Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Published December 6, 2020. Updated December 7, 2020

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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies – these are a decadently rich and chocolatey cookie with a melt-in-your mouth fudgy softness and a gorgeously contrasted, crackled powdered sugar finish. They’re a lot like a brownie or your favorite chocolate cake but in cookie form and everybody loves them!

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies shown on a plate by a lit Christmas tree and red napkin.

Classic Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

An easy to make cookie that is very likely to become a family favorite!

There’s plenty of pronounced yet perfectly welcomed chocolate flavor here which is paired and nicely complimented by that sweet layer of powdered sugar. And I just can’t get enough of that too tender to resist texture.

This is the classic Hershey’s Chocolate Crinkle Cookie recipe and I’m yet to try one I like better. All around they’re just a perfectly satisfying cookie that’s been around for decades!

They’re a classic must-have cookie recipe that’s worthy of the recipe book, plus they are perfect for the holidays with that snowy white finish.

And who doesn’t love how magical they are? My kids think it’s amazing how you roll them in powdered sugar before baking, then pop them in the oven and you end with such a surprising finish! Snow capped tops with dark and beautiful, lightly concaved crinkles throughout.

Just plan on sharing, this recipes makes an abundance of cookies!

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies shown overhead laying on a wooden surface.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookie Recipe Ingredients

  • All-purpose flour: Preferably use unbleached flour.
  • Baking powder: This helps the cookies rise nice and puffy and create the crinkle effect.
  • Salt: Just use table salt.
  • Granulated sugar: The sugar is essential not only to bring sweetness but a fair amount offers great texture and balances the bold flavor of the cocoa.
  • Vegetable oil: Vegetable oil works really well for these cookies rather than butter. Just think of the same effect you get with chocolate cake – it makes it super moist. Something you could replace it with is light olive oil.
  • Cocoa powder: Just use standard unsweetened, no Dutch process.
  • Eggs: Eggs bind ingredients and also help achieve the crackled appearance in the cookies. Don’t omit or substitute in this recipe (if you have an allergy I recommend looking for a specifically egg-free recipe for them).
  • Vanilla extract: This is the perfect compliment to the chocolate flavor.
  • Powdered sugar: A critical ingredient for the appearance we are going for. It also adds more needed sweetness.

Scroll below for full printable recipe.

Image of ingredients used to make chocolate crinkle cookies. Includes flour, granulated sugar, powdered sugar, eggs, hershey's cocoa, vegetable oil, baking powder, salt and vanilla extract.Collage of six images showing how to make chocolate crinkle cookies. First image is mixing dry ingredients in mixing bowl. Next shows mixing oil and sugar in stand mixer and shows it blended after. Then shows cocoa before and after mixing in. And last adding in eggs.

How to Make Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

  1. In a medium mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.
  2. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, blend together granulated sugar and oil.
  3. Mix in cocoa powder and blend well.
  4. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
  5. Add in flour mixture and mix until blended.
  6. Cover dough and refrigerate overnight.
  7. The following day preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners.
  8. Place powdered sugar in a small mixing bowl.
  9. Remove about 1/4 of the dough from the refrigerator at a time to work with and let remaining chill.
  10. Shape dough into balls about 1-inch each.
  11. Roll in powdered sugar then place on prepared baking sheet spacing them 2-inches apart.
  12. Bake in preheated oven 10 – 13 minutes until nearly set – they should be soft when touched and should appear slightly under-baked.
  13. Cool on baking sheet several minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
  14. Store cookies in an airtight container once they are nearly cool. Repeat process with remaining dough.

Collage of six images showing steps to finishing crinkle cookie dough by mixing in flour. Then shows scooping it out with a cookies scoop after dough is chilled and more solid. Then image shows rolling in powdered sugar and last includes dough balls on baking sheet.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies shown on parchment paper baking sheet after baking.

Storage and Shelf Life

  • Store cookies in an airtight container in a single layer if possible.
  • I like to use a cookie sheet with a tight fitting lid.
  • Store at room temperature up to 3 days or refrigerate up to 1 week.

Can I use a hand mixer?

Yes a hand mixer will work well for this recipe too. It’s a fairly thin cookie dough batter.

Can chocolate crinkle cookies be frozen?

  • The baked cookies can be frozen up to 3 months. Keep parchment paper between layers. Just keep in mind the pretty white finish may dissolve and get a bit sticky upon thawing.
  • The dough does freeze well up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before rolling in powered sugar and baking.

Variations

  • Add 1/2 tsp peppermint extract for a minty chocolate cookie.
  • Stuff with a Rolo chocolate before baking for a molten caramel center.
  • Freeze teaspoons dollops of Nutella or peanut butter until solid. Add to the center of cookie dough balls before baking.
  • Try adding 1 tsp instant espresso powder to the dough for a light mocha flavor.
  • Mix in some chopped pecans, walnuts into the dough.
  • Top with a Hershey’s kiss after baking (chocolate or peppermint).

Helpful Tips for Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

  • For best results use a kitchen scale to measure ingredients if you have on, otherwise be sure to use the proper method as listed for measuring.
  • Don’t skip the chilling, otherwise dough will be way too sticky and unmanageable to work with.
  • For less stickiness use freezing option. Also coating hands with non-stick cooking spray may be helpful if needed too.
  • Coat generously with powdered sugar for a beautiful contrast from the light and dark finish.
  • I like to remove cookies while they look just slightly under-baked. That way they are more fudgy and brownie-like.
  • If you want them to spread a little more you can press down on them slightly before baking then sprinkle over a little more powdered sugar if needed.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
4.95 from 56 votes

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These cookies are a decadently rich and chocolatey cookie with a melt-in-your mouth fudgy softness and a gorgeously contrasted, crackled powdered sugar finish. They're a lot like a brownie and your favorite chocolate cake but in cookie form and everybody loves them!
Servings: 48 cookies
Prep25 minutes
Cook40 minutes
Chill time45 minutes
Ready in: 1 hour 50 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a medium mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.
  • In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, blend together granulated sugar and oil. 
  • Mix in cocoa powder and blend well. Beat in eggs and vanilla. 
  • Add in flour mixture and mix until blended. Cover dough and freeze for 45 - 60 minutes or refrigerate overnight (until it isn't too sticky to work with).
  • The following day preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners.
  • Place powdered sugar in a small mixing bowl. 
  • Remove about 1/4 of the dough from the refrigerator at a time to work with and let remaining chill. 
  • Scoop dough out and shape into balls about 1-inch each. Roll in powdered sugar then place on prepared baking sheet spacing them 2-inches apart. 
  • Bake in preheated oven 10 - 13 minutes until nearly set - they should be soft when touched and should appear slightly under-baked. 
  • Cool on baking sheet several minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool. 
  • Store cookies in an airtight container once they are nearly cool. Repeat process with remaining dough. 
Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 103 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 15mg5%
Sodium 30mg1%
Potassium 60mg2%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 25IU1%
Calcium 15mg2%
Iron 0.6mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.
Recipe source: adapted from Hershey’s

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195 Comments

  • Linda Dawson

    I split the recipe in half using your serving calculator. Unfortunately measurements did not adjust accurately which ruined my batch.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I’m sorry about this! It’s a glitch in the recipe card only the volumes adjust not the metrics.

  • Sheryl

    We are only 2 and this is too many cookies. I am FREEZING 1/2 the dough. When freezing; 1) do you leave out the POWDERED SUGAR? 2) how long to DEFROST and do you add the powdered sugar after defrost??
    Thanks
    Sheryl

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Freeze dough before shaping. Thaw in the fridge longer enough to manage (probably overnight) then shape and roll in powdered sugar and bake.

  • Kim Metzen

    PERFECT cookies!
    I didn’t have the veg oil so subbed melted butter.
    Very decadent – will keep this recipe to use again, Thank you!

  • FrauKreuz

    Absolutely delicious! Made them for first time today and they came out just great. After 13 minutes, they turned out gooey, chewy and light. I had reduced sugar to 300 gram, as I am usually on the careful side with sugar. But quite frankly, 400 gram would have also been fine. It’s a preference. Really amazing cookies. Won’t be the last time I make them. Thanks for sharing!

  • Mrs. S. Coelho

    Excellent recipe…just made it for my grandkids but I think I will have to make another batch as this is getting over soon. Thank you and God bless you for sharing your knowledge.

  • Yaal

    Did you change the recipe?
    I have made this many times before but this time, it is too sweet.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      No. Same recipe. If you want you could cut back on the sugar in the cookies just slightly.

  • Jessica

    So good like a brownie in cookie form! I froze the dough for about an hour and then kept the bowl in the freezer between batches and it was super easy to scoop and form, not sticky at all. Thank you!