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Best Chocolate Crinkle Cookies: Soft, Fudgy, and Perfectly Crackled

A pile of rich, dark chocolate crinkle cookies dusted heavily with powdered sugar, one cookie broken open to show the fudgy interior.
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Make the best chocolate crinkle cookies with this easy recipe. You get soft, fudgy centers and the signature powdered sugar crackle top every time you bake.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar, plus 1 cup for rolling
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional, for extra fudginess)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1 3/4 cups of granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
  2. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix 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 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 effect.
  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.
  8. Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of the chilled dough and roll them into balls.
  9. Roll each dough ball thoroughly in the reserved granulated sugar until completely coated.
  10. Place the sugared balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
  11. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. The edges should look set, but the centers will still look slightly soft.
  12. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. The crackles will become more defined as they cool.

Notes

  • For the best crackled top, make sure your dough is well chilled before rolling in sugar and baking.
  • Do not overbake; these cookies are best when they remain soft and fudgy in the center.
  • You can substitute some of the granulated sugar coating with powdered sugar for a different visual effect, but rolling in granulated sugar first helps the powdered sugar adhere better.

Nutrition

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