Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Name: Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 151 min
Yield: 22 cookies
Cuisine: Baking
Ingredients: 1⅓ cups (167 g) all-purpose flour; ½ cup (42 g) cocoa powder; 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar; ⅓ cup (73 g) vegetable oil; 2 large eggs; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1½ tsp baking powder; ¼ tsp fine salt; ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar, for rolling

Fudgy chocolate cookies with a snowy, cracked powdered-sugar top.

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time11 mins

Total Time2 hr 31 mins

Yield22 cookies

Before You Start

Crinkle cookies look impressive but they are easy: a soft chocolate dough rolled in powdered sugar that splits into a white-and-dark crackle as it bakes. Chilling the dough is not optional here, since it is sticky, so build in the fridge time.

Instructions

1
Whisk the granulated sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla until smooth and glossy.
2
Sift in the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Stir to a soft, sticky dough.
3
Cover and chill for at least 2 hours, or overnight. The dough must be firm enough to roll into balls.
4
Heat the oven to 175°C / 350°F and line two trays. Put the powdered sugar in a shallow bowl.
5
Scoop tablespoon balls, roll each into a ball, then roll heavily in the powdered sugar so it is fully coated. Space them well apart.
6
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until puffed and cracked but still soft in the middle. Cool on the tray for 5 minutes, then a rack.

Ingredients

1⅓ cups (167 g) all-purpose flour
½ cup (42 g) cocoa powder
1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
⅓ cup (73 g) vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp fine salt
½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar, for rolling

Baker's Tip

For the most reliable results, weigh your ingredients with a digital scale. Measuring flour by cups can overpack it and dry out your bake. Tap any ingredient above to convert it.

🛒 Our baking picks

Tools for foolproof bakes

Weighing beats scooping every time. These inexpensive tools make every recipe more reliable.

Digital kitchen scale Weigh to the gram, the single most accurate way to bake. Shop on Amazon → Measuring cups & spoons A solid stainless set for when a recipe calls for cups. Shop on Amazon → Glass measuring jug Read millilitres and cups at a glance for liquids. Shop on Amazon →

As an Amazon Associate, GramCups earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

💡 Baker's tips

Coat the balls generously in powdered sugar. A thick layer gives the boldest white cracks.
The centres should look slightly underdone when you pull them out. They set as they cool and stay fudgy.

🔀 Make it your own

Add ½ cup (85 g) chocolate chips to the dough for extra melt.
A pinch of espresso powder in the dough deepens the chocolate flavour.

📦 Storing & freezing

Airtight at room temperature for 4 days. The rolled, sugared balls can be frozen and baked from frozen with 1 to 2 extra minutes.

❓ Frequently asked

Why did my crinkle cookies not crack?

The dough was probably too warm and spread before setting. Chill it well and roll the balls in a thick coat of powdered sugar right before baking.

Can I skip chilling the dough?

No. This dough is soft and sticky, so it needs at least 2 hours in the fridge to be firm enough to shape and to crack properly.

Baking in a different unit? Use the cups ↔ grams converter or the recipe scaler to halve or double this recipe.