My take on a Christmas classic.
When I think of Christmas, I think of cookies. Nothing fills me with more holiday cheer than being in a warm kitchen with my daughters, covered in flour, mixing up and baking a big batch of cookies together. And of course, no Christmas dinner is complete without that plate of baked goodies to pass around at the end.
Over the years, I’ve collected about a bajillion different Christmas cookie recipes. I’ve got my Soft and Chewy Caramel Filled Snickerdoodle Cookies and my cute little Holiday Present Cookies, my chocolate-mint Andes Sugar Cookies and my festive Santa Hat Rice Krispie Treats. But there’s one traditional treat I’ve only just added to the lineup: the classic Chocolate Crinkle Cookie.
These holiday favorites are thick and chewy, with soft centers and crisp, crackly edges. They are rich and fudgy, almost like a brownie. And they’ve got that distinctive “crinkle” surface with cracks running all through their powdered-sugar coating.
These crinkly cookies are so tasty, they’re way too good to keep to yourself. Fortunately, it’s easy to whip up a few extra batches to send to friends and relatives. Check out my Shipping Baked Goods Tips to see how.
Why do you add in the chocolate chips?
- The extra chocolate from the added chocolate chips in the center make these cookies chewy and fudge-y.
How long will these cookies last?
- Will stay fresh up to 5 days in an airtight container.
Tips for making these Chocolate Crinkle Cookies.
- Dough is really sticky. Important to chill well before rolling into balls.
- Rolling in granulated sugar before the powdered sugar is optional, but helps to keep the powdered sugar from absorbing into the cookie to leave you with a nice pronounced powdered sugar crinkle contrast.
- The granulated sugar also gives a little crystallization to the edges of the cookie – nice compliment with the ultra soft chewy center. Idea from Cooks Illustrated
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat together melted and cooled butter, 1 cup granulated sugar and the cocoa powder.
- Add eggs and vanilla extract and beat well.
- Sift together baking powder and flour and mix the dry ingredients into the butter/sugar mixture.
- Beat in chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
- Cover dough with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours – the longer the better for perfect crinkle. The sticky dough will harden enough to work with it.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Scoop even balls of chilled cookie dough and roll between hands to form a smooth ball.
- Roll the formed dough ball in remaining 1/2 cup of granulated sugar and then in powdered sugar.
- Place balls onto a greased or parchment lined baking sheet, with 2-3 inches space between each.
- Bake for 10 minutes; cookies will be spread with a beautiful crackle pattern in the powdered sugar and the center of cookie will be just set and soft in the middle.
More holiday recipes you will love.
- Easy Cranberry Sauce
- Antipasto Wreath Holiday Appetizer
- Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
- Cream Cheese Mints
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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons butter melted and cooled
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar divided
- 3/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cip powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat together melted and cooled butter, 1 cup granulated sugar and the cocoa powder.
- Add eggs and vanilla extract and beat well.
- Sift together baking powder and flour and mix the dry ingredients into the butter/sugar mixture.
- Beat in chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
- Cover dough with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours - the longer the better for perfect crinkle. The sticky dough will harden enough to work with it.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Scoop even balls of chilled cookie dough and roll between hands to form a smooth ball.
- Roll the formed dough ball in remaining 1/2 cup of granulated sugar and then in powdered sugar.
- Place balls onto a greased or parchment lined baking sheet, with 2-3 inches space between each.
- Bake for 10 minutes; cookies will be spread with a beautiful crackle pattern in the powdered sugar and the center of cookie will be just set and soft in the middle.
Video
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Nutrition Information:
Nutrition Disclaimer
Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Bryson Fico says
Excellent recipe remind s me of the cookies my grandmother made during Christmas – thank you.