Chocolate Crinkle Cookies- Dough made with melted dairy-free chocolate, flour, chia seed eggs, and sugar is rolled in powdered sugar and then baked. The cookies get their name from the sugar that coats them and forms a crinkled crust as they bake. Chocolate crinkle cookies are always a hit at parties and make an excellent gift for friends and family.
The history of chocolate crinkle cookies is a mystery. Some say they originated in Germany and others say they originated in the United States. They are believed to have been accidentally invented in the early 20th century, but no one really knows for sure. What we do know is that these cookies have been around for a long time and have become a favorite around the world. They are simple to make and always delicious.
Crinkle cookies get their name from their distinctive cracked and wrinkled appearance. Chocolate crinkle cookies have a brownie-like texture with a deep chocolate flavor. They're rolled in confectioners' sugar before baking, which results in a light and airy crust on the outside as the inside stays soft and chewy. Crinkle cookies are a famous holiday cookie and are often served alongside other classic holiday sweets like gingerbread men and snowball cookies.
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Crinkle Cookie Recipe
Beautiful- Crinkle cookies always look impressive, yet they are so simple to make. They are the perfect cookie to bring to a holiday party or cookie exchange.
Foolproof Recipe- This recipe is foolproof and always turns out perfectly. I have never had a batch of these cookies fail.
Deep Chocolate Flavor- These cookies have a deep chocolate flavor that comes from using melted vegan chocolate.
Chewy Texture- Chocolate crinkle cookies have a soft and chewy texture that is impossible to resist.
Makes A Great Gift- Cookies make a great holiday food gift. Package them up in a cellophane bag with a pretty ribbon and give them to your friends and neighbors.
Equipment Needed To Make Vegan Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- 3 Small Bowls
- Microwave-Safe Bowl
- Medium Mixing Bowl
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Stirring Spoon
- Whisk
- Plastic Wrap
- Baking Sheets
- Parchment Paper or Silicone Mats
- Wire Cooling Rack
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients For Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Ground Chia Seeds
- Vegan Baking Chocolate- Unsweetened
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Organic Granulated Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Organic Powdered Sugar
How To Make Homemade Crinkle Cookies
Making chocolate crinkle cookies is a simple process that anyone can do! Start by placing the baking chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds; stir, and continue heating in 10-second intervals stirring each time until the chocolate is completely melted, and set it aside. Make the egg substitute and set it aside as well to set up.
After you melt the chocolate, mix it with oil and sugar in a large bowl. Once mixed, add the prepared egg substitute and vanilla extract.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet mixture until thoroughly combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, then place it in the fridge for several hours or overnight.
Remove the dough from the fridge and set it on the counter to warm slightly. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line the baking sheets with either parchment paper or silicone cooking mats.
After adding powdered sugar to a bowl, evenly roll the cookie dough into balls. Then, coat each ball with the powdered sugar and place them on baking sheets without flattening them.
Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes or until the edges are set. Remove them from the oven and let them sit for a couple of minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack so they can cool completely.
Serve and enjoy as desired.
What to Serve/Pair With These Easy Crinkle Cookies
The great thing about these chocolate crinkle cookies is that they can be enjoyed on their own or paired with other holiday sweets. If you want to pair them with something, here are some ideas:
- Dairy-Free Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
- Snowball Cookies
- Vegan Chocolate Sauce
- Fruitcake
- Coconut Whipped Cream
- Vegan-Friendly Hot Cocoa
- Coffee or Espresso
- Peppermint Bark
- Christmas Cookies
- Gingerbread Men
Popular Substitutions & Additions
There are a few popular substitutions and additions that you can make to this chocolate crinkle cookie recipe:
Nuts- Add ½ cup of chopped nuts to the dough before chilling it.
Chocolate Chips- Add ½ cup of chocolate chips to the dough.
Cocoa Powder- Swap out ¼ cup of the all-purpose flour for cocoa powder.
Spices- Add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice to the dough for a bit of extra holiday flavor.
How To Store & Reheat These Classic Vegan Cookies
Chocolate crinkle cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow the cookies to thaw at room temperature before eating.
To reheat, place the cookies on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 5-7 minutes or until warmed through.
Vegan Chocolate Crinkle Cookie FAQs
Do these cookies need to be refrigerated?
No, these cookies do not need to be refrigerated, but they can be stored in the fridge if you prefer.
Can I use the same baking sheet for cooking all of the cookies?
No, you will need to use a few different baking sheets to make crinkle cookies. If you use warm or hot baking sheets, the cookies will spread too much and lose their shape.
Is it really necessary to chill the dough before cooking?
Yes! If you do not chill the cookies, the dough will be too sticky to handle, resulting in flat cookies that won't crinkle.
Should the measuring cup of flour be packed?
No, fluff the flour, lightly spoon it into the measuring cup, and then level it off with a knife. Refrain from packing it, or you will end up with too much flour.
I don't have ground chia seeds. Is there something else I can use instead?
You can substitute ground flaxseeds or your favorite store-bought egg replacer for ground chia seeds.
Don't Forget To Come Back And Let Me Know How Your Beautiful Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Turned Out!
📋 Recipe
Vegan Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons ground chia seed - mixed with 9 tablespoons water
- 4 squares unsweetened baking chocolate - melted and cooked
- ½ cup Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cups Organic granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
- 3 cups All-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons Baking powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 cup Organic powdered sugar
Instructions
- Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds, stir and continue heating for 10 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating until completely melted.
- Set aside to cool. In a large bowl, beat together the oil, sugar and melted chocolate.
- Add the preprepared chia seed eggs and mix well.
- Add vanilla and beat well,
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
- Gradually add dry mixture to wet mixture until well combined.
- Transfer to bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place in refrigerator to chill several hours or overnight.
- Remove from refrigerator and set on counter for about 20 minutes to warm up slightly.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Place powdered sugar in medium bowl, Roll dough into balls and coat with powdered sugar. Place on baking sheets and do not flatten.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are set.
- Remove from oven and let set on baking sheets for 2-3 minutes. Transfer to wire cooling rack and cool completely
- Store in air tight container for up to 5 days.
Allyson Zea
This was so good! Thank you for the easy recipe!
Jennifer
These are one of my favorite cookies to make!! They turned out perfect!
Shirley
I did a trial run on these cookies and they turned out to be beautiful and yummy!
Ashleigh Frix
Hi, what does “four squares” of chocolate mean in ounces? My baking chocolate comes in rectangles!
Ginny McMeans
Four rectangles will work. They should be one ounce each.