There are some cookies that are holiday staples. The holidays are not complete unless we make our favorites, like these delightful Chocolate Crackle Cookies!
These chocolate crackle cookies (or you may call them Chocolate Crinkle Cookies) are one of these very special cookies. 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. We do a lot of cookie baking every holiday. What are some of your favorite cookies to bake?
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. 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 their 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. 🙂
Photos and post updated from Nov 2012
recipe from Martha Stewart 2003
Chocolate Crackle Cookies
One of our most loved Christmas cookies. Chocolate Crackle Cookies have a brownie like center and a soft crisp outside. Add these delightful cookies to your Christmas cookie tray!
Prep Time2 hrs
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time2 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 48 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.
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.
I love these cookies!! That first photo is rocking my world right now. Great post!! xo
I LOVE THEM LORa:))
It must be me I have tried Martha's recipe and they failed me every time… yours are perfection! absolutely perfections!
These look freakin' awesome, Lora! Haven't had crackle cookies in a while!
I haven't tried these, but I plan to make them soon.
My family loves these…but mine have never been so picture perfect! I'll try your recipe this Christmas 🙂
I am in love with these cookies-I've never made them before but I'll definitely be giving these a try soon!
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 🙂
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!
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.
they looks so good I wish i was a good baker your a pro
Delicious crinkle cookies love it. Lora.
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.
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!
I have always love chocolate crinkles. These look so x'masy and divine!
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!
These are gorgeous, love them! Very christmas-y
Those look so pretty, I ll add them to my christmas cookie making plan this year. Thanks for sharing!
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
Your cookies look wonderful! My friend makes them but they are flat and crunchy. Yours look amazing!
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 🙂
I absolutely LOVE these cookies! I can't seem to take my eyes off that first picture!
These cookies are indeed a holiday staple, and your look fabulous! Thanks of sharing!
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! 😀
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!
i haven't had these cookies in forever! They look so fudgy and perfect!
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
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!
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.
I need a new cookie tradition and I think this is it for 2012!
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;-)
These look absolutely wonderful!
And congrats on your feature 🙂