Chocolate crinkle cookies are a favorite Christmas cookie because of their crackled outer layer made of powdered sugar coating that resembles snow and they have a chocolatey center that is a chocolate lovers dream.
These cookies are the perfect addition to a Christmas cookie platter and a great recipe for a holiday cookie exchange.
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These classic Christmas cookies are popular during the holiday and winter seasons and have become a holiday staple in our house over the past several years because they are a favorite Christmas cookie to bake!
Ingredients in Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Granulated sugar - for the cookie dough and for rolling
- Vegetable oil
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Powdered sugar - for rolling the cookies and to create the powdered sugar coating
How to make this Chocolate Crinkle Cookie recipe
Combine the wet ingredients - Combine the cocoa powder, granulated sugar, and vegetable oil in a large bowl using a hand mixer. Once combined, beat in the eggs and vanilla.
Combine the dry ingredients - Combine the flour mixture by mixing together the baking powder, salt, and flour in a medium bowl.
Make the cookie dough- Slowly stir the flour mixture into the wet ingredients.
Chill - Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 4 hours to chill.
Preheat the oven - Preheat the oven to 350°F and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Shape the cookies - Once the dough is chilled, roll the cookies into 1-inch balls, roll in white sugar, and then roll once again in the powdered sugar.
Bake - Place the cookies on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet or use a silicone baking mat. Bake the cookies for 11-14 minutes. Make sure the cookies are crisp on the edges but also that the centers aren't too fudgy.
Cool - Remove from the oven and dust with additional sugar if desired. Cool for 10 minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before storing.
Tips and Variations
- Chill the dough: You have to chill the dough for this recipe for at least 4 hours before baking these cookies to prevent them from falling completely flat.
- Roll in granulated sugar first: To achieve beautiful chocolate crinkles, roll the cookie dough balls in granulated sugar before rolling them in powdered sugar. The granulated sugar will help spread the surface of the cookie and will create beautiful crinkle cookies.
- Add some flavor: To intensify the flavors of these cookies, consider adding a teaspoon of espresso powder to the cookie dough.
- Use a cookie scoop: This recipe tends to create sticky dough and a cookie scoop helps you handle the dough and get the same size cookies!
Storing and Serving
To store these chocolate crinkle cookies, use an airtight container to help preserve their freshness. Layer the baked cookies between sheets of parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking together and keep the container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
You can store the unbaked cookie dough in the freezer for up to three months. First, place the cookie dough in a freezer bag and then place the bag in a labeled freezer-safe container. When ready to bake, preheat the oven and set the dough out on the counter to raise in temperature before baking. Roll the cookie dough balls in the granulated sugar and confectioners' sugar right before baking.
FAQ's
How do you get the crackle on crinkle cookies?
To get the beautiful crackle effect on crinkle cookies, make sure to chill the cookie dough to slow down the spreading process before baking. Once chilled, roll the cookie dough into 1-inch balls and then roll the cookie dough balls in granulated sugar before rolling them in the confectioner's sugar. You will want to roll them generously in the powdered sugar to make sure the tops of the crinkle cookies have a nice thick layer of powdered sugar on them after they are done baking. With this tip, the end result for these cookies will be brownie-like cookies with a beautiful crackled top.
Do You Have to Chill the Dough?
Yes, the dough needs to be chilled for these chocolate crinkle cookies because if not the cookies will spread too thin while baking. Chilling the dough will slow down the spreading process.
In fact, placing the unused dough back in the refrigerator while one cookie sheet is in the oven will keep the dough chilled while waiting for the cookies to bake.
RELATED
Looking for cookies to add to your holiday cookie tray? Check out these Christmas Cookie Butter Cookies, a festive cookie perfect for Christmas Cookie Plates. Also, check out these Christmas recipes below for your holiday parties.
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 1 cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 4 eggs
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅛ cup granulated sugar - for rolling
- ¾ cup powdered sugar - for rolling cookies
Instructions
- Combine the cocoa powder, granulated sugar, and vegetable oil in a large bowl using a hand mixer.
- Once combined, beat in the eggs and vanilla.
- Combine the flour mixture by mixing together the baking powder, salt, and flour in a medium bowl.
- Slowly stir the flour mixture into the wet ingredients.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 4 hours to chill.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Once the dough is chilled, roll the cookies into 1-inch balls, roll in white sugar and then roll once again in the powdered sugar.
- Place the cookies on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet or use a silicone baking mat. Bake the cookies for 11-14 minutes. Make sure the cookies are crisp on the edges but also that the centers aren't too fudgy.
- Remove from the oven and dust with additional sugar if desired. Cool for 10 minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before storing.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Popular Recipes
Dana is the lead recipe developer and photographer for PopularRecipes.com. With her 10+ years of experience creating, testing, and photographing recipes, she has become an artist in developing wholesome, family-friendly meals that are a hit with both kids and parents.
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