These Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are chewy & fudgy with a deep chocolate flavor. Chocolate Crinkles are an easy-to-make, classic Christmas cookie recipe for chocolate lovers! 

Chocolate crinkle cookies are crispy on the outside, fudgy on the inside and coated in layer of powdered sugar reminiscent of freshly fallen snow – the perfect Christmas cookie for chocolate lovers (also try these Double Chocolate Cookies, Peanut butter blossoms, Peppermint Brownies, and so many more Christmas recipes). 

This chocolate crinkles recipe is easy to make and turns out perfectly every time! They are always quick to disappear from holiday cookie trays because of their deep chocolate flavor and brownie-like texture. 

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies: Ingredients & Substitutions

Before we jump in and discuss how to make these crinkle cookies, let’s chat about the ingredients.  As always, I recommend making this chocolate cookie recipe as written for the best results. 

• Salted Butter. Unsalted butter or vegan butter can be used in these crinkle cookies. 
• Canola oil. The oil is important to the spreading/cracking of these crinkle cookies. You can substitute vegetable oil or avocado oil. 
• White Sugar.  I always use Wholesome Organic Cane Sugar  to make this crinkle cookie recipe. But any white, granulated sugar works well.
• Brown sugar. I recommend using light brown sugar in this recipe for the best results.
• All-purpose flour. Use an unbleached, all-purpose flour to make these chocolate crinkle cookies. I don’t recommend making any substitutions. 
• Cocoa powder. feel free to use a special dark cocoa powder for an even deeper chocolate flavor. 
• Fine Sea Salt. If you use regular table salt (iodized) cut the amount in half. 
• Chocolate Chips. You can use chocolate chunks, chopped chocolate, or chocolate chips of variety of chocolate (milk to dark). 

How to make Crinkles

This chocolate crinkles recipe is easy to make! As always, we’ll walk through the steps and don’t forget to watch the video. 

Combine the dry ingredients

Begin by combining flour, baking soda, sea salt, baking powder, and cocoa powder in a medium bowl, then set aside.

Beat together wet ingredients

In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, cream together butter, canola oil, brown sugar and granulated sugar until combined. Then, beat in eggs and vanilla until fluffy.

Add dry ingredients & chocolate chips

Next, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat until combined. Once the mixture is homogenous (uniform throughout) stir in the chocolate chips on low speed until they are evenly distributed in the chocolate crinkle cookie batter. 

Chill the dough

Once the dough is finished, transfer it to an airtight container and chill for at least 3 hours, or overnight. After dough has chilled, preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, then set them aside.

Portion and shape dough into flat discs

Use a 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoon cookie scoop to measure out dough and roll it into balls, then form each ball into a flat disc. It’s important to form the balls into discs (instead of leaving them spherical) so the crinkle cookies spread and crack. 

Coat in powdered sugar

Next, take each disc of chocolate crinkles dough and coat it with a thick coating of powered sugar on all sides. Transfer them to the prepared baking sheets.

Bake & Cool 

Bake the chocolate crinkle cookies in the preheated oven for approximately 8 minutes. Take them out when they are just set, and crackled – do not over-bake. 

Once they have finished baking, let the chocolate crinkle cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring them to wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Enjoy

Eat these chocolate crinkles slightly warm or at room temperature. If you are including them on a holiday cookie platter, wait to add them to the tray until they are completely cooled. 

Store

Store these chocolate crinkle cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days. 

To freeze

You can freeze these crinkle cookies in two ways. 

1. Freeze the dough. Roll the dough into balls, shape them into discs and place them on a large baking sheet. Transfer to the freezer to flash-freeze. Once frozen, transfer to an airtight container to freeze for up to two months. To bake, remove dough from freezer and let it come to room temperature, then roll in powdered sugar and bake according to the recipe interactions. 
2. Freeze baked cookies. Transfer baked and cooled cookies to an airtight container and freeze for up to 1 month. 

FAQS about Crinkle Cookies

If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

More delicious cookie recipes

If you’ve been around here a while, then you know we love cookies. If you love this white chocolate chip cookie recipe, you will also love these: 

• The best chocolate chip cookies ever – thousands of 5 star reviews don’t lie!  Or make chocolate chip cookie bars, easier and so yummy. 
• This giant chocolate chip chocolate chip cookie cake is better than store-bought and perfect for any occasion!
• Make this Reindeer Food (Christmas Puppy Chow) for a delicious & festive treat. 
• You have to try these soft peanut butter cookies – and our peanut butter blossoms!
• Chocolate your jam? Try these double chocolate cookies and these classic no bake cookies. 
• These are the best oatmeal cookies ever. 
• Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are a fall favorite around here, and you can use white chocolate chips if you’d prefer. 
• These Snickerdoodle cookies and  soft gingerbread cookies are perfect for Christmas, so are these Cut-Out Sugar Cookies!
• Want to make some candy? Try these Oreo balls, No-Bake chocolate peanut butter balls, candied pecans or candied almonds, and of course this homemade almond toffee. 
• Also, check out this roundup of all of our favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes!

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine!