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 my crinkles did 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 is chocolate crinkles made of? ›

They're cake-like cookies made with unsweetened cocoa powder, vegetable oil, and a handful of other pantry staple ingredients. Before baking, the cookies are coated in confectioners' sugar. When they bake up, they end up with a cracked (or "crinkled") effect.

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.

How do you make cookie dough not crack? ›

To avoid this, try using as little flour as possible while preparing to roll your dough. Dry – “Dry” or “Crumbly” dough is a product of over-mixing or using too much of any ingredient during the mixing process. This can be reversed by adding one to two tablespoons of liquid (water, milk or softened butter) to your mix.

How do I get my cookies to crack? ›

The means that as the cookie expands, it starts to crack the dry surface. For this to happen, you need to dry the surface of the cookie by coating them in sugar, use sufficient leavening for the cookie to rise, and bake in a hot oven.

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.

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.

Can you freeze cookies with powdered sugar on them? ›

You can freeze filled cookies, such as thumbprint cookies and cookies that are coated in powdered sugar, such as Mexican wedding cookies either after they are baked or freeze the cookie dough. If you're freezing the baked cookies, wait to fill them or roll in powdered sugar until you're ready to serve.

How do you know if crinkles are expired? ›

How do you tell if Crinkle Cookies is bad? If your crinkle cookies have gone bad, they will typically feel overly hard and dry, not soft as they should be. When bitten into, they will lack flavor and the texture will be off. If you see visible signs of mold growth, discard them immediately.

How do you soften crinkle cookies? ›

You see, the only thing that you need to soften up a batch of day-old cookies is a slice of bread. This is a trick I learned from my mom after she saw me turn up my nose one too many times at a slightly crispy chocolate chipper (self-proclaimed gooey, chewy cookie fiend here!).

How do I make my cookies chewy instead of crunchy? ›

How To Make Cookies Chewy Without Cornstarch
  1. Go heavy on brown sugar. It has more moisture than its granulated counterpart, which means the cookie comes out less crispy. ...
  2. Choose margarine or shortening instead of butter. ...
  3. Use baking powder instead of baking soda. ...
  4. Rest your dough. ...
  5. Shorten baking time.
May 14, 2023

How do you make cookies soft and chewy vs hard and crisp? ›

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 are my cookies crispy instead of soft? ›

Adding too little flour can cause cookies to be flat, greasy, and crispy. Most recipes assume you'll use all-purpose, but if you want a lighter, crumblier cookie texture, choose one with a lower protein content such as cake-and-pastry flour. Baking soda helps cookies spread outward and upward while cooking.

Why didn't my snickerdoodles crack? ›

Cracking occurs from several chemical reactions during the baking process. If some of your cookies aren't cracking, it could be because those dough balls were less round than others, the dough became too warm, your oven isn't heating evenly, or (most likely) the cinnamon sugar coating wasn't applied as thoroughly.

Why didn t my molasses cookies crackle? ›

Why didn't my molasses crinkle cookies crack? You likely need to have more sugar on the tops of the cookies before baking. The sugar helps dry out the top layer before the rest of the cookie bakes, which is what causes those deep crinkles.

Can you fix crunchy cookies? ›

Just wrap a cookie or two in a damp paper towel and then put them in the microwave for about 10 to 15 seconds. The moisture from the paper towel should soften the cookies right up. So if you wonder how to soften hard cookies quickly? Microwave is the way!

Are cookies supposed to crack? ›

As soon as you see that rich, light, honey-brown coloration, you know they're ready to go. They've started to crack around the edges - A well-cooked cookie will often start to crack or crumble slightly around the edges.

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