Double Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Crinkle cookies are one of those traditional, classic cookies that you find on every holiday dessert platter each Christmas. These Double Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are even more delicious with a soft and fudgy texture from a pure dark chocolate cookie dough with fine shards of chocolate throughout so you get so much chocolate flavor in every bite. I like to roll them in cocoa powder to make them look extra chocolatey. They taste like a chocolate chip brownie cookie and I find them irresistible. Often times crinkle cookies based on oil can be dry, but these are so moist and fudgy. If you're looking for more holiday cookies to make this year, check out my Best Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies, my most popular Chewy Pumpkin Cookies and my Brown Butter Snickerdoodles. If you're a sucker for crinkle cookies, don't miss my Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies as well!

double chocolate crinkle cookies on cooling rack

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

  • Soft and fudgy crinkle cookies - these cookies are so wonderfully soft and fudgy with a slight crunch from the sugar crust.
  • Double chocolate cookies - the rich chocolate cookie dough has more finely chopped chocolate folded through and then they're rolled in cocoa.
  • Perfect crackle crinkle - the powdered sugar sticks nicely to this cookie dough so you get a really nice defined crinkle on top.
  • Cocoa coating - I like to roll some of these cookies in cocoa powder too for a really rich look.
  • Soft for days - one of the best things about these crinkle cookies is that they stay soft for a long time and don't dry out as quickly as a lot of other crinkle cookie recipes I've tried.
double chocolate crinkle cookies on cooling rack
  • Unsalted butter - for this recipe you can use unsalted or salted butter. If you use salted butter, then you can reduce the added salt by a pinch.
  • Pure vanilla extract - vanilla enhances the chocolate flavor. I recommend this Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla extract.
  • Granulated sugar - simple granulated sugar makes these cookies fudgy and sweet to let the chocolate flavor shine. You will also roll the cookie dough in sugar before baking.
  • Eggs - two whole eggs will give majority of the structure to these cookies. Large size eggs are 57g each.
  • Milk - a bit of milk will adds moisture to make these cookies extra fudgy and keep them soft for longer.
stack of double chocolate crinkle cookies on cooling rack with bite from cocoa crinkle
double chocolate crinkle cookies ingredients
  • All purpose flour - AP flour is ideal for chewy cookies. I always use unbleached flour.
  • Cocoa powder - you should get your hands on some good quality cocoa powder! It's the main flavor and you want it to shine so use the best you can find. You can use natural or Dutch cocoa. I love to use this Dutch Process cocoa powder for this recipe for the darker color it gives to these cookies and it has a nice rich chocolate taste. Make sure you use unsweetened cocoa powder and not cocoa mix.
  • Baking powder - a bit of baking powder helps these cookies puff up to create the signature cracked appearance.
  • Dark chocolate - it is very important to use bittersweet chocolate with minimum 70% cocoa solids for cookie dough. If you use sweeter chocolate, then the cookies will spread too much.
double chocolate crinkle cookies on cooling rack focus on cocoa crinkle

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

  • STEP 1). Melt chocolate. Combine chocolate and butter a medium microwave-safe bowl and heat at 75 percent power in the microwave in 30 seconds bursts, stirring in between, until chocolate is completely melted, smooth and glossy. Alternatively, combine chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl and set it over a saucepan filled with an inch of gently simmering water. The bowl should be larger than the saucepan so it sits over, but not touching the water. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth.
  • STEP 2). Add sugar and eggs. Add sugar and vanilla to the chocolate and stir with a spatula or a wooden spoon until combined. It will look gritty at this point. Mix in eggs one at a time until well incorporated. Beat rather vigorously after adding the second egg so the mixture is glossy. Stir in milk.
  • STEP 3). Combine dry ingredients. Soft flour and cocoa into another large bowl. Add salt and whisk to blend evenly.
  • STEP 4). Combine wet and dry ingredients. Add these dry ingredients to the chocolate mixture and fold it in until just combined.
  • STEP 5). Mix in chocolate. Add the finely chopped chocolate and fold it in.
  • STEP 6).Chill the dough. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for 2 hours until firm enough to scoop.
double chocolate crinkle cookies on cooling
  • STEP 7). Scoop the dough. Use a 1-ounce cookie scoop to portion dough and roll it into balls. They will be about 1 ¼ inch balls. Place them 1 inch apart on a lined baking sheet and refrigerate again for 30 minutes.
  • STEP 8). Roll dough in sugar. If making white cookies, roll the dough balls in the granulated sugar, then in the confectioners' sugar and place them on baking sheets spacing them 3 inches apart. Do not flatten. If making cocoa cookies, roll the dough balls in the confectioners' sugar, and then in cocoa powder and place them on baking sheets spacing them 3 inches apart.
  • STEP 9). Bake until the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until set but still soft and fudgy on the inside. Transfer cookie sheets to a wire rack too cool for 5 minutes, then transfer individually to the rack to finish cooling.
double chocolate crinkle cookies on cooling rack
stack of double chocolate crinkle cookies on cooling rack with bite from white crinkle

EXPERT BAKING TIPS

  • Measure the flour accurately to ensure you get the right texture. Too much flour will make them dry and the dough will not spread the right way, while not enough flour means that they will spread too much.
  • Let the dough chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours so that you get thick fudgy cookies that stay soft and moist for longer.
  • Chill the rolled dough balls too. Chilling the dough balls lets the flour absorb the moisture so that the surface of the cookies is dry which helps the cracks look more defined.
  • Use a trigger-release ice cream scoop to portion these cookies for even baking and roll the dough portions into smooth balls for a uniform shape.
  • Roll generously in powdered sugar and/or cocoa. Don't skimp on the outer coating because some will fall off after baking.
  • Preheat the oven fully. It is important to have your oven preheated properly so you get that instant heat over the cookie dough to set them and prevent them from spreading out too flat. If your oven runs low, try baking them at 375 degrees F if you find they spread too much the first round.
double chocolate crinkle cookies on cooling

RECIPE FAQ

Why don't my crinkle cookies crack?

Crinkle cookie dough won't have those signature cracks on top if the dough is too wet. The cracks happen when the surface of the dough dries up. Rolling in sugar really helps this because the sugar binds the moisture and dries out the dough. If you skip the chilling time, this also will compromise the cracking because resting the dough gives time for the flour to hydrate and bind the moisture from the eggs. Also, if your cookies are too large, then this dough will spread flat and the cracks won't be as sharp. So, make sure you only make the number of cookies specified if those cracks are important to you.

Can I use salted butter for these crinkle cookies?

Yes! Salted butter will be fine. You can reduce the added salt by a pinch, or just leave it as is since there's only ¼ cup of butter in this recipe and will not make a huge impact.

What type of chocolate is best for chocolate crinkle cookies?

It is very important to use bittersweet chocolate for this recipe. If you use semisweet chocolate, then the dough will be too sweet and the cookies will spread too much.

What makes crinkle cookies crack?

Crinkle cookies have that nice crackly top for a few reasons: the moisture in the dough makes them spread while the baking powder helps them puff. So, after they puff, if the surface of the dough is dry enough, then they will spread out and cause tension that creates cracks. The chill time plus the sugar coating dries out the surface so that when they spread, they crack instead of just puff straight up.

Why did my cookies spread too much or why did my cookies come out flat?

If your cookies spread a lot, then it could be that the dough wasn't chilled long enough, there was too much baking soda added, there was too much molasses or not enough flour added. Too little flour will mean the cookies will not have enough structure to hold their shape and the dough will be too wet. The best way to measure the flour is using a scale to ensure you use the right amount. Too much will make the cookies thick and less chewy, but too little will mean they will be crispy and thin.

Do I need to chill the cookie dough?

It is crucial to chill this cookie dough since it will help with the texture and it will promote the crinkly crackly surface. It is important to have your oven preheated properly so you get that instant heat over the cookie dough to set them.

How do I store chocolate crinkle cookies?

These cookies are best stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days!

stack of double chocolate crinkle cookies on cooling rack with bite from cocoa crinkle

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triple chocolate crinkle cookies

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Video

Double Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Christina Marsigliese
double chocolate crinkle cookies
Soft and fudgy chocolate crinkle cookies with a brownie-like texture. These beautiful cookies look like snowflakes and I like to roll some in chocolate for an extra rich look. Make these during the holidays and add them to your cookie platter - they're sure to become a favorite!
5 from 10 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings 18 cookies

Ingredients
  

Chocolate cookie dough:

For rolling:

  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (30g) powdered confectioner's sugar
  • ¼ cup (21g) cocoa powder

Instructions
 

  • Make the cookie dough. Combine chocolate and butter a medium microwave-safe bowl and heat at 75 percent power in the microwave in 30 seconds bursts, stirring in between, until chocolate is completely melted, smooth and glossy. Alternatively, combine chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl and set it over a saucepan filled with an inch of gently simmering water. The bowl should be larger than the saucepan so it sits over, but not touching the water. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth.
  • Add sugar and vanilla to the chocolate and stir with a spatula or a wooden spoon until combined. It will look gritty at this point. Mix in eggs one at a time until well incorporated. Beat rather vigorously after adding the second egg so the mixture is glossy. Stir in milk.
  • Sift flour, cocoa and baking powder into a medium bowl. Add salt and whisk to blend evenly. Add these dry ingredients to the chocolate mixture and fold it in until just combined. Add the finely chopped chocolate and fold it in.
  • Chill the dough. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for 2 hours until firm enough to scoop.
  • Use a 1 oz cookie scoop to portion dough and roll it into balls. They will be about 1 ¼ inch balls. Place them 1 inch apart on a lined baking sheet and refrigerate again for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  • Place granulated sugar, ½ cup cocoa powder and the powdered confectioner's sugar in three separate bowls for rolling. If making white cookies, roll the dough balls in the granulated sugar, then in the confectioners' sugar and place them on baking sheets spacing them 3 inches apart. Do not flatten. If making cocoa cookies, roll the dough balls in the confectioners' sugar, and then in cocoa powder and place them on baking sheets spacing them 3 inches apart.
  • Bake until the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until set but still soft and fudgy on the inside.
  • Carefully transfer cookie sheets to a wire rack too cool for 5 minutes, then transfer individually to the rack to finish cooling.

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Recipe Rating




24 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Our eldest son baked these yesterday and they were AMAZING!!! Not only they look wonderful, they taste divine ... so fudgy! Thanks for sharing!

  2. Is it possible to prep the dough a week before and freeze balls of cookie dough? If not, how long will prepped dough stay in fridge? A couple of days? Thank you so much!!

    1. Hi Sarah! If you are going to keep the dough more than a night in the fridge then it is better to freeze the dough. Let the dough come to room temp before baking.

      1. 5 stars
        Hey! Happy New Year and thank you for sharing ...can we chill the dough overnight and if yes ,do we need to thaw or bring it to room temperature prior to portioning and then baking? Our room temperature here is 36deg C and humid weather.Kindly advise what should one do, thanks in advance.

      2. Hi Fee! Yes you can. Since it is so warm where you live I would recommend just letting it warm up enough to scoop it.

  3. I think baking powder has to be sifted in with flour and cocoa. It’s in the ingredients but can’t find where you used it.

  4. 5 stars
    I never actually cared for crinkle cookies until I tried these since they looked so tempting on Instagram. It's a real winner! I'll keep this recipe for next year to make again!

  5. 5 stars
    It was so easy to prepare and bake! The crinkles came out beautifully and it was so delicious that I only had one because my family ate them all so fast. One of my family members said that these were the best cookies she ever had!
    I will definitely be using this recipe often!

      1. Hi Tracy, yes you could, but I would add another tablespoon of flour maybe.

  6. 5 stars
    These cookies were phenomenal. They are so fudgy and packed with flavor. The recipe is easy to follow and so straight forward. I used a food scale for precision and they were a hit! Will be saving this recipe to use over and over.