PrintThe Best Fudgy & Chewy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Make these classic chocolate crinkle cookies for a soft, fudgy center and a perfect powdered sugar crackle top. This recipe is reliable for holiday cookie exchanges and gifting.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 12 min
- Total Time: 32 min
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar, divided
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional, for extra fudginess)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar, for rolling
Instructions
- Combine the softened butter and 1 cup of the granulated sugar in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until the mixture is light and creamy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. If using, stir in the chocolate chips.
- Place the remaining 3/4 cup granulated sugar into a shallow dish. Place the powdered sugar into another shallow dish.
- Scoop the dough into rounded tablespoons. Roll each ball first in the granulated sugar, coating it completely. Then, roll the sugared ball in the powdered sugar until it is heavily coated. This heavy coating helps create the crinkle effect.
- Place the heavily coated dough balls onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, leaving about 2 inches between them.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 to 12 minutes. The edges should look set, but the centers should still look slightly soft. Do not overbake if you want a fudgy center.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. The crinkles will become more defined as they cool.
Notes
- For the best crinkle effect, make sure your dough balls are fully coated in both layers of sugar before baking.
- Do not chill this dough; it is designed to bake up soft and fudgy right away.
- For a richer flavor, substitute Dutch-process cocoa powder for regular cocoa powder.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 75
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Unsaturated Fat: 4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 35