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.
Rhiann
The Chocolate Crinkles look amazing, I’ll defiantly have to give the recipe a try! I’ts crazy how fast Christmas is approaching but I’m glad you had a great thanksgiving. Look forward to hopefully reading some more festive posts from you?
Risha
A wonderful holiday treat for sure.. Looks absolutely delicious
Bella
Seems like the perfect holiday treat! I could eat this all year long! LOL
Jolina
Thanks! I feel exactly the same about these cookies LOL
Jam
I friggen LOVE Christmas cookies. I will have to forward this to my sister so she can make be a batch 😀
Jolina
Lucky to have a sister who bakes! 🙂 Hope you guys like them.
Sandra Garth
This is one of my favorite cookies and I really should get started with my holiday baking. Your presentation is always beautiful and I enjoy visiting over here. Thank you for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story link party and have a great weekend.
Tesa
You are making me hungry!!! That looks so tempting and inviting, my kind of dessert, yummy!
Anne
I love chocolate crinkles! these look delicious!
Claudia Blanton
I have to make these for my husband. He is on a business trip right now, and called me to tell me how much he misses homemade treats. And he loves chocolate! Off to get all the ingredients now! Thanks!
Jolina
Great timing then 🙂 Hope you guys like it!
Tiina A
Looks super delicious! You mentioned that they are super easy to make so perhaps even I could make some of them 😀
Ashley
Chocolate crinkles are some of my favorites for cookies!
Nicoletta
So pretty looking and so delicious! Who doesn’t like a very chocolatey chocolate crinkle cookie? 🙂
Jolina
Thank you Nicoletta! And the answer is nobody LOL. Happy Sunday!
Melissa
Just in time for a cookie exchange I have coming up! Lovely cookies.
Jolina
Awesome! Cookie exchanges are fun 🙂
Dan
I can taste those cookies in my mouth, just by looking at your beautiful pictures. I’d love one right now, with a cup of black coffee!
Lisa Rios
My goodness, these Chocolate crinkles are looking absolutely delicious and mouth watering. Kids are going love such yummy recipe and these could be the best recipe idea for Christmas!
Suchi
This is so amazing! love the recipe… The pics are beautiful…i would love to try this!