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!)
It’s finally Christmas cookie season!
Whether you want to give them out as gifts, bring them to your office potluck or serve them at your next get-together, cookies are always crowd pleasers at Christmastime (just like roasted chestnuts).
First up are these soft, chewy and so very chocolatey chocolate crinkles.
Let’s get to it.
What are chocolate crinkles
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 sugar
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
This cookie batter freezes very well. You can roll them into balls, place on a baking or cookie sheet
and freeze until firm. Then you can transfer them into a freezer-friendly container or Ziploc bag
.
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 things up.)
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.)
Looking for more cookie recipes for holiday cookie swaps? Check these out:
- M&M cookie bars 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.
- Chewy double chocolate M&M cookies 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.
Happy baking!
Did you make chocolate crinkle cookies? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
And let’s get social! Find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
Very Chocolatey Chocolate Crinkles
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsweetened Dutch processed cocoa powder
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 4 pcs large eggs room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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).
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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
Nutritional information are estimates only.
Elizabeth O.
These cookies are super fun to make and they’re gorgeous as well. How can you say no to treats as yummy as those!
Adriana
Crinkle cookies are my outmost favorite for the holidays. I have to contain myself and not over eat them. They are so good thanks for the recipe =)
Elizabeth
This is certainly a great gift idea for Christmas and seems easy to make.
Ann Bacciaglia
These chocolate crinkles look so delicious and easy to make. I will have to get the ingredients I need to try these on the weekend.
Jolina
Awesome! Hope you enjoy them Ann!
Kimberly
These wouldn’t last long at my house! They look delicious and simple to make.
Jolina
They don’t last long at our house either haha. They are super easy and delicious and just reminds me so much of the holidays!
Nikki
Those are so pretty, the perfect chocolate Christmas cookie. They look like they’re dusted with snow! My favorite holiday cookie is chocolate chip with M&Ms. I need to make some!
Jolina
I never looked at them that way! Aha, maybe it is supposed to look like snow 🙂 Chocolate chip M&Ms sound so good. I want to bake some now lol. Thanks Nikki!
Neely Moldovan
First of all love your secret. second of all these sound so good. I may make these for our neighbors!
Jolina
Ni Neely! Your neighbours will adore you forever (if they don’t already do!) 🙂
Divya
These look so yummy and not too difficult to make! I would expect these to be more challenging, but I feel like I can tackle this!
Jolina
Hi Divya! I’m sure you’ll do great 🙂
Marua
these are my favorite go to christmas cookie recipe. So easy and loved by all.
Jolina
Right? There’s just something about chocolate crinkles and Christmas 🙂
Elaine
These look so yummy! I love chocolate crinkles!! I can’t wait to make these!
Jolina
Me too! I dunno why I only make them around the holidays haha. Seems wrong to eat them in the summer teehee. Enjoy Elaine!
Tescha Chetty
This recipe look fantastic. The ingredients are easy to find as well. This will def be one of m treats I will be making for our Christmas table 🙂
Dawn
I can’t believe it. We are so close to Christmas!! I do a fair bit of baking in the weeks ahead for the holidays, some for me to keep and a lot to give away. So much to do and so little time. I want to have my shopping done within the next week or two, though. Almost there. Gotta look at that list again and start crossing stuff off 😉 Now, these cookies! I love making crinkle cookies. They are like magic the way they turn out….so fun, isn’t it? I may just have to make extra of these cause I know I’ll want to keep a bunch just for me! Pinning these 🙂 Happy Monday 🙂
Jolina
Hi Dawn! Did you do some Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping? I must say there were some pretty good deals to be had! We are nowhere near the end of our list though. Must. Not. Panic. LOL. Crinkles might be my favourite holiday cookie 🙂 Have a wonderful week!
Ana De- Jesus
I feel like Christmas has come early! I would love to make these cookies, they look like snowdrops!
Jolina
Crinkles do remind me so much of Christmas 🙂 Something about them eh? Hope you get the time to make some! Have a lovely week Ana!
Vivian
I’ve never heard of cyber-monday before? But yes, I got some nice items on Black friday! They will arrive today, hopefully… Can’t wait!
Meanwhile, I’ve gotta try baking some crinkle cookies! They look really delicious, and I love the styling too.
Jolina
It’s when online shoppers go crazy haha 🙂 And yay on Black Friday deals! I usually wait for Monday and stay within the safety of my home and laptop lol. Thanks Vivian! Hope you enjoy a ridiculous amount of Christmas cookies!
Val
I love cookies all year round. These chocolate crinkles look great, if I could reach through the screen to try one right now I would.
Jolina
Yes to cookies all year 🙂