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Chocolate Desserts Cookies
4.8 from 9 votes

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Jump to RecipePrintRate
By: Joanna Cismaru •Last Updated: 12/17/22 17 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

These Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are rich and fudgy, coated in sugar then baked to perfection. Perfect for that chocolate craving and a must for your holiday table!

Table of Contents

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  • The Best Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Recipe
  • Why Are They Called Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
  • How to Make Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
  • How to Store Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
  • Can You Freeze Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
  • Looking for More Christmas Cookies? Try These:
  • Recipe: Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies on parchment paper

The Best Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Recipe

Oh these cookies! These chocolate crinkle cookies!

These cookies look fabulous and are adorable. To me they look like little ornaments. But that’s not it. If you’ve never tried these cookies they are to die for, they’re crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside like a brownie. They are so good. Totally worth all the trouble.

These cookies are a holiday staple. I first started making these about 5 years ago and never looked back since. Now, I make them every year for the holidays. I even double the recipe because they are everyone’s favorite.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies process shots

Why Are They Called Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These cookies get their well deserved name because of the way the cookie splits and cracks along the sugar covered top as it bakes. These cookies are perfectly crispy on the outside, yet fudgy on the inside.

Most crinkle cookies get only one single coating of sugar, but my recipe goes even further. I rolled mine firs in granulated sugar, then powdered sugar. This adds a little extra crunch to the outside of the cookie. Totally worth it.

overhead shot of a Chocolate Crinkle Cookie

How to Make Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

As with most cookie recipes, always make sure your ingredients are at room temperature. Start by mixing the butter and sugar together. Your butter should be softened but not melted. Mix until well combined.

Add in the eggs one at a time and continue mixing until light and fluffy. Stir in the Grand Marnier. The Grand Marnier will give these chocolate a hint of orange flavor. Chocolate and orange are a great combination. However, if you prefer an alcohol free version, use orange extract or vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl combine all the dry ingredients. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the mixer and mix until well incorporated. Do not over mix.

You have to cover and chill this cookie dough for at least 4 hours and this step cannot be skipped. This cookie dough is quite sticky, so chilling is a must. It ensures thicker cookies and that fudgy texture we love. It also prevents the cookies from spreading out too much.

All that’s left is to form into cookie balls, roll through the two sugars and bake.

a stack of Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

How to Store Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

I usually store mine in an airtight container either on the counter or in the fridge. Stored properly like this, they will last 3 to 5 days. That’s assuming nobody eats them all before then.

Can You Freeze Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These cookies are great for freezing. I usually double the recipe, leave a dozen out for us to enjoy and freeze the rest. I store them in an airtight container in the freezer and will last up to 3 months.

overhead shots of Chocolate Crinkle Cookies on parchmet paper

Looking for More Christmas Cookies? Try These:

  • Mexican Wedding Cookies
  • Thumbprint cookies
  • Classic Shortbread Cookies
  • Lemon Thumbprint Cookies
  • Chocolate Rumballs
  • Chocolate Fudge Cookies
  • Chocolate Sugar Cookies
  • Peppermint Bark Cookies

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

overhead shot of crinkle cookies
4.78 from 9 votes

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Prep 25 minutes minutes
Chill Time 4 hours hours
Cook 12 minutes minutes
Total 12 minutes minutes
36
Rate Recipe Print Recipe
These Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are rich and fudgy, coated in sugar then baked to perfection. Perfect for that chocolate craving and a must for your holiday table!

Ingredients

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

  • 12 tablespoon butter (unsalted, softened (1 1/2 sticks))
  • 2 cups sugar (granulated)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoon Grand Marnier
  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt

For Rolling Cookies In

  • ½ cup sugar (granulated)
  • 1 cup powdered sugar (same as icing sugar or confectioners sugar)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside. 
  • In the bowl of your mixer add the softened butter and sugar and mix until well combined.
  • Add the eggs, one at a time and continue mixing until light and fluffy. Stir in the Grant Marnier.
  • In another large bowl combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
  • Gradually add the flour mixture to the mixer bowl and mix until combined. Do not over mix. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 4 hours to overnight.
  • Place the remaining sugar and powdered sugar in 2 separate shallow plates or bowls. Form the dough into 1-inch balls. Use a cookie scoop for evenly sized cookies. Roll the cookie balls first in the granulated sugar and then in powdered sugar. Make sure they are coated properly.
  • Transfer the cookies balls to the prepared baking sheets and arrange about 1 ½ inches apart. You should be able to fit about 12 cookies per sheet.
  • Place the baking sheets to the preheat oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the cookies are puffed and cracked. If placing 2 cookie sheets at once, switch them halfway through.
  • Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer them to racks to cool completely.

Notes

  1. If you don’t have 3 baking sheets, you can use the same one, however, let the baking sheet come to room temperature before placing the next batch of cookies on it. 
  2. What Can I Substitute Grand Marnier with? Use any other orange liquor. For a non alcoholic version use orange extract or vanilla extract. If using extract use only 1 tsp.
  3. Stored properly in an airtight container, these cookies will last 3 to 5 days.
  4. These cookies freeze well. Place them in an airtight container, and freeze them for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 148kcal (7%)Carbohydrates: 25g (8%)Protein: 2g (4%)Fat: 4g (6%)Saturated Fat: 2g (13%)Cholesterol: 30mg (10%)Sodium: 41mg (2%)Potassium: 88mg (3%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 17g (19%)Vitamin A: 150IU (3%)Calcium: 23mg (2%)Iron: 0.9mg (5%)
© Author Joanna Cismaru

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

overhead shot of crinkle cookies

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Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I'm Joanna Cismaru, home cook, recipe developer, and the person behind JoCooks since 2011. I test every recipe in my own kitchen, multiple times, until it's actually worth making. My goal is simple: recipes that work, written the way a real person cooks.

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Hey there!

I’m Joanna Cismaru, home cook, recipe developer, and the person behind JoCooks since 2011. I test every recipe in my own kitchen, multiple times, until it’s actually worth making. My goal is simple: recipes that work, written the way a real person cooks.

Read More
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