Chocolate Crinkle Cookies have a rich and fudgy center with a crisp powdered sugar outer layer. Crinkle Cookies are just as important as Sugar Cookies on your holiday cookie tray.

Several Chocolate Crinkle Cookies on a tray

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You know I love easy desserts with simple ingredients. These Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are no exception. 

Why these are the Best Crinkle Cookies:

  • Simple Ingredients: Made with just a handful of kitchen staples you probably already have on hand.
  • Fast: these cookies can be whipped up quickly and you can chill them ahead.
  • Fudgy & Crisp: The centers are soft and gooey with crisp edges.
  • Keep Well: most cookies are best eaten fresh but these seem to get better with time.

These cookies are perfect for gifting and they are so good, you’ll want to make a double batch!

Chocolate Crinkle Cookie Up close with crinkles

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are like a cross between gooey Fudgy Brownies and crisp Chocolate Chip Cookies. They are rolled in powdered sugar before baking so they form “crinkles” as they expand in the oven.

The best part? Just like a good homemade Baklava, these cookies get better as they get a little stale. The outer layer just gets crunchier, while the center stays so gooey. Let’s just say you’ll find yourself hanging around your cookie jar for several days.

Ingredients for crinkle cookies with flour, cocoa powder, sugar, eggs, vanilla, oil

How to Make Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are a blast to make. If you have kids around, they can help make these cookies. They will love rolling the chocolatey dough into bite-sized balls and coating them with a generous amount of powdered sugar, similar to Russian Tea Cakes

  1. Whisk together sugar, cocoa powder, oil, vanilla extract, and eggs. 
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Slowly add flour mixture to the cocoa mixture. Mix well. 
  4. Cover the dough and refrigerate for 3 hours and up to overnight. 
step by step images on how to make dough for the crinkle cookies

To Finish and Bake the Cookies

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Shape cookie dough into balls (a cookie scoop makes it easy to portion) and roll into powdered sugar. 
  2. Place cookies on a baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie. Bake for 10-12 minutes, depending on the size of the cookies. Cookies will come out soft but will harden as they cool down.
  3. Once cookies are slightly cooled, move them to a wire rack to fully cool down.
Chocolate crinkle cookie dough coated in powdered sugar

Common Questions

Why are my Chocolate Crinkle Cookies flat?

There are two reasons why your Chocolate Crinkle Cookies came out flat. Either the dough wasn’t chilled or you didn’t use enough flour. Make sure to properly measure flour by scooping it into your measuring cup and leveling off the top.

Where did Chocolate Crinkle Cookies originate?

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies first premiered in Betty Crocker’s famous cookie cookbook, “Cooky Carnival”. Crocker recounts being served the cookies by home chef Helen Fredell and begging her for the recipe. Fast forward to today and these cookies are gracing just about every holiday tray each year.

How do you know when Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are done?

You’ll know when Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are done when they start to develop those signature cracks on top. Typically, this takes anywhere from 10-12 minutes depending on their size.

Why is my dough too sticky or wet?

The dough for crinkle cookies should be very moist. Be sure to measure flour correctly, and it helps to roll the moist dough with wet hands.

A tray of baked chocolate crinkle cookies

Storing Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

  • Room Temperature: Keep your Chocolate Crinkle Cookies stored in an airtight container on the counter. They should stay fresh for up to a week. 
  • Freezing: Freeze your dough balls for up to 2 months in an airtight container. When you are ready to bake, remove them from the freezer and allow them to thaw for 30 minutes in the fridge before rolling them in powdered sugar. Bake according to instructions.

Make-Ahead Tip: You can make the dough a day or two in advance. Keep it refrigerated and only bake right before serving. 

Cookies Recipes You’ll Love

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

4.97 from 652 votes
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies served on platter
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are a key component of every holiday cookie tray. Fudgy on the inside with a crispy, powdered sugar outer later, they are loved by kids and adults alike.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 20 cookies

Instructions

  • In a mixing bowl, combine granulated sugar, cocoa powder, oil, vanilla extract and eggs. Whisk until the mixture is smooth.
  • In a separate bowl, combine flour together, baking powder and salt.
  • Add the flour mixture to the cocoa mixture and stir to combine.
  • Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 350F. Scoop dough with a mini ice cream scoop for even portioning into 20 cookies then roll cookie dough into even-sized balls (it's easier to roll with wet hands) and generously roll each into powdered sugar.
  • Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet, being sure to leave space between each of the cookies. Bake for 10-12 minutes, depending on the size of the cookies. Cookies will come out soft but will harden as they cool down.
  • Allow cookies to slightly cool. Then, move them to a wire rack to fully cool down.

Nutrition Per Serving

85kcal Calories19g Carbs2g Protein1g Fat0.3g Saturated Fat0.1g Polyunsaturated Fat0.3g Monounsaturated Fat0.002g Trans Fat16mg Cholesterol36mg Sodium66mg Potassium1g Fiber13g Sugar24IU Vitamin A15mg Calcium1mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Amount per Serving
Calories
85
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
1
g
2
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.3
g
2
%
Trans Fat
 
0.002
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
0.3
g
Cholesterol
 
16
mg
5
%
Sodium
 
36
mg
2
%
Potassium
 
66
mg
2
%
Carbohydrates
 
19
g
6
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
13
g
14
%
Protein
 
2
g
4
%
Vitamin A
 
24
IU
0
%
Calcium
 
15
mg
2
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate cookies, chocolate crinkle cookies, crinkle cookies
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 85
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook
4.97 from 652 votes (495 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Aliyah
    January 28, 2025

    They tasted really good. Could I not use Confectioners sugar? If I do not have any on hand.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 28, 2025

      If you don’t have powdered sugar on hand, you can use other substitutes like grind granulated sugar, cornstarch and granulated sugar, honey powder or coconut powdered sugar.

      Reply

  • Andy
    January 13, 2025

    Amazing recipe. Started baking a month ago and your recipes never disappoint! Do you have any recipe for different flavors of crinkle cookies? Aka matcha etc.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      January 13, 2025

      Hi Andy, I don’t have any variations yet but I love that idea!

      Reply

  • Olga A
    January 11, 2025

    These cookies are so good! We always double the batch because they go so quick! We live where it gets really humid sometime so I’ve had to put the cookie balls into the freezer for a bit before coating in sugar and then they turn out great! Also I’ve started to use nitrile gloves when rolling them out and it makes the process SO easy, they don’t stick to the gloves at all, no wetting hands or oil required.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 11, 2025

      Thank you for sharing that, Olga! I’m happy to hear you enjoy this recipe!

      Reply

  • Deb
    January 8, 2025

    Great recipe, I will be keeping this one! So simple and love using olive oil or avocado oil to make it ‘lighter’. I did one batch as written and one where I added some cinnamon – both delicious. A (very) well rounded cookie scoop yielded ~ 14 cookies and looked even more impressive 🙂

    Reply

  • Aliyah
    January 4, 2025

    Would it still work if I only did two hours in the fridge?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 4, 2025

      Hi Aliyah! You can try less time, but it’s very important for the dough to be chilled long enough for them to turn out well.

      Reply

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