate Crinkles Easy Recipe (15)

Very Chocolatey Chocolate Crinkles

Author: Jolina

Soft, chewy and very chocolatey, chocolate crinkles are also ridiculously easy to make. They’re on everyone’s favourite Christmas cookie list!

5 from 12 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Chilling Time 4 hours hrs

Total Time 4 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine North American

Servings 24 cookies

Calories 170 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, whisk 2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt. Set aside.

  • In a large bowl, stir 1 cup cocoa powder, 2 cups sugar and ½ cup oil until combined.

    Chocolate Crinkles Easy Recipe (16)

  • Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then add 2 teaspoons vanilla and stir. Your mixture should be quite thick at this stage.

    Chocolate Crinkles Easy Recipe (17)

  • Add your flour mixture on top of your cocoa mixture and, using a fork, stir to combine until smooth and well incorporated. Cover your bowl with plastic wrap and chill for at least 4 hours (I usually chill my cookie dough overnight).

    Chocolate Crinkles Easy Recipe (18)

  • When your dough is ready, preheat your oven to 350F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

  • Scoop your dough into 1 to 2 inch balls (2-inch balls will give you jumbo cookies like the ones you find in Starbucks).

    Chocolate Crinkles Easy Recipe (19)

  • Thoroughly coat each ball with confectioner's sugar before placing it on the cookie sheet. The cookies will spread a bit so space your cookies about 2-3 inches apart.

    Chocolate Crinkles Easy Recipe (20)

  • Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the edges start to brown and the tops start to crack. Cool slightly on the cookie sheet (about 2 minutes) then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Video

Notes

  1. The number of cookies you get from this recipe depends largely on how big (or small) you scoop the cookie dough. I typically get around 24-28 cookies using my 1.5 TBSP cookie scoop.
  2. These chocolate crinkles will look soft out of the oven but will continue to set while cooling on the pan. Do not over bake.

Nutrition

Calories: 170kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 50mgPotassium: 107mgFiber: 1gSugar: 21gCalcium: 24mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional information are estimates only.

Tried this recipe? Leave a star rating today!Also tag @iamtheunlikelybaker I’d love to see your creations.

Happy baking!

Did you make chocolate crinkle cookies? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.

Andlet’s get social!Find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Chocolate Crinkles Easy Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my crinkles not moist? ›

Why are my crinkle cookies not moist? See note above about baking times. The most likely reason that the cookies are not moist is that they've been overbaked. With cookies, overbaking by only a few minutes can be the difference between a perfect cookie and a dry, crumbly one.

Why do crinkles not crack? ›

The most common reason for cookies that don't crack is either that the oven was not hot enough or the baking powder was expired. Be sure to allow plenty of time for your oven to heat, and use a fresh container of baking powder!

What happens if you don't chill crinkle cookie dough? ›

Crinkle cookies are easy to make, but you HAVE to chill the dough, it is mandatory. If you don't chill the dough, the dough will be too sticky, and you will end up with a chocolate cookie mess…. and no crinkly tops!

How do you keep powdered sugar from melting on crinkle cookies? ›

The Secret to a Good Sugar Top

The tip that sent me into the kitchen was to give the chilled dough a double coating of sugar. First roll the cookies in granulated sugar and then roll them in powdered (confectioners') sugar.

What adds moisture to cookies? ›

Use a higher ratio of brown sugar to white sugar. Brown sugar contains molasses, which adds moisture to the cookie dough and helps create a softer texture. Use melted butter instead of room-temperature butter. Melted butter incorporates more easily into the dough, creating a more cohesive and pliable dough.

How do you make crispy cookies moist? ›

The paper towel will release moisture and help to soften the cookies without making them too soft or mushy. Another way is to place the cookies in a plastic bag with a slice of apple or a damp tea towel. Both of these methods work well to rehydrate cookies without the risk of making them too soft.

Why didn't my crinkle cookies flatten? ›

There are several possible reasons: if your dough is too cold, the cookies won't spread as much in the oven. If you chilled dough overnight, try setting it out at room temperature 20-30 minutes before rolling your dough.

Why are my crinkle cookies hard? ›

Most cookies are soft and flexible, so the dough evenly expands as the cookies bake. In crinkle cookies, however, the powdered sugar dries out in the oven, creating a hard outer shell that is not flexible.

Why is my chocolate crinkles hard? ›

Don't overbake or they will be hard – they'll be soft like pudding when you take them out of the oven, but they'll firm up as they cool! If you overbake, they will be tough AND they will not sink back down to reveal their beautiful crinkle pattern.

What happens if I accidentally put my cookie dough in the freezer? ›

The best way to thaw frozen dough is by letting it sit in the refrigerator for one or two hours. This gradual defrosting will work better than trying to thaw dough in a warmer room temperature environment such as the kitchen countertop.

Why are my crinkles flat? ›

Why are my crinkle cookies flat? Flat cookies are often the result of too little flour or butter that's too soft. In the case of crinkle cookies, if you don't let the dough firm up in the fridge before scooping and rolling, they'll spread too much in the oven and lose their domed crackled topping.

Should you refrigerate chocolate chip cookie dough before baking? ›

For starters, chilling prevents cookies from spreading out too quickly once they're in the oven. If you use a higher fat butter (like Kerrygold), chilling your dough is absolutely essential. Popping your dough in the fridge allows the fats to cool.

What can I use instead of confectioners sugar in crinkles? ›

Just blend the coconut sugar until it becomes a fine powder. Combine 1 cup of coconut sugar with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch or arrowroot powder if you need confectioners' sugar.

What happens if you use powdered sugar instead of granulated in cookies? ›

All levels of powdered sugar grind can be used interchangeably with each other in cookie recipes. But take note: powdered sugar is not to be substituted for granulated sugar or brown sugar, since the added cornstarch in powdered sugar changes cookie chemistry and texture.

What if I use powdered sugar instead of granulated in cookies? ›

It is not recommended to substitute powdered sugar for granulated sugar. Since powdered sugar has a much finer texture, and it contains a small percentage of cornstarch to prevent caking, substituting can give you unexpected results. Q.

Why are my crinkles dry? ›

Bake them right away. Don't leave it on the counter for too long or the sugar will melt. Why is my cookie dry and not fudgy? Dry chocolate crinkle cookies can be caused by three things: using too much flour, over-baking, and over-mixing.

Why are my cookies crunchy instead of soft? ›

Sugar dissolved in baking forms a syrup as the dough heats up. Different types of sugars affect the texture because they absorb different amounts of water. Remember moisture is the key! White sugar creates crispier cookies and brown sugar creates chewier cookies.

Why do my cookies seem dry? ›

If you overmix the dough, the cookies will be dry and crumbly. The best way to fix this is to add more liquid to the dough. This can be done by adding milk, water, or even melted butter. You may also need to add more flour to the dough if it is too wet.

What can cause a cookie to be too moist or not moist enough? ›

Answer: It really comes down to the ratio of wet to dry ingredients. You need the right ratio to create the perfect cookie. Baking really is a science and if something is not measured right or the ratio is off, the dough and ultimately the cookies are going to come out dry or too wet.

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