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The Ultimate Soft & Fudgy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Recipe (Easy & Perfectly Crackled)

A stack of five rich, dark chocolate crinkle cookies dusted heavily with white powdered sugar on a white plate.
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Follow this straightforward recipe to make soft, fudgy chocolate crinkle cookies with the classic powdered sugar crackle top. This recipe is easy to follow and yields bakery-style results every time you bake.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups granulated sugar, divided
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional, for double chocolate flavor)
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar, for rolling

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and 1 cup of the granulated sugar together until light and fluffy.
  2. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. If using, stir in the chocolate chips.
  5. Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight. Chilling the dough helps achieve the best crackle.
  6. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. Place the remaining 1 cup of granulated sugar in a shallow dish. Place the 1/2 cup of powdered sugar in a separate shallow dish.
  8. Scoop rounded tablespoons of chilled dough. First, roll the dough ball thoroughly in the granulated sugar, coating completely. Then, roll the sugared ball in the powdered sugar until heavily coated. This double-rolling helps create the crackle.
  9. Place the coated dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Do not flatten the dough.
  10. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. The edges should look set, but the centers will still look slightly soft.
  11. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. The crackles will set as they cool.

Notes

  • For the best crackled top, ensure your dough is well-chilled. Cold dough spreads less, allowing the sugar coating to crackle as the cookie bakes.
  • If you want an intensely fudgy cookie, slightly underbake them by one minute.
  • You can substitute half the granulated sugar in the dough with packed light brown sugar for added chewiness.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://pureplatepath.com/chocolate-crinkle-cookies-recipe-soft-fudgy/