Tender Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These tender chocolate crinkle cookies are fudgy, soft, and feature a charming cracked powdered sugar topping. Perfect for cozy cookie swaps and family gatherings, they are easy to make with simple pantry ingredients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup (75 g) unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-process)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) vegetable oil (can substitute melted coconut oil)
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar (for rolling dough balls)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. (5 minutes)
- In a separate bowl, whisk granulated sugar with vegetable oil until combined. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract until glossy and slightly thickened. (5 minutes)
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stirring gently with a spatula or wooden spoon until no flour streaks remain. Avoid overmixing. (3 minutes)
- Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight to firm up for perfect crinkles. (2 hours minimum)
- Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll into balls. Roll each ball generously in powdered sugar to coat completely. (10 minutes)
- Place dough balls about 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until tops are cracked and edges are set but centers still look soft. (10-12 minutes)
- Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. (15 minutes)
Notes
Chilling the dough for at least 2 hours is essential for the signature crackle and fudgy texture. Roll dough balls generously in powdered sugar for the best crackled appearance. Avoid overmixing after adding flour to prevent tough cookies. Bake until edges are set but centers look slightly underbaked; cookies firm up as they cool.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 90
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 17
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 1.5
Keywords: chocolate crinkle cookies, fudgy cookies, easy homemade cookies, holiday cookies, cookie swap, tender cookies, powdered sugar cookies