Chocolate Crackle Cookies
These rich, fudgy Chocolate Crackles are perfect for the holidays, yet yummy enough that you’ll want to make them throughout the year! They’re a striking cookie that’s perfect for a Cookie Exchange, plus the double dose of chocolate makes them perfect for any chocoholic.
Chocolate Cookie Recipes are always a hit at our house. If you’re tired of chocolate chip cookies, these are a delicious change of pace.

Why You Must Make
- If your family is full of chocoholics like mine, this is a delicious cookie recipe to add to your repertoire!
- They’re also perfect for the holidays as they look like they’re coated in winter snow!
- Plus they’re super easy to make.
Recipe Tips:
- Make sure your cookie dough is nice and cold. Your hands will still get a coating of chocolate from rolling them, but cold dough will minimize that.
- Sift your powdered sugar to minimize lumps.
- To get the prettiest results, coat the dough balls well in powdered sugar.
- If you find the chocolate in the cookies creates yellow areas on the powdered sugar after they’re baked, roll your dough balls in granulated sugar first, then powdered sugar (PRO-Tip via America’s Test Kitchen). I did not find this necessary.
- You can keep these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Just defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
- PRO-Tip: Make sure your baking powder is fresh, by checking the expiration date. This is not the same as baking soda and will most likely expire before you can use it all. Baking soda has a much longer shelf life. You can also do a simple test to see if it’s fresh. See below in the ingredient tips.

Ingredient Notes
- Kitchen Staples – Sugar, Flour, Salt, Semisweet Chocolate Chips (affiliate link).
- Butter – Melted; Salted is OK, as the amount of salt in this amount of butter won’t affect the taste.
- Unsweetened Chocolate (affiliate link) – Chop, then gently melt. I use the microwave, stopping to stir a few times while melting. I like using the Ghirardelli brand.
- Eggs – I use large eggs in all my baking unless otherwise noted. Have them at room temperature for easier incorporation. Bring them out an hour before you make your cookie dough or place them in a bowl of very warm (not hot enough to cook) water to take the chill off.
- Vanilla Extract (affiliate link) – Always use vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla as the flavor is not the same.
- Baking Powder (affiliate link) – Unlike baking soda, baking powder will most likely expire before you use it all. Check the expiration date on the can, or you can test it by putting a spoonful in a bowl of hot water. If it bubbles vigorously, it’s still active. If it doesn’t, do not start this recipe until you replace your supply.
- Powdered Sugar – Sift before using. This will get rid of all the little lumps.
You May Also Like:
These rich, fudgy chocolate crinkles cookies rolled in powdered sugar are terrific holiday cookies. The sweet coating of sugar resembles a dusting of snow, and I’m certain that Santa would love to find a plate of these cookies on the hearth on Christmas Eve. But if your family is like mine, these chocolate numbers would be welcome any time, any season.
Besides these Chocolate Crackles, you might like these other tasty chocolate cookies:
- Hot Chocolate Cookies from Love from the Oven
- Flourless Chocolate Cookies
- Death by Chocolate Cookies
- Chocolate Pudding Cookies
- Triple Chocolate Fudge Cookies
- More Cookie Recipes
Chocolate Crackle Cookies
Rich chocolate cookies rolled in powdered sugar which "cracks' when baked! Adapted from Betty Crocker.
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
- Beat eggs and sugar until light.
- Stir in the melted butter, vanilla, and melted chocolate.
- In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir into the chocolate mixture.
- Finally, stir in the chocolate chips.
- Refrigerate dough until firm. This will take anywhere from an hour in the freezer or overnight in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the oven to 350º.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls between your palms. Roll them in powdered sugar until heavily coated.
- Place the dough balls 2 inches apart on cookie sheets and bake for 11 to 13 minutes.
- Return the bowl of dough to the refrigerator or freezer while the cookies are baking. It's important to keep the dough very cold.
Notes
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1 cookieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 233Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 107mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 1gSugar: 25gProtein: 3g

45 Comments on “Chocolate Crackle Cookies”
These cookies are perfect for any festive cookie platter, I hope they cheered up the sports fans 🙂
So sweet of you to make these cookies for your family in a time of need, they look delicious. love the Levoons, brilliant idea!~
They are a beautiful cookie for the holidays, but I too would love to eat them all year round. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
My favorite Dreamfarm tool is the Copula.
Chopula! Sorry for leaving out the “h” above.
The Spadle looks fun…But I want to commend you on your good heart. And having a plate of cookies waiting for your family on their return from the game =)
Wow, Christmastime memories. My neighbor lady…years ago, made these awesome cookies every year! Thanks for the flash back!
These look delicious Liz. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving, and that Dizzie Miss Lizzie is healing well.
Indeed cookies are a year round pleaser for kids and adults as well :).
Cannot say no to a chocolate cookie 😉 These will be gone within minutes in my house. I am sure this will be a great holiday gift too. Thanks for sharing Liz !
They look lovely and festive!
Those cookies are a beautiful thing! So pretty and I’ll be they taste fabulous! Wish I had a US address to win that great collection of kitchen tools. Hope you are having a nice “black Friday” today and a wonderful Thanksgiving Weekend!
I really like and need a pizza cutter. So that’s the one I would pick. Those cookies ???? make my mouth water. I’m going to have to make them now. Thanks for the contest . Good luck everyone!
I like the Gripet.
Hi Liz,
In the crazy chance that I might win, I do have a US address that the prize can be sent to! I love crinkle cookies, bookmarking this recipe for sure!
Crackle cookies are my favorite, I need to bake these this weekend!
The Levoons look great!
I like the Scizza pizza cutter.
They are a must for the holiday cookie platter!
Your cookies sound great, I’ve never made this kind before. As for the fun gadgets, I like the Vebo, that silicone steamer would be great for inside of my pressure cooker:@)
I’m certain that ANYONE would be happy to find a plate of these delicious cookies! I’ve never made crackle cookies before, but they look delicious. Love the snow-like sugar dusting, your photos are great as always!