Description

These Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are rich, fudgy, and coated in a perfect crackled powdered sugar crust. Featuring a chocolatey dough studded with semi-sweet chocolate chips, these cookies have a soft, melt-in-your-mouth center and a beautiful crinkled appearance that makes them ideal for cookie trays or holiday baking. Chilling the dough enhances the flavors and texture, ensuring every bite is decadently delicious.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

6 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
1 cup granulated sugar (divided from total)
3/4 cup 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

Coating

1/2 cup granulated sugar (remaining from total)
1 cup powdered sugar

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Instructions

Combine wet ingredients and sugar: In a medium mixing bowl, beat together the melted and cooled butter, 1 cup of granulated sugar, and the cocoa powder until smooth and well incorporated.
Add eggs and vanilla: Add the 2 large eggs and vanilla extract to the bowl and beat well until the mixture is fully combined and slightly glossy.
Mix dry ingredients: Sift together the baking powder and all-purpose flour, then gradually mix the dry ingredients into the chocolate butter mixture until just combined.
Incorporate chocolate chips: Beat in the semi-sweet chocolate chips ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Chill the dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Chilling firms up the sticky dough making it easier to handle and it improves the cookie’s texture and appearance.
Preheat oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease it lightly to prevent sticking.
Form cookie balls: Scoop even-sized portions of the chilled dough and roll them between your hands to form smooth balls.
Coat cookie balls: Roll each ball first in the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar, then roll in powdered sugar until fully coated. This dual coating creates the iconic crinkle effect during baking.
Arrange on baking sheet: Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet spaced 2-3 inches apart to allow for spreading.
Bake cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. They will spread slightly and develop a crackled powdered sugar surface while remaining soft and just set in the center.

Notes

Chilling the dough is essential to achieve the signature crackled surface and soft interior; don’t skip or shorten this step.
Use a cookie scoop for evenly sized cookies to ensure uniform baking.
For extra richness, you can substitute some of the butter with an equal amount of vegetable oil.
Cookies are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
To make the cookies thicker, chill the dough longer or bake slightly less time, adjusting as needed.