Last Christmas, I decided to shake things up and swap out my usual chocolate cake for some Christmas crinkle cookies. I was nervous about how everyone would react to the change. But as soon as I heard their satisfied “mmm’s” after the first bite, I knew I’d struck gold!

Why We All Love Crinkle Chocolate Cookies With Powdered Sugar

On the outside, this slightly crispy coating of powdered sugar gives way to a soft, chewy center. What a mouthful of surprise! And let’s not forget about the unsweetened cocoa powder, which brings this deep, rich chocolate flavor that satisfies even the most die-hard chocoholic.
Like my other cookie recipes (like chewy or double chocolate chip cookies), these cookies are easy to whip up. They use just your basic pantry staples: flour, cocoa powder, sugar, and eggs. The only real waiting game is the dough chilling, but you can always kick back and relax during that passive process.
And can we talk about how cute they look? Those crinkle surfaces dusted with powdered sugar are literal winter wonderlands! Perfect for popping on your Christmas cookie tray or any other celebration you’ve got going on. (But let’s be real; they’re so tasty, you’ll want to enjoy them year-round).
And don’t even get me started on pairing options! Sure, they’re delicious all on their own. But if you’re feeling fancy, these cookies taste amazing dunked in a glass of milk. Or, if you need a little pick-me-up, they can be an amazing companion to a steaming cup of coffee. Talk about versatility!

8 Basic Steps To Make Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Step 1.

First, grab a big bowl and your trusty stand or handheld mixer with the paddle or whisk attachment.

Toss in the butter, brown sugar, and granulated white sugar, then crank up the speed to medium-high. Let them mingle for 2 to 3 minutes until they’re silky smooth.

Then, it’s time to add the eggs and vanilla. Hit that high speed and mix until everything is nicely combined. Remember to scrape the bowl’s bottom and sides to make sure everything’s mixed in!

Step 2.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies wet ingredient

Take out another medium bowl. Grab your whisk and mix the flour, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt until they’re all buddy-buddy.

Slowly pour in dry ingredients (from Step 1) with your mixer running at low speed. Give it a good mix until everything’s cozy together. Then, toss in mini chocolate chips and give it one final whirl. Your dough should be dense and super sticky at this point!

Step 3.

Cover the cookie dough snugly and put it in the fridge for 3 hours to 3 days. Trust me, chilling is key with this sticky guy.

Step 4.

When you’re ready to bake, take the dough out and let it sit for about 10 minutes at room temperature (But if it’s been chilling for longer than my recommended 3 hours, give it about 15-20 minutes to warm up). This little trick makes it way easier to roll and scoop!

Step 5.

While your dough is chilling, preheat your oven to 350°F (or 177°C) and line silicone baking mats or parchment paper across your baking sheets. It’ll make cleanup a breeze.

And there you have it – all set to whip up a batch of these mouth-watering cookies!

Step 6.

Let’s get our cookies ready for the oven!

Grab about 1 ½ tablespoons of dough for each cookie (I usually use my cookie scoop). Roll the cookie balls lightly in granular sugar, then give each a generous coating of confectioner’s sugar. Spread them on your prepared baking sheets, with 3 inches in between.

Step 7.

Pop those babies in the preheated oven and let them work their magic for about 11 to 12 minutes. We’re looking for the edges to appear set, but the center parts should still be nice and soft.

Pro tip: Are they not spreading like you want after 9 minutes? Take them out and gently tap your baking sheet against the counter a few times. Trust me, they will spread out just right after this. Then back in the oven, they go!

Step 8.

Once they’re done baking, let them hang out on your baking sheet for about 5 minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to chill completely. Don’t worry if they deflate a bit; that’s just part of the cooling process. Enjoy your perfect cookies!

Note

If you are craving another more complex flavor dimension, I see no reason not to include a pinch of ground cinnamon, espresso powder, or cayenne pepper (for a hint of heat) in the dough.

And who am I to stop you from getting wild? Play around with all types of spice until you find your favorite twist!

FAQs

My Dough Is Too Sticky. Help!

That’s a common issue with chocolate crinkle cookies. The dough is supposed to be slightly sticky, but if it’s too sticky to handle, let me give you a couple of solutions:

Chill the dough so the butter will firm up and become easier to handle. That way, your cookies won’t spread too thin while baking.

Add more flour, but be careful not to overdo it, as too much flour can dry out the baked cookies! Add a tablespoon at a time until your dough feels and looks more consistent.

Why Are My Cookies So Flat?

There are two main culprits behind your flat cookies:

Your dough wasn’t chilled. As I said earlier, chilling helps the cookies keep their shape better.

You don’t use enough flour. Flour provides structure to basically any cookie recipe, so if you don’t double-check your measurements, the cookies might flatten out!

How Do I Get The Perfect Crinkles?

The answer is a good amount of powdered sugar; there’s no shortcut here. You can stick strictly to my chocolate cookie recipe to err on the safer side (especially if you’re just dipping your toes into baking), but feel free to double-coat for even more crackly goodness!

Can I Substitute Any Ingredients?

Frankly, the swaps might impact the final chewy texture and flavor, so I suggest you ALWAYS follow my recipe as closely as possible on the first try. But if you are really in a pinch or in the mood for some kitchen experiments, try these:

Cocoa powder: You can use Dutch-process cocoa powder for a richer flavor, but regular cocoa powder works too.

Granulated sugar: Substitute some (or all) granulated sugar with brown sugar for an even deeper flavor.

Butter: Vegan butter can sometimes replace regular butter.

Have fun with my simple chocolate cookie crinkle recipe!