Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
February 23, 2010 at 12:49 am 82 comments
Today was my first day back at school after our mid-winter break. Some of my friends flew to China, spending the week amongst hazy neon billboards and frigid vendor’s markets. Another friend passed the time in a bitter whirl of snow that could not dampen his thrill to be in New York. One of my best friends, promising to send a postcard, vacationed in Hawaii. Even without a letter, I could imagine her snorkeling through murky waters that cleared into brilliant clouds of fish.
But me? I stayed home alone most afternoons, not even reaching out to the friends who were still in the area. I watched an embarrassing amount of The Office (my new obsession) and refreshed my Facebook page until, with a pang, I realized that I was the only person online.
This happens to me all too frequently when I am left to my own ways at home – I slip into inevitable boredom. It seeps from the dim lighting and wheezy exhalations of my laptop into my very bones. I feel burdened with the monotony. It feels heavy, like overripe fruit, stifling my motivation. I just don’t feel like doing anything.
After my second consecutive day spent in teddy bear print pajamas, I stopped even using my laptop. I had headaches that throbbed too much when I tried to fix my eyes on a screen, but I couldn’t find anything else to do. I didn’t even want to bake.
My dad urged me to go out on my own, even if my friends were out of town. “Where’s your sense of adventure?” he kept asking, like he couldn’t quite believe it had come to this. “Take the car. Venture down roads you’ve never explored. Look around downtown Seattle. Bring your camera. Get out.”
Despite all my general bravado about leaving the west coast, experiencing new things on the other side of the world, exploring everything there is to see – I resisted. I wasn’t in the mood to get lost or sing along with the radio. But finally, sick of stagnation, I swept my hair up and pulled on some boots. I cradled my camera and locked the empty house behind me, head still pressured by migraines.
Despite my mood, I was out of the house, wearing real clothes with texture and color and substance instead of shapeless sweats. The moment the door closed, I felt the brittle February air break into my lungs. It was more invigorating than any Tylenol or television show.
At first I drove aimlessly with the sole purpose of burning gas. I discovered a new way to drive downtown. I made wide, comfortable loops that took me towards and away from my house with little thought. That’s when I saw the blueberry farm and reacted before my mind had caught up. I heard the dull crunch of my car pulling onto the gravel driveway, the slam of the door and the sound of the breeze picking up before I’d fully registered. I didn’t even bring my camera.
It wasn’t anywhere near blueberry season. The blueberry plants were trimmed down and leafless, kept in neat rows that stretched out as far as I could see. The trees along the horizon were velvety dark at this distance, and the sun shone through their peaks in solid, separate rays. As I walked, the footprints in the dirt behind me slowly filled with water. I shivered a little at first, my hair whipped across my cheeks, and a smile emerged like a midwinter sunbreak.
Sometimes, I think the simplest things can be the best medicine. A walk through an icy, empty blueberry farm without a trace of technology or a thought in my mind. A creased postcard with sea turtles and butterfly fish on the front. Or a genuine “Thank You” and a plate stacked high with sugar-shelled chocolate crinkle cookies, baked with love and devoured quickly.
[PS: Still collecting questions for a future FAQ post, so leave a question for me if you’d like!]
Frankly, I don’t always enjoy making cookies because of the repetition involved. But these cookies come together very quickly, and the results are so good that they’re worth a palm coated in batter and a couple powdered sugar sneezes. They’re almost brownie-like in texture: thick, indulgent, and a little chewy with good chocolate flavor. They get a good, slightly crisp outer crust and soft center.
I liked the powdered sugar, but I also tried rolling cookies in cocoa powder, shredded coconut, cinnamon sugar, sprinkles, raw sugar, and sanding sugar. I liked the cinnamon sugar cookies a lot, maybe more than the original. I’m always a fan of simple recipes that are open to lots of variation! Maybe next time I’ll try cinnamon or coffee in the dough itself.
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
From All Recipes
Makes about 7 dozen cookies
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
In a medium bowl, mix together cocoa, white sugar, and vegetable oil. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the cocoa mixture. Cover dough, and chill for at least 4 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into one inch balls with lightly oiled palms. I used a size 50 cookie scoop to portion the dough, a tablespoon or rounded teaspoon would also work depending on what size you like. Coat each ball in confectioners’ sugar before placing onto prepared cookie sheets. [Alternatively, try other ingredients like cinnamon-sugar or sprinkles.]
Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Let stand on the cookie sheet for a minute before transferring to wire racks to cool.
Printer-Friendly Version – Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Entry filed under: Cookies. Tags: chocolate, Christmas cookies, cinnamon, coconut, Cookies, Dad.
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17 and Baking 
1. Eliana | February 27, 2010 at 1:33 pm
These look precious and your photos look exquisite.
2. Jaime | February 27, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Gorgeous photos of one of my favorite types of cookie. Makes me want to bake a batch…
Your walk at the blueberry farm sounds lovely!
3. Sue | February 28, 2010 at 1:17 pm
What a great blog!!! Crinkle cookies are my favorite… I always use granulated sugar to roll them in. I think most people use powdered.
Cannot wait to try that tiramisu! Thanks for an enjoyable read :)
4. erinholcomb | March 1, 2010 at 6:39 pm
congrats on your bloggie win!!!!!! love your blog and can’t wait to try these AND your doughnuts! for some reason you made doughnuts sounds not as scary as i’d thought they were!
keep up the good work!
5. care-in | March 5, 2010 at 7:40 am
I found your blog from the weblog awards…congrats! These are actually my husband’s favorite cookies!
6. Janet Buckingham | March 8, 2010 at 1:22 pm
I grew up with my mom making these from time to time, and always thought they were great. My sons love them also. Lately I made a batch and added a couple of teaspoons of instant coffee powder to them; better yet!
7. madelinestevens | March 8, 2010 at 3:57 pm
I wonder how these would taste with cinnamon and chili powder. I’m a bit obsessed with mexican chocolate…
I will definitely try making these, though as usual I’m sure mine will be nowhere near as pretty as yours :)
8. Elissa | March 8, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Madelinestevens – I rolled some of them in cinnamon sugar instead of powdered sugar and they were amazing, one of my favorites of all the variations I tried. I think they would be incredible with a kick of chili powder! Let me know how they go!
9. asiajo | March 11, 2010 at 11:40 am
What a perfect sweet snack – loving truly loving your cookies:)
10. Galletitas de chocolate cubiertas con azúcar glasé - El Gran Chef | March 16, 2010 at 9:44 am
[…] vez preparar galletitas de chocolate sea lo primero que se te ocurre cuando de agasajar visitas se trata. Nada mejor que acompañar […]
11. Galletitas de chocolate cubiertas con azúcar glasé #Chocolate #Recetas | a morfar | March 16, 2010 at 9:46 am
[…] vez preparar galletitas de chocolate sea lo primero que se te ocurre cuando de agasajar visitas se trata. Nada mejor que acompañar […]
12. Tanja | April 9, 2010 at 10:11 am
I just tried making them and they are the best homemade cookies I’ve ever tasted! Especially the ones covered with sprinkles. :D
13. Yumi | May 20, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Hey Elissa! I made these cookies to celebrate surviving my first year of college–if you get the chance, check it out! I don’t have much baking prowess, but these came out pretty nice. Thanks for the recipe and the inspiration!
14. Melissa | July 3, 2010 at 4:21 am
They look yummy!
Thanks for the recipe – I think I might try them out soon :)
15. Yiran | July 29, 2010 at 6:35 pm
Whipped up a batch of these earlier today. I have to say that they were super easy to make – and delicious too!
16. bittersweetbaker | October 10, 2010 at 9:40 am
I was experiencing serious baker’s block this morning when I finally chose to make your recipe. They were so, so good. . . and beautiful too!
17. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies « Bittersweet Baker | October 24, 2010 at 10:41 am
[…] Crinkle Cookies From All Recipes via 17 and Baking Makes about 7 dozen […]
18. izmir escort | December 22, 2010 at 4:43 pm
I was experiencing serious baker’s block this morning when I finally chose to make your recipe. They were so, so good. . . and beautiful too!
19. Barbie | November 4, 2011 at 3:40 pm
I tried your recipe today and my god, they were so so so good and gorgeous!
Thank you!
http://www.barbiekins.com/2011/11/chocolate-crinkles-version-2.html
20. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies – Warm Vanilla Sugar | December 16, 2011 at 8:32 am
[…] Crinkle Cookie Recipe adapted from 17 and Baking Makes 3 dozen […]
21. We NEED Food! « flanaganmaverick | February 18, 2012 at 9:43 pm
[…] in their eyes? It’s so cute! Well anyways, here is the link for the cookie recipe: https://17andbaking.com/2010/02/23/chocolate-crinkle-cookies/ . She has a ton of great recipes! I love her blog! Check it out! Share this:TwitterFacebookLike […]
22. Ameera | July 13, 2012 at 11:48 am
Hii I love your recipes. Just wanted to ask, is it okay if I make the dough and leave it in the fridge for a few days?
Thanks! :)
23. Zulpa » Twin Food: CHOCOLATE CRINKLE COOKIES – ADVENTSSNACK #2 | December 9, 2012 at 5:51 am
[…] til alle der måtte svinge forbi Ingredienser (giver 6 stk):Inspiration: 17andbaking 25 gram kakaopulver 100 gram sukker 1/2 dl olie 1 æg 1 tsk vaniljesukker 1/2 tsk bagepulver […]
24. whilehewasout | November 21, 2013 at 10:30 am
Giving this a try tomorrow!! Great photos
25. Ginger chocolate crinkle cookies | hungryhinny | January 10, 2014 at 6:26 pm
[…] a recipe from Technicolour Kitchen, but after looking at a few blogs decided to base them on these chocolate crinkle cookies, from 17 and […]
26. Carol | January 29, 2014 at 2:38 pm
These are ahhhmazing! Thank you for sharing. I only commented now, but I have been using your reciple of Chocolate Crinkles for over a year now! They are so good, my kids are gaga over them! More power to you!
27. Kat | March 25, 2014 at 1:48 am
I just made these tonight and they are fabulous! I have never made this kind of cookie before, but I read through several variations before picking this one and they are delicious.
28. » CHOCOLATE CRINKLE COOKIES – ADVENTSSNACK #2 | July 9, 2014 at 8:34 am
[…] Glædelig advent til alle der måtte svinge forbi :-) Ingredienser (giver 6 stk):Inspiration: 17andbaking 25 gram kakaopulver 100 gram sukker 1/2 dl olie 1 æg 1 tsk vaniljesukker 1/2 tsk bagepulver 80 […]
29. Chocolate Crinkles | Bake City Life | July 3, 2015 at 10:12 am
[…] a cake. Then I remembered that Elissa from 17 and Baking posted a recipe for these beautiful Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, and when I saw it I decided that I’m going to make them. Not just this recipe, all of them. […]
30. Allen Nixon | January 23, 2023 at 4:52 am
This was loveely to read