Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Andrea Potischman
May 18, 2019
Oh my, do I love chocolate crinkle cookies. I’m late to the crinkle game I will say, it was years before I finally discovered how truly delicious these cookies are. While I still go salty over sweet, I am obsessed with cookies, and I don’t discriminate. My cookie preference really just depends on my mood. These babies hit the spot when I want something soft and chocolatey.
Historically these popular holiday cookies can be traced all the way back to the first half of the 20th century. A woman by the name of Helen Fredell of St. Paul, Minnesota is believed to have created the first actual crinkle cookie. The Betty Crocker “Cooky Carnival” cookbook, features a recipe for her molasses crinkle cookies and is credited for having started the whole crinkle cookie craze. Ms. Crocker writes, “When served (crinkle cookies) at Mrs. Fredell’s in St. Paul, Minnesota, they were so delicious I begged the recipe“. And the rest they say, is history.
Soft and brownie-like on the inside and coated in an ample dusting of powdered sugar. I’m talking, lick your fingers clean afterward and hope you are not left with a powdered sugar mustache, but seriously, even that would be okay, because they’re worth it! These are great cookies for kids of all ages to make if you have a budding young baker in your house. For those that have never attempted a crinkle, fear not, it’s easier to make these than a classic chocolate chip cookie. The two important things to remember when making these crowd pleasers are: use good quality cocoa powder and don’t skimp on the powdered sugar, really truly, this is what makes the cookie, as my husband would say “spectacularly delicious“.
These classic cookies could not be easier to whip up so great for last-minute dinner guests since it doesn’t require any chill time. Once you make the dough, all you need to do is roll it into little balls and generously coat them in powdered sugar. Seriously, that’s it. The oven works its magic creating beautiful crevices on the cookie’s surface as the cookie bakes. 10 minutes later you have warm, soft, chocolatey, brownie-like cookies with a slightly crispy outer shell that is life-changing if you’ve never tried one before.
Recipe: Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Ingredients:
- 2 1/3 cup all-purpose flour,
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 4 eggs
- 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup good quality cocoa powder, sifted
- 1/2 cup confectioners sugar, for dusting
Directions:
- Step 1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Like two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Step 2 In a small mixing bowl add the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well and set aside.
- Step 3 In the bowl of a kitchen mixer, such as a KitchenAid, fitted with a paddle attachment, add the sugar and oil and mix well.
- Step 4 Add the eggs and vanilla extract and blend until well incorporated.
- Step 5 Add the cocoa and the flour mixture and blend well.
- Step 6 Place the confectioners’ sugar in a small shallow bowl and place it by your workstation.
- Step 7 Using your hands, scoop out some dough and roll it into a ball about an inch or so in diameter. (Feel free to make these smaller or larger depending on your preference but note, that the cooking time will change slightly). Roll the dough in the confectioners’ sugar and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes and cookies are slightly puffed. Cool slightly and serve. Note: Because this is an oil-based cookie, the dough can get soft quickly, so be sure to refrigerate any dough you are not using right away.
My late great grandmother, Helen Fredell, was friends with “Betty Crocker”. My Gram created many recipes, most notably, Molasses Crinkles. She did gift Betty the recipe. Thank you, for honoring her legacy. ~Angie
Hi Angie- Thank you for reaching out, sharing this and also the lovely compliment. Really truly amazing. I have a lot of respect for those recipes and pioneers. Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season.
Thanks Natalie, what a lovely comment on a Monday! Happy baking 🙂