Classic Holiday Treats

Featured in Let's Bake Something Wonderful.

Fudgy cocoa cookies with powdered sugar that crack beautifully as they bake. Extra soft, cake-like texture that's impossible to resist.

Hannah Author
Updated on Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:25:08 GMT
Three chocolate cookies dusted in sugar sitting on a white plate. Pin it
Three chocolate cookies dusted in sugar sitting on a white plate. | recipesbyhannah.com

When cold weather hits, I always grab my chocolate crinkle cookie notes. These treats do something amazing while baking - their gooey middles and powdery, cracked exteriors seem almost magical. The rich chocolate smell fills my home as they cook, making everything feel snug and homey.

What Makes These Truly Outstanding

These treats mean so much to me. The mix of deep chocolate flavor with powdery sweet sugar creates something wonderful. They look fancy on dessert trays but couldn't be easier to make. I can't help smiling when I see those cracks form as they bake.

Let's Grab What We Need

  • Flour: Carefully measure out one and three-quarter cups for just the right consistency.
  • Dutch Cocoa: A half cup brings that intense chocolate taste I can't get enough of.
  • Sugars: We'll use two types working together for perfect flavor and texture.
  • Canola Oil: This keeps our cookies tender for several days.
  • Eggs: Two big ones help bind everything nicely.
  • Vanilla: A generous two teaspoons because it adds so much goodness.
  • Baking Powder: Creates that wonderful chewy bite.
  • Salt: Just a small amount makes the chocolate flavors pop.
  • Powdered Sugar: The magic behind those beautiful cracks.

Let's Begin The Process

Setting up:
Mix those dry stuff together in a bowl and put them aside for now.
Chocolate foundation:
Stir your cocoa with sugars and oil until smooth, then drop in eggs one after another. Add that splash of vanilla to finish it off.
Creating the dough:
Slowly fold in your dry mix then stick the dough in your fridge to cool down.
Sugar coating:
Form little balls from your dough then cover them completely with powdered sugar.
Baking transformation:
Put them in the oven and watch them turn into gorgeous crackled treats.

My Top Cookie Advice

Go heavy with that powdered sugar layer, trust me. Watch them closely while they cook so they stay soft inside. I always try one test cookie first to get the timing right for my specific oven.

Storage Suggestions

They'll stay yummy for about five days in an airtight container. Want to freeze them? They work great that way too, just put some parchment between layers. They taste just as good after thawing out.

Fixing Common Problems

Got dry cookies? Check how you measured the flour and cocoa. Using standard cocoa powder? Don't forget to add that tiny bit of baking soda, it really matters. And if your mixture seems too thick, try fluffing your dry items before you measure them.

Cookie Happiness

These chocolate crinkles have become such an important part of my baking lineup. That wonderful mix of fudgy centers with pretty cracked tops makes them so hard to say no to. They bring happiness whether made for special days or just because you want something sweet.

A stack of four chocolate crinkle cookies, dusted with powdered sugar, is displayed on a gray plate. Pin it
A stack of four chocolate crinkle cookies, dusted with powdered sugar, is displayed on a gray plate. | recipesbyhannah.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What’s the point of chilling the dough?

Chilling makes the dough easier to handle. It also keeps the cookies from spreading too much, so they keep their signature crinkle style.

→ Can I store these in the freezer?

Absolutely. Use an airtight container with wax paper between cookie layers, and freeze for up to three months.

→ What’s special about Dutch cocoa?

Dutch cocoa gives a deeper chocolate taste and darker color. It also helps make the cookies soft and cake-like.

→ How do I get dramatic cracks?

Roll each dough ball thickly in powdered sugar before baking. The more sugar, the better the cracks.

→ Why bake one or two cookies first?

Testing a couple first lets you figure out the ideal baking time and helps the cookies spread just right for the whole batch.

Conclusion

These fudgy crinkle cookies blend rich chocolate goodness with a sugary coating that looks like snow. They're ideal for holidays or a sweet snack break.

Chocolate Holiday Treats

Fudgy cookies rolled in sugar for a crackled finish. Soft, rich, and great for any gathering.

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
10 Minutes
Total Time
30 Minutes

Category: Sweet Kitchen

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 30 Servings (30 cookies)

Dietary: Vegetarian, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

01 2 1/4 cups plain white flour.
02 2 1/2 teaspoons of leavening powder.
03 Half a teaspoon of kosher salt.
04 1 cup of dark, unsweetened cocoa.
05 1 1/4 cups white sugar.
06 Half a cup of packed brown sugar.
07 Half a cup of canola or vegetable oil.
08 4 big eggs.
09 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla.
10 2/3 cup of icing sugar for covering.

Instructions

Step 01

Preheat the oven to 350°F and prep baking trays with parchment or a silicone liner.

Step 02

Stir together flour, salt, and baking powder in a small bowl.

Step 03

In a medium bowl, combine cocoa, both sugars, and oil. Add eggs one by one, then stir in the vanilla.

Step 04

Blend the dry ingredients into the wet mix a little at a time until it’s all combined.

Step 05

Chill the dough in the fridge for somewhere between 30 to 45 minutes.

Step 06

Shape dough into balls about 1 1/4 inches wide, then roll them generously in the powdered sugar.

Step 07

Put the dough balls on the tray, keeping 2-2 1/2 inches space between them, and bake for 10 to 11 minutes.

Step 08

Let the cookies sit on the tray for 2 minutes before moving them to wire racks to cool completely.

Notes

  1. Keep dough chilled while working.
  2. Avoid baking too long if you want soft cookies.
  3. Test with one cookie first to check texture.

Tools You'll Need

  • Cookie sheets.
  • Liner for baking, like parchment.
  • A scoop for portioning.
  • Metal cooling racks.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Eggs.
  • Flour (gluten).

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 138
  • Total Fat: 5 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 24 g
  • Protein: 2 g