Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are a must for your Holiday Cookie Jar. It's fudgy, rich like a brownie but with the crisp outer texture. Most importantly, it is very easy to make!
Baking cookies with my kiddo is one of my favorite Holiday tradition, and I often look for cookies that can be easy to make with him. The Soft Gingerbread cookies and the Candy Cane Cookies are a must every year.
It's been a while since I baked these chocolate crinkle cookies, and it is one of my favorite cookies. So this time I decided to make a detailed video to show you how easy the steps are.
The cookie dough needs a couple of hours of resting time in the refrigerator, so just keep that in mind while planning.
Why you will love these Chocolate Crinkle Cookies?
Easy to make - I cannot stress this point enough. It needs no softened butter or electric stand mixer. The dough is effortless to make.
Basic Ingredients - The cookie calls for few basic ingredients and nothing too gourmet.
No cookie cutter needed - No rolling the dough or cookie cutter needed. Just make small balls and place it on the cookie sheet. Perfect to bake with kids.
If you want to make a lot of cookies with one basic dough, try this Basic Butter Cookie Dough Recipe
Ingredient you need
All purpose flour - I haven't tried with gluten free flour and have always made with all purpose flour. You can use wheat flour too, but the taste and texture will vary.
Cocoa Powder - There is no chocolate added to the dough, just cocoa powder. So use good quality cocoa powder to make the cookies.
Sugar - I use white granulated sugar. You can try with brown sugar too.
Baking Powder - Baking powder will help to rise the cookies.
Powdered Sugar - The cookie dough is rolled in powdered sugar before baking. As it bakes, the dough cracks open, and the powdered sugar helps to show the cracks nicely.
Eggs - I haven't tried baking these cookies eggless.
Flavors - I used orange zest along with vanilla extract. You can use lemon zest too.
What I liked the most about this Chocolate Crinkle Cookies is that it had no chocolate and no butter, just oil and cocoa powder. Makes it a tad bit guilt free!
Steps to prepare the crinkle cookies
- In a mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients - all purpose flour, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, baking powder and orange zest. Give a whisk to mix everything.
- Crack the eggs in the mixing bowl.
3. Pour oil and vanilla extract if using.
4. Using a runner spatula, mix everything to form a dough. You can use your hands too. It will feel a little dry at first, but will come together eventually.
5. Cover the dough and let it rest in the refrigerator for 2 hours. You can make the dough previous night too.
6. Scoop a little more than a tablespoon size portion of the dough using a cookie scooper.
7. Drop the cookie dough in a bowl with powdered sugar.
8. Using your clean hand, roll the dough into a ball.
9. Line the dough balls in a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or baking silpat. Keep an inch apart, as the cookies will spread a little on baking.
10. The texture of the Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are like fudgy brownie, so avoid over baking. Insert a tooth pick and if it comes out clean, it's done.
Recipe Video of Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
FAQs
You definitely can, but do keep in mind that wheat flour can make the cookie taste a little too dense. The texture and taste will definitely vary.
I am sure you can. Egg adds a richness to the cookies. If you make the cookie eggless, you might have to add a little milk to bring the dough together. I haven't tried eggless yet, but will definitely update the recipe once I do that.
It makes 25 cookies
Powdered sugar is not added to the dough. It is used to roll the cookie ball and as it bakes, the cookie crack open and the powdered sugar creates that crinkle effect on the cookies.
More Christmas Treats you must try:
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup olive oil
- zest of 1 orange
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- ¼ cup confectioner's sugar
Instructions
- Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, orange zest, salt and sugar in a bowl.
- Add egg, oil and vanilla extract to the bowl.
- Using a rubber spatula, mix everything to form a sticky dough.
- Cover the dough and keep it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.
- Pre-heat the oven to 350F.
- Keep the cookie sheet ready with parchment paper.
- Pour the confectioner’s sugar in a bowl.
- Take the dough out of the refrigerator.
- Using a cookie scooper or a spoon, roll the dough into 1-inch balls and drop in the confectioner’s sugar.
- Roll it in the sugar and keep it on the parchment paper.
- Bake it for 13 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the cookie.
- Allow the cookies to stay on the hot cookie sheet for 5 minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool down completely.
The Hsinru Social
Great post! The cookies look super delicious. I've bookmarked this to make! I will link back the recipe and tell you how it turns out.
Charles
Hi Kankana - those are seriously rich, dark looking cookies... I love them, and the sugar dusted on top really brings out the crinkles and contrasts so well against the darkness of the cookie - such beautiful little bites 🙂
Sarah
Your photos make me feel as though I could just reach in and grab one - which I would definitely like to as your cookies turned out perfect!
katerina
Looks easy and yummy! Also, I love the photos!
xxxFiC.
http://www.fashionicook.blogspot.com
Nash at plateful
O yes, pinerest is so inspiring--I simply love it! And now I'm inspired by looking at your beautiful photos. So, so inspired!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
These cookies look amazing! So is your photography!
Spandana
Beautiful Kankana. I too like Sneh, had a doubt they might turn soft/soggy after a day or two. But good to hear that they dint. I would love to try them.
Arch
Barbara Jordan is spot on !! your pictures are so good Kankana, I must be saying this in every post, but I truly mean it - absolutely love your pictures. The last picture is my fav !
erin @ yummy supper
Kankana, here's to chocolate cookies for tea every day. The world would indeed be a better place:)
Have a great week,
xxoo
E
Maureen
I'd be ready for a cookie, a blankie and a nap right about now. 🙂
These look great!
fruitandcake
Very nice recipe.I have a question. I've read cookies recipe that go: 4 eggs + 2 egg yolks to add extra softness to the cookies. They claim that the extra yolks make the cookies extra puffy.Should I follow that with your recipe, you think? Thanks a lot.
Kankana Saxena
Hi and thanks for dropping by. I am not much of a baker and hence I experiment a lot less than others. I am not sure how the texture will come out if you use extra 2 egg yolk. These cookies remains soft but not too moist even after 1 week.
fruitandcake
Great then. So I wont' use extra egg yolks (you know, extra cholesterol and stuff). No need to worry, after one week...there will be only the baking pan left!! Thanks.
Jennifer (Delicieux)
Absolutely gorgeous cookies Kanakana!! I love the use of olive oil. I'm definitely going to have to try these as I love anything chocolate.
Sneh | Cook Republic
Very pretty! Do you find them going softer(soggier) after a day on account of the eggs?
Kankana Saxena
Thanks Sneh! I was thinking it might happen that way, but it didn't. It has the same cake-like soft texture even after 1 week.
sulagna
and oh i just read the blog "just simplify" whata beautiful beautiful way to write a post 🙂 on cookies and her two dogs !
sulagna
Pinterest can do really amazing things i say 🙂 like its said pinterest make people decorate house they cant afford, plan dream weddings and dress babies they have not had yet..
loved the nankatai look of the cookies..the cracks along the surface gives that even more authentic look that encourages novices like me to bake 🙂
sangeeta khanna
Lovely pictures. All of them.
Rosa
A lovely quote and gorgeous cookies! The pictures are amazing.
Cheers,
Rosa
Simone
Such pretty little cookies Kankana! And that last saying by Barbara Jordan is just so true. Lol. I love dark chocolate too. My absolute favorite!
Medeja
They are just asking to be eaten from those pictures 🙂 with milk..yummy!
Vishakha
Wow! Such pretty looking cookies! The first shot and that half eaten cookie shot is stunning! No better feeling than turning a lazy day to a productive day - More so when the results of your efforts are this good looking!:)