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These homemade chocolate crinkle cookies are truly above the rest. Rich, fudgy, and irresistibly gooey, they taste almost like a lava cookie in crinkle form. Made with real vanilla extract, cocoa powder, and the real secret—big chunks of dark chocolate—they’re deeply chocolatey in every single bite. Rolled in powdered sugar before baking, each cookie cracks into a beautiful crinkled top. And when eaten warm, the chocolate melts through the soft centers, making them completely irresistible.
Is there anything better than a really good Christmas cookie? December is hands down my favorite month to bake, and in preparation for this year’s 2025 cookie box, I’ve been baking cookies almost every day.
Chocolate crinkle cookies have been on my must-bake list for years, and my cousins Abby and Maggie finally pushed me to make them happen this season. Their one request? The cookies had to be gooey—not dry. And honestly, I agree. So many crinkle cookies look pretty but fall flat when it comes to texture and flavor.
These are different. Think molten chocolate cookie…just in crinkle form.
We love them warm straight from the oven, but they’re just as delicious once cooled and packaged up. Perfect for cookie boxes, sharing with neighbors, or baking for your next holiday party—everyone loves these.
They’re classic, indulgent, and exactly the kind of cookie you want this time of year.
These are the details
Ingredients
- cocoa powder
- granulated sugar
- salted butter
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- flour
- baking soda
- dark chocolate chips – or semi-sweet is great too
- powdered sugar
Special Tools
For these chocolate crinkle cookies, I recommend using a stand mixer fitted with the beater or a handheld mixer. Either is great!
Then, a spatula and cookie sheets!
The Steps
Step 1: Make the Cookie Dough
Mix together the cocoa powder, both sugars, melted butter, and eggs until smooth and very glossy. Stir in the vanilla.
Add the dry ingredients—flour, baking soda, and salt—then fold in the chocolate chips until just combined.
Step 2: Form the Dough Balls
Scoop the dough into rounded tablespoon-sized balls.
Arrange the dough balls on a baking sheet and freeze for 10 to 20 minutes. I’ve found this is usually enough, but if your dough feels extra soft or wet, you can chill for an additional 20 minutes or up to an hour.
Step 3: Roll in Sugar
Before baking, roll each dough ball first in granulated sugar, then generously in powdered sugar.
Rolling in granulated sugar first helps prevent the powdered sugar from melting into the cookies while baking. If you want very white, dramatic crinkles, don’t skip this step. If you don’t mind a more chocolate-colored cookie, you can roll directly in powdered sugar only.
Step 4: Bake
Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes. If they’re not spreading, pull them out around the 8-minute mark and gently tap the baking sheet on the counter to help them deflate and spread.
Be careful not to overbake—these cookies are meant to stay soft and gooey in the center. Let them set fully on the baking sheet before moving.
Enjoying and Sharing
These cookies are extra gooey and delicious when eaten warm, but they’re just as good once cooled and packaged up. Perfect for cookie boxes, sharing with neighbors, or adding to your holiday dessert table.
Looking for Christmas cookie recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Vanilla Hot Chocolate Molten Cookies
Chewy Frosted Cinnamon Swirl Snickerdoodles
Easy Slice ‘n’ Bake Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies
Easy Vanilla Bean Christmas Lights Cookies
Soft Gingerbread Latte Cookies with Brown Butter Icing
Lastly, if you make these Gooey Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Gooey Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Servings: 36 cookies
Calories Per Serving: 92 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) salted butter melted
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semi sweet or dark chocolate chips/chunks
For Rolling
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Using an electric mixer or a stand mixer, mix the cocoa powder, both sugars, melted butter, and eggs. Mix for 2 minutes, until very glossy. Add the vanilla, flour, baking soda, salt, and chocolate chips, beating to combine. 2. Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 3. Scoop the dough into rounded tablespoon-size balls. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Freeze for 10-20 minutes, until chilled. If using, roll each ball through granulated sugar. Then generously roll in powdered sugar and return to the baking sheets.4. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cookies start to set around the edges and crack. The centers should be doughy though. Let cool on the pan. Eat warm or package them up for storing. The cookies keep for 2 to 3 days.
Notes
Tip: If the cookies aren’t spreading by minute 8, remove them from the oven and bang the baking sheet on the counter 2-3x to flatten.
This post was originally published on December 16, 2025
These were not good at all, I’m really disappointed.
Hi Sharon,
Very sorry to hear you did not enjoy these cookies. Is there something specific that went wrong with them that I can help with?
Please let me know! Have a great Sunday!
These came out amazing. I am very confused by the low ratings. These are super easy to make and taste great.
Hey there,
Yay!! Love to hear this recipe turned out well for you, I appreciate you making it!
Happy Sunday!
I should have read the reviews, I had the same issue as other commenters. Waste of ingredients and money 🙁
These were great! I don’t understand the bad reviews… I followed the recipe exactly and everyone loved them. They were similar to classic crinkle cookies but the chocolate chips really made them gooey and good.
Thanks so much, Olivia:) I appreciate you making these cookies and your feedback, so glad to hear they were enjoyed!
Great recipe, thank you. These are so delicious! But they flattened out a lot while cooling. Do you have any tips for that?
Hey Erin,
Thanks so much for making these cookies! Next time, I would chill your dough longer to prevent so much spreading.
I hope this helps! Merry Christmas!
These cookies came out amazing! I don’t know why people rated them so low. I did have a hard time rolling them at first so I put the dough in the freezer for 20 minutes, then rolled them out in the sugar and powdered sugar, then put them back in the freezer again for 20 minutes. Not sure if this will help but once they came out of the oven, fire 🔥! So good!
Hey Relena,
Awesome! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad it turned out nicely for you!
Merry Christmas!🎄🎁
These were terrible, so disappointing.
Hi Amanda,
Very sorry to hear you did not enjoy this recipe. Is there something specific that went wrong? How can I help?
This is my second time baking these cookies in a week! So delicious and got so many compliments when I took them to a party, thank you!
Yay! Thanks a bunch, Rylie! So glad to hear you have been enjoying these cookies!
Merry Christmas!🎄🎁
Turned out amazing <3 Soft and gooey, To make sure it was a good consistency, I mixed the sugars, then added hot! Butter and mixed. That way the sugar can melt and create a good base, I kept beating till it was glossy and cooled enough to where I can add the eggs without "cooking" them. And continued to beat till shine. Then continued the recipie as stated. I have a gas stove so I did 375 for 5 minutes. I put mine in the freezer for 20min first. Once they can out I just tapped lightly to flatten and make that signature Crack look.
Hey Savana,
Thanks for the thoughtful feedback after trying this recipe, I’m happy to hear it was a win!
Happy Holidays!🎄🎁
I loved these cookies!! I’m not sure why so many people ranked them so low. I’m not a great baker, but these turned out perfect for me just by following your directions. These will definitely be on repeat in our house. My new favorite!
Hey Melissa,
Awesome! Thanks for making this recipe and your feedback, love to hear it was a hit!
Happy New Year!🥂🎆
10/10!! Phenomenal- thank you for the recipe!!!
Thanks so much, Paige! I am so glad these cookies turned out well for you, I appreciate you making them!
These did not turn out at all.
Hi Erica,
Very sorry to hear this! If there is anything that I can help with, please let me know!
Happy Holidays!
Can you keep these cookies in the freezer for a long time?
Hi Grace,
You can keep them in the freezer for 3 months as long as they are in an airtight container.
Please let me know if you have any other questions!
When you list ingredients as optional, I wish you’d explain what the outcome is if it’s used vs not used. I’m not sure if I want to use the granulated sugar with the powdered sugar because I don’t see what difference it’ll make to use it.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for asking! I have this written in the narrative portion of this post:
Rolling in granulated sugar first helps prevent the powdered sugar from melting into the cookies while baking. If you want very white, dramatic crinkles, don’t skip this step. If you don’t mind a more chocolate-colored cookie, you can roll directly in powdered sugar only.
I hope this helps answer your question! Let me know if you give these cookies a try! Happy Holidays!
I made these last night and they turned out great!
I did end up using a whole bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips because I didn’t want leftover chips and I put my dough in the fridge for 20ish hours. I was really deliberate with the sugar and powdered sugar before I baked and I got perfect crinkles on mine.
Hey Christine,
Thanks for the thoughtful feedback after trying this recipe, I’m happy to hear it was a win!
Happy Holidays!🎄🎁
Easy cookie to make, pretty to look at and delicious to eat!
Can you freeze these?
Thanks so much, Irene!! Love to hear these cookies turned out well for you!
Yes, you can freeze them:)
Happy Holidays!