Double Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

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Double Chocolate Crinkle Cookies bring all the taste of rich dark chocolate to your mouth. The cookies are super fudgy, packed with chocolate chips, and bake up with sugary white snowy tops and slightly crispy edges. A delicious cookie to add to your Christmas baking or any time you get that chocolate craving.

Stacked double chocolate crinkle cookies.

Chocolate Christmas cookies

Christmas and chocolate just go together! Cookies made with chocolate are a rich, decadent treat with an aroma that gives you that warm, cozy feeling. Made in festive shapes, combined with peppermint, or covered with a powdered sugar snowy look, they're the perfect addition to your Christmas cookie tins and holiday parties.

Make the holidays ring with my favorites from Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies, to Chocolate Chip Macaroons, to Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies. It's hard to choose just one, so just make them all!

Holding a chewy chocolate crinkle cookie with bite out.

What are chocolate crinkle cookies?

A chocolate crinkle cookie is a fudgy cookie covered with powdered sugar before baking and bakes up with cracks in the top, crinkling the powdered sugar.

These classic Christmas cookies have been around since the early 20th century and were first introduced by Betty Crocker. They are typically made for the holiday season and go by other names such as crackle cookies, snowball cookies, and snowflake cookies.

Why make this chocolate crinkle cookies recipe?

If you're looking for the ultimate chocolate treat, these chocolate chip crinkle cookies are calling your name! Not only are they rich and fudgy, but they're also easy to whip up with pantry staples.

Simple to make - no fancy ingredients or equipment needed.

Make-ahead friendly - the dough can hang out in the fridge until you're ready to bake.

Tastes better with time - these cookies age like fine chocolate, getting even more delicious.

Brownie-lovers' dream - if you're a fan of that fudgy, chocolaty goodness, you'll be hooked from the first bite.

And of course, double the chocolate - go dark for an extra indulgent treat!

Ingredients you'll need

Ready to dive into what makes these cookies a fudgy, chocolatey delight? Each ingredient helps create that soft, chewy texture and deep chocolate flavor. Check the recipe card below for the exact measurements:

Ingredients for chocolate crinkle cookies recipe.

Unsweetened Dark Cocoa Powder - The base of our rich chocolate flavor!

Sugar - Is what makes the cookies perfectly sweet.

Coconut Oil - Keeps the cookies soft and tender while adding a subtle hint of coconut. Feel free to swap with vegetable oil or any mild-flavored oil you have on hand.

Eggs - The binding magic that holds it all together. Make sure they are room temperature for easier mixing.

Pure Vanilla Extract - A touch of vanilla rounds out the chocolate flavors with a little warmth.

All-Purpose Flour - Provides structure, helping the cookies stay thick and chewy.

Baking Powder - Gives these cookies a bit of rise, which helps form those delicious crinkles.

Salt - A tiny pinch balances the sweetness and intensifies the chocolate.

Dark Chocolate Chips - Add bursts of chocolatey goodness.

Powdered Sugar - The finishing touch that gives each cookie its classic crinkle and sweet dusting.

How to make Chocolate Crinkle Cookies with chocolate chips

Making these cookies is as simple as mixing, chilling, and baking! Here's everything you need to know to create those perfect chocolate crinkles with rich chocolatey goodness on the inside and a sweet powdered sugar coating on the outside:

Collage of prep steps for chocolate chip crinkle cookies.

Combine unsweetened cocoa powder, white sugar, and oil in the large bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment.
Beat until the mixture looks shiny and black, usually 2-3 minutes.
Turn the mixer to low speed and add room-temperature eggs. Continue to beat for 1 minute.
Add vanilla extract and mix thoroughly.
Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add the flour mixture to the chocolate mixture.
Stir in chocolate chunks or chocolate chips. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours or overnight.

Note: Chilling the dough is a step that cannot be skipped. It is a sticky dough and chilling it will make the dough easier to handle. The end result will be a cookie that holds its shape and has the perfect fudgy center.

Cookie balls that have been rolled in sugar on cookie sheet.

Put confectioners' sugar on a flat plate. Roll the dough with your hands into 1-inch balls then roll the cookie dough balls into the powdered sugar. Place them on large baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for 10 minutes. The cookies will be very soft when first taken out but will become firmer as they cool.

Note: DO NOT OVERBAKE! It's better to be a little bit under than overdone. Overdone will make the cookies hard and flat.

Overhead of cookies cooling on wire rack.

Place them on a cooling rack to cool completely.

Overhead of crinkle cookies cooling on wire rack.

What you get - a deliciously chewy, fudgy cookie filled with dark chocolate that has slightly crispy edges. You won't be able to wait to devour them! Enjoy them for the holidays or any time that chocolate craving hits!

Recipe variations to make them your own

One of the best things about these cookies is how easy they are to customize! Whether you're in the mood for a seasonal twist, a bolder chocolate flavor, or a bit of extra crunch, there are so many ways to make these cookies truly yours.

Check out these fun options to add new flavors, textures, or even a healthier spin to your batch!

Replace chocolate chips or just some of them with chopped nuts or crushed peppermint candy canes

Add more flavor with ½ teaspoon cinnamon for a Mexican Hot Chocolate taste or increase the chocolaty flavor by adding 2 teaspoons of espresso powder

Mocha Crinkle Cookies - Add 1 Tablespoon espresso powder to the dough

Peppermint Crinkle Cookies - replace ¼ teaspoon of the vanilla extract with peppermint extract

Chocolate Crinkle Blossom - Add a Hershey's kiss to the top, right after they come out of the oven

Healthier option - Now I can't boast that these chocolate crackle cookies will have no calories but you can add a little antioxidant power, fiber, and vitamins to the mix. Just switch out ⅛ cup cocoa for your favorite chocolate greens powder.

Gluten-Free Crinkle Cookies - Swap out the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour blend to keep these cookies chewy and delicious without the gluten. Be sure to check that your baking powder and any other ingredients are also gluten-free for a truly GF-friendly treat!

Eggless, vegan version - There is no butter in this recipe but the original does have eggs. So, just replace those eggs with either an egg substitute or one of the following:

Cornstarch mixture - mix 2 teaspoons cornstarch with 2 Tablespoons oil and 4 tablespoons of water and use in place of eggs
Mix 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds with 3 tablespoons water or non-dairy milk

How to store the cookies and how long they last

Storing: Place the cookies in an airtight container and store them at room temperature. They will remain soft and delicious for at least one week.

Freezing: Place the cookies in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between the layers. They will last up to 3 months. Thaw them at room temperature.

Frequently asked questions

How do I keep the powdered sugar from melting into the cookies?

A trick often used by professional bakers is to roll the cookie in a little granulated sugar before rolling in powdered sugar before baking. This is necessary only if it is very humid where you are located.

Why are my cookies flat?

Either you didn't chill the dough enough, give it 2-4 hours, or you didn't use enough flour. Make sure to measure the flour properly by scooping it into the measuring cup.

How do I know when these cookies are done?

It is always hard to tell when a dark cookie is baked enough. In this case, look for the cookies to lose their glossiness and begin to form cracks.

How long will these chocolate snowball cookies last?

They will keep one week in an airtight container at room temperature or 2-3 months in the freezer.

Can I freeze these cookies?

Absolutely. You can freeze the dough, either before or after you've rolled them into balls. If rolling into balls, freeze the balls first on a cookie sheet then throw them into a plastic freezer bag. You can also freeze the baked cookie once cooled. I suggest freezing them with parchment paper between layers.

More chocolate recipes

Chocolate Chocolate Cherry Cookies - are doubly delicious dark chocolate cookies filled with fresh seasonal cherries & dark chocolate chips that no chocolate lover can resist.

Chocolate Magic Cake - one batter bakes magically into 3 layers. A dense chocolate cake on the bottom, chocolate custard in the center, and a lighter chocolate cake layer on the top.

Easy Molten Chocolate Cupcakes - take just 20 minutes and 5 ingredients to create a rich fudgy chocolate cupcake with a liquid chocolate center.

Kahlua Truffles - are Kahlua-flavored chocolate candy dipped into dark chocolate.

Find lots of easy recipes for cookies and desserts right here on 2CM!

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