Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Recipe

By
Carrie Vasios Mullins
Carrie Vasios Mullins is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Carrie Vasios Mullins
Carrie Vasios Mullins is the former national editor at Serious Eats, with a focus on all things sweet.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated Aug. 30, 2018
20151110-chocolate-crinkle-cookies-vicky-wasik-001.jpg
Vicky Wasik

Why It Works

  • A heavy coating of powdered sugar gives these cookies a distinct cracked, black-and-white appearance.
  • Resting the dough for an hour allows the flour to fully hydrate, improving texture.

I hate fudge, but I love fudgy things. They're soft, verging on gooey; indulgent and chocolaty. These classic crinkle cookies are a prime example. Made with unsweetened cocoa powder and instant espresso powder, they have a deep chocolaty richness with a slightly bitter backbone that stands up to the powdered-sugar coating.

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Recipe Facts

2.5

(3)

Active: 30 mins
Total: 105 mins
Serves: 36 servings

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Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (11.25 ounces; 320g)
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons (9g) baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon (4g) instant espresso powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon (3g) kosher salt
  • 2 1/4 cups granulated sugar (15 1/2 ounces; 425g)
  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (6 ounces; 150g)
  • 1 stick plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (4 1/2 ounces; 130g), melted and cooled slightly
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract
  • About 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar (6 ounces; 170g)

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, instant espresso powder, and salt.

  2. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, beat together granulated sugar, cocoa powder, and melted butter, starting at low speed and increasing to medium speed, until crumbly. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well between additions. Add vanilla. Reduce mixer speed to low and add dry ingredients. Beat until combined, scraping bottom and sides of bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Dough will be crumbly. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

  3. Adjust oven racks to upper- and lower-middle positions and preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Pour confectioners' sugar into a shallow bowl. Scoop dough into 1-tablespoon balls and roll in confectioners' sugar to coat. Make sure dough balls are heavily coated. Transfer dough balls to the prepared baking sheets, leaving at least 2 inches of space between each ball. You should be able to fit about 18 balls on each sheet.

  4. Bake cookies until cracked on top but still slightly soft in the middle, 13 to 15 minutes, rotating baking sheets top to bottom and front to back halfway through baking. Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Be careful when handling to avoid ruining the sugar coating.

Special equipment

Baking sheets, electric beater or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, 1-tablespoon cookie scoop (optional), wire rack

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