Chocolate Crackle Cookies are one of our most loved traditional Christmas cookies. These crinkle cookies have a fudgy brownie like center and a soft crisp outside. Add these delightful cookies to your Christmas cookie tray!
These are a staple every Christmas. Either nonna or I will bake these leading up to Christmas.
There are some cookies that are holiday staples. The holidays are not complete unless we make our favorites, like these delightful Chocolate Crackle Cookies!
Chocolate Crackle Cookies
These chocolate crackle cookies (or you may call them Chocolate Crinkle Cookies) are one of these very special cookies. We do a lot of cookie baking every holiday. Some favorites are our Italian Lemon Knot Cookies and also our Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Cookies!
Why you’ll love these Chocolate Christmas Cookies?
1. They’re festive and perfect for the holidays!
2. They have a crackly, crispy top that’s irresistible.
3. The chocolate flavor is rich and delicious, tastes a lot like brownies
I normally don’t get too excited about chocolate desserts. Apple desserts are my favorite most of the time. But these little cookies are chocolate perfection.
What are some of your favorite cookies to bake?
Ingredients
- bittersweet chocolate
- all-purpose flour
- Dutch cocoa powder
- baking powder
- salt
- unsalted butter
- light-brown sugar
- large eggs
- pure vanilla extract
- milk
- confectioners’ sugar
Can you freeze chocolate crackle (crinkle) cookies?
The cookies can be soft or crisp and chewy. It depends on how long you bake them. If you would like to freeze the cookies, roll them into the balls without dipping them in the confectioner’s sugar. Place them on a baking sheet and freeze until they are firm. Once they are firm, store the cookies in an airtight container or plastic bag until you are ready to bake them.
How long do chocolate crackle (crinkle) cookies last?
The cookies will keep in an airtight container for up to three days or in the freezer for up to two months.
A little about these cookies: Fudgy cookies with a crackly and little bit crispy exterior. Really hard to eat just one! They are so easy to make.
How to make Chocolate Crackle Cookies
- Preheat the oven: Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Prepare the chocolate: Chop bittersweet chocolate into small bits, and melt over medium heat in a heat-proof bowl or the top of a double boiler set over a pan of simmering water.
- Mix dry ingredients: Set aside to cool. Sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
- Mix wet ingredients: In the bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and light-brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until well combined. Add melted chocolate. With mixer on low speed, alternate adding dry ingredients and milk until just combined.
- Chill the dough: Divide the dough into quarters, wrap with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 2 hours.
- Roll the dough: On a clean countertop, roll each portion of dough into a log approximately 16 inches long and 1 inch in diameter, using confectioners’ sugar to prevent sticking. Wrap logs in plastic wrap, and transfer to a baking sheet.
- Chill for 30 minutes.
- Form the shapes: Cut each log into 1-inch pieces, and toss in confectioners’ sugar, a few at a time.Using your hands, roll the pieces into a ball shape. If any of the cocoa-colored dough is visible, roll dough in confectioners’ sugar again to coat completely. Place the cookies 2 inches apart on a Silpat-lined baking sheet.
- Bake the cookies: until cookies have flattened and the sugar splits, 12 to15 minutes.
- Transfer from oven to a wire rack to let cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Expert Tips to make the best chocolate crackle cookies:
- You have to make sure the dough is very cold before you start to roll them into balls. If you don’t chill them long enough, it will be one sticky mess!
- Rolling them in the powdered sugar before baking gives the cookies the most beautiful crackled look. The snow white powder exterior is a stunning contrast to the chocolate cookie interior.
- I always end up making enough for both kids to make on their own.
- Of all the cookies we bake each year, this is the chocolate crackle cookie is the most requested. They also make a really sweet gift idea and look so pretty all wrapped up.
Recipe FAQ’s
The powdered sugar in the dough forms a crust when the cookies are baked, and that crust cracks as the cookies cool.
If you want your Chocolate Crinkle Cookies to be puffy rather than flat, make sure to chill the dough for at least 3 hours before rolled into balls. Also, put them in the oven as soon after being rolled so they don’t have time to flatten out at room temperature.
The crinkles are done baking when you see cracks on their tops and the center looks glossy. However, they will stay warm from being on the baking sheet, so keep that in mind.
For a bright white confectioners’ sugar topping, coat the cookie dough balls in granulated sugar first. Lightly layer it on, then pour on the confectioners’ sugar.
Chocolate crackles cookies can be frozen before or after baking. If you want to freeze baked cookies, let them cool entirely first. Place the cookies in single layers on sheets of parchment paper, and then put them in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw, either leave them in the fridge overnight or set them out on the counter until they’re soft again.
Some other holiday cookies to enjoy:
recipe from Martha Stewart 2003
Originally published on December 8, 2018 and republished on December 22, 2020.
Chocolate Crackle Cookies
Ingredients
- 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate melted and cooled
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup Dutch cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoons 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/3 cups light-brown sugar firmly packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar plus more for rolling
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Chop bittersweet chocolate into small bits, and melt over medium heat in a heat-proof bowl or the top of a double boiler set over a pan of simmering water. Set aside to cool. Sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
- In the bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and light-brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until well combined. Add melted chocolate. With mixer on low speed, alternate adding dry ingredients and milk until just combined. Divide the dough into quarters, wrap with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 2 hours.
- On a clean countertop, roll each portion of dough into a log approximately 16 inches long and 1 inch in diameter, using confectioners’ sugar to prevent sticking. Wrap logs in plastic wrap, and transfer to a baking sheet. Chill for 30 minutes. Cut each log into 1-inch pieces, and toss in confectioners’ sugar, a few at a time.
- Using your hands, roll the pieces into a ball shape. If any of the cocoa-colored dough is visible, roll dough in confectioners’ sugar again to coat completely. Place the cookies 2 inches apart on a Silpat-lined baking sheet. Bake until cookies have flattened and the sugar splits, 12 to15 minutes.
- Transfer from oven to a wire rack to let cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Annamaria @ Bakewell Junction says
My Mom loves these cookies. There are so many different names for them too. I'll be posting my Christmas Treats late today. Thanks for the post.
Farmgirl Gourmet says
I love these cookies!! That first photo is rocking my world right now. Great post!! xo
Nesrine Gamal says
I LOVE THEM LORa:))
claudia lamascolo says
It must be me I have tried Martha's recipe and they failed me every time… yours are perfection! absolutely perfections!
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
These look freakin' awesome, Lora! Haven't had crackle cookies in a while!
Judy says
I haven't tried these, but I plan to make them soon.
Lizzy Do says
My family loves these…but mine have never been so picture perfect! I'll try your recipe this Christmas 🙂
Dawn says
I am in love with these cookies-I've never made them before but I'll definitely be giving these a try soon!
Munatycooking says
Oh I love to look at crackle cookies, I've never made them nor have tasted them, but the look makes me think of snow. I have to give this recipe a try 🙂
Becca says
Congrats on your feature. 🙂
I love love looooove fudge chocolate cookies. But I hardly ever have chocolate crackle cookies, which is odd. These look really good and cute, and you're probably right: I would probably eat way more than one!
Renee Dobbs says
I absolutely love these cookies. I made them years ago and they were such a hit. You have reminded me to make them this year for the holidays. I'll double check your recipe with the one I used. It looks like your cookies stayed more rounded and I like that better.
Rebecca Subbiah says
they looks so good I wish i was a good baker your a pro
Swathi Iyer says
Delicious crinkle cookies love it. Lora.
All That's Left Are The Crumbs says
These are one of my favorite cookies to make. I'll have to make sure I add them to my list. Congratulations on the Redbook feature.
Jen Laceda | Tartine and Apron Strings says
Lora, I grew up eating these cookies! They use to sell these at my school, and I always asked my mom for money to buy them…we called them "chocolate crinkles" back then 🙂 ahhh, those were the days!
Angie's Recipes says
I have always love chocolate crinkles. These look so x'masy and divine!
thelittleloaf says
How gorgeous do these look? I've fallen into a bit of a chocolate chip cookie hole recently so would love to try these to mix it up!
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen says
These are gorgeous, love them! Very christmas-y
Helene Dsouza I Masala Herb says
Those look so pretty, I ll add them to my christmas cookie making plan this year. Thanks for sharing!
Lisa says
I've seen a lot of chocolate crinkle cookies, but that Fla sunshine catches the fudgy interior beneath the cracks, perfectly. I don't know why I've never made these, but I will most definitely get to it before 2013! xoxo
Erin says
Your cookies look wonderful! My friend makes them but they are flat and crunchy. Yours look amazing!
Anonymous says
I was never a big fan of these cookies until I had an amazing one on vacation that changed my mind. I will have to make these sometime soon 🙂
Baker Street says
I absolutely LOVE these cookies! I can't seem to take my eyes off that first picture!
Jessica @ Portuguese Girl Cooks says
These cookies are indeed a holiday staple, and your look fabulous! Thanks of sharing!
Valerie says
Gorgeous! I love the contrast of confectioners' sugar and deep dark chocolate. (I must be the only person on the planet who has not made chocolate crackle cookies.) This year, that's going to change! 😀
Jamie says
I haven't made these for years but love them. And there is something so Christmassy about them, don't you think? Congrats on the Ooey Gooey feature!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
i haven't had these cookies in forever! They look so fudgy and perfect!
Roxana | Roxana's Home Baking says
one of hubby's favorite cookies are the crackle cookies, every year I have to have some while we unwrap the gifts on Christmas day.
Yours are beautiful
Lisa {Authentic Suburban Gourmet } says
I love these cookies and yours came out just perfect! I love this time of year and will be pinning these to make during the holidays!
www.you-made-that.com says
This cookie brings back memories from my childhood. I used to help bake them with a friends mom and we ate a lot of them too. Thanks for the reminder of how good these little cookies are.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I need a new cookie tradition and I think this is it for 2012!
Patty says
I've always wanted to try chocolate crackle cookies- they look so pretty and lovely for the holidays, maybe with a cup of hot chocolate;-)
Magic of Spice says
These look absolutely wonderful!
And congrats on your feature 🙂
Julianne says
I just made these today and they were amazing!!! So pretty! Such and easy recipe to follow. Will definitely make again. xo
Lora says
Hi Julianne-so happy you enjoyed the recipe and thank you for letting me know! XX happy baking!
Mrs. Braun says
Hey Lora,
a wonderful chocolate Cookie recipe. I will try it next time.
Rocky says
These cookies came out great. I was a little scared when I saw how loose the dough was when it came out of the stand mixer but it firmed up very nicely in the fridge and the rest of the process went perfectly. I could have eaten the whole batch myself! They’re like sugary brownie cookies. Slightly crispy and sugary on the outside and fudgy on the inside. I’ll be making these again real soon.
Lora says
Hi Yes, the dough is more loose than what you would expect…and the firming up in the fridge is all it needs! Totally agree…they’re very dangerous! Thank you for taking the time to write a lovely comment! Happy Baking! XX
Anne says
Just popping by to let you know that I make these cookies every Christmas. They are wonderful!
Lora says
Hello Anne-It’s so great to hear how much you enjoy these chocolate crackle cookies…they are a family favorite! Happy baking!