The Ultimate Fudgy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies: Soft, Chewy, and Perfectly Crackled
Bake the best chocolate crinkle cookies that are soft, fudgy, and feature a beautiful powdered sugar crackle top. This easy recipe delivers brownie-like texture and is a holiday baking essential.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 12 min
- Total Time: 2 hours 32 min
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar, divided
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional, for double chocolate flavor)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar, for rolling
Instructions
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1 cup of the granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. If using, stir in the chocolate chips.
- Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight. Chilling the dough helps achieve the best crackle effect.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Place the remaining 3/4 cup granulated sugar in one shallow dish and the powdered sugar in another.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough. Roll each ball first in the granulated sugar, then thoroughly coat it in the powdered sugar.
- Place the coated dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. The edges will look set, but the centers will still appear soft. Do not overbake if you want a fudgy interior.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. The crackles will set as they cool.
Notes
- For the signature crackle, ensure the dough is well-chilled before rolling and baking.
- For a richer, brownie-like cookie, use high-quality cocoa powder.
- If you want an intense chocolate flavor, roll the chilled dough balls in granulated sugar first, then in powdered sugar.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 55mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg