• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Recipes
    • Easy Dinners
    • Dessert
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Thai
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegetarian

Inquiring Chef

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Easy Dinners
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home > Recipes > Cookies

    Chocolate Brownie Crackle Cookies

    Published: Dec 4, 2020 · Modified: Oct 17, 2022 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · 4 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    chocolate brownie crackle cookies
    chocolate brownie crackle cookies on a parchment lined sheet pan
    rolling chocolate cookies in powdered sugar
    chocolate brownie crackle cookies on a white table
    crackle cookies

    chocolate brownie crackle cookies on a white table

    Chocolate Brownie Crackle Cookies are like a soft, chewy brownie in cookie form. Roll these bite-sized cookies in powdered sugar so that they reveal a sweet, festive cracked surface as they bake. These cookies can be frozen and baked straight from the freezer.

    This has been the year of planning ahead. I’m not sure if it’s all the time cooped up at home thanks to...you know...that thing which we no longer mention by name. Or perhaps it’s the related need to control what few things I can when everything else - school, work, daycare, church, supply chains - are utterly and entirely out of my control. But for better or worse, I dove into my Christmas cookie baking and testing back in August and never looked back. 

    Even though I envisioned these as Christmas cookies, these tender, dark chocolate, brownie-inspired cookies are really perfect for any time of year. I like to keep them very small, truly bite-sized. It makes them ideal for having with a cup of coffee or tea late late in the day. They satisfy a mid-afternoon craving quite nicely, but aren’t so sweet to ruin your dinner.

    And one thing I’ve discovered about testing my Christmas cookie recipes early in the year? We now have a freezer full of chocolate cookie dough ready any time the chocolate craving hits. These cookies bake straight from the freezer in just a few minutes. Add them to your holiday baking plans!

    Best of all, these are very easy to make. Here’s how.

    rolling chocolate cookies in powdered sugar

    Ingredients

    • All-Purpose Flour - Just regular all-purpose flour needed for these cookies. I’ve also made these with a gluten-free 1:1 flour sub (I like King Arthur’s) with great results. 
    • Unsweetened Cocoa Powder - Any type of cocoa powder will work here - Dutch process or regular. I love to use Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa for these which has a darker color and a more rich chocolate flavor than the regular Hershey’s Cocoa Powder. Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa is now a staple in my pantry - I use it all the time (and absolutely love it in these cookies). 
    • Unsalted Butter - As with most baking recipes, it’s a great idea to use unsalted butter and then add measured salt to your recipe for consistent results. 
    • Sugar - You’ll need both white (granulated) sugar and light brown sugar to give these cookies that tender, chewy texture reminiscent of brownies. Powdered sugar is used on the outside (see below).
    • Baking Soda, Kosher Salt, Pure Vanilla Extract, Large Eggs - Standard cookie baking ingredients. 

    hershey's cocoa on a white table

    Rolling Cookie Dough in Powdered Sugar

    The “crackle” effect of these cookies makes them feel extra special. Roll the cookie dough balls in powdered sugar before baking. As the cookies bake and spread out, cracks will appear in the sugar coating. 

    How to Freeze and Bake from Frozen

    To Freeze: Prepare dough as directed, rolling in powdered sugar. Line cookie dough balls up on a sheet pan and transfer to the freezer. When dough balls are frozen solid (3 to 4 hours), transfer to a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 6 months.

    To Bake from Frozen: Set frozen cookie dough balls out on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Bake as directed, adding an additional 2-3 minutes to baking time. 

    chocolate brownie crackle cookies on a parchment lined sheet pan

    My Master List of Christmas Cookies

    • Crisp Gingerbread Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
    • Salted Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Cookies
    • Crispy and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Chocolate Mint Pinwheel Cookies
    • Candy Cane Meringues
    • Chocolate Peppermint Blossoms
    • Christmas Tree Meringues
    • Chocolate Candy Cane Truffles
    • Sweet and Salty Snack Mix (not a “cookie”, but this snack mix is a fun addition to a cookie box or holiday dessert spread)

    Favorite Tools

    • KitchenAid Stand Mixer 
    • Half Sheet Pan 
    • Parchment Paper Sheets 
    • Whisk
    • Cooling Rack

    📖 Recipe

    chocolate brownie crackle cookies on a parchment lined sheet pan
    Print Recipe
    4.59 from 12 votes

    Chocolate Brownie Crackle Cookies

    Chocolate Brownie Crackle Cookies are like a soft, chewy brownie in bite-sized cookie form. Roll the cookies in powdered sugar so that they reveal a sweet, festive cracked surface as they bake.
    Roll these cookies into very smaller balls (about 1.5-inch in diameter) than you do other cookies. Their tiny size makes them extra fun!
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time9 minutes mins
    Total Time24 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Keyword: chocolate, Christmas, cookies
    Servings: 48
    Calories: 75kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $3.50

    Equipment

    • Stand Mixer
    • Sheet Pans
    • Parchment Paper
    • Cooling Rack

    Ingredients

    • 2 ¼ cups (280 g) All-Purpose Flour
    • ⅓ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
    • ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt
    • 8 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, softened to room temperature (½ cup or 1 stick)
    • ¾ cup (150 g) White Sugar
    • ¾ cup (150 g) packed Light Brown Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
    • 2 large Eggs
    • 1 cup Powdered Sugar

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°F / 177°C.
    • Line sheet pans with parchment paper or a Silpat baking mat or spray them with nonstick cooking spray.
    • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
    • Using a standing mixer or hand mixer, beat butter until smooth. Add both sugars and continue to mix until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
    • Add vanilla extract and eggs and mix on low until eggs are fully incorporated, stopping to scrape down the bowl as needed.
    • Add dry ingredients to mixer and mix on low just until everything is combined.
    • Pour powdered sugar into a shallow baking dish or bowl.
    • Roll cookie dough into 1.5-inch balls (keep these small so the finished cookies are bite-sized) and then roll the balls in powdered sugar to fully coat. (You can do this in batches, dropping a bunch of the balls in powdered sugar and then rolling them all at once.)
    • Place cookie dough on prepared sheet pans, leaving a couple of inches of space between them.
    • Bake until cookies are just barely set in the middle, 9-10 minutes.
    • Allow cookies to cool on sheet pan for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
    • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

    Notes

    Unsweetened Cocoa Powder - Any type of cocoa powder will work here - Dutch process or regular. I love to use Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa for these which has a darker color and a more rich chocolate flavor than the regular Hershey’s Cocoa Powder. 
    Freezer Instructions - These cookies freeze really well! Roll them into balls and roll in powdered sugar before lining them up on a sheet pan. Freeze until fully set, about 1 hour. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 6 months. Bake directly from the freezer, adding an additional 2-3 minutes to baking time. 
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 75kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 43mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 70IU | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg

    *This post contains affiliate links*

    Related

    « 1-Hour Cinnamon Rolls
    Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies »

    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nancy

      December 14, 2020 at 6:20 am

      Ia Kosher salt crucial? I don't have anything but regular.

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        December 14, 2020 at 6:56 am

        Hi Nancy - regular salt will work just fine. Reduce the amount by half (it’s a bit more concentrated than kosher).

        Reply
    2. Anna Marie Dail

      December 21, 2021 at 8:44 am

      I just made a batch to share with my work friends for Christmas. So delicious! I'm gonna make more for gifts.

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        December 21, 2021 at 2:29 pm

        So glad you liked these! They're one of my favorites for sure!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Welcome! We're Jess and Frank. Since 2010, we have been serving up easy, original recipes here on Inquiring Chef.

    More about us →

    Latest Recipes

    • watermelon margaritas in clear glasses
      Watermelon Margaritas
    • slices of easy, moist banana bread with chocolate chips
      Easy Banana Bread
    • 3 loaves of French bread on a wire cooling rack
      French Bread
    • picking up miso noodles from a blue and white bowl
      Miso Noodles

    Trending Recipes

    • hand holding a chocolate chip cookie with a bite out of it
      Crispy and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
    • stir fry over rice in a white bowl with chopsticks
      Honey Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry
    • square image overnight oats in mason jars with berries on top
      Mason Jar Overnight Oats
    • beef and broccoli stir fry on a white plate with chopsticks
      Beef and Broccoli Ramen Stir-Fry

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Follow us on Instagram and Pinterest

    Contact

    • Email Us

    Copyright © 2023 Inquiring Chef