Dessert

Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe

ByJake Silas December 4, 2025December 4, 2025

Introduction

Christmas crinkle cookies are a delightful festive treat, combining rich cocoa with warm spices and a zing of orange zest. These fudgy-centered cookies, dusted in icing sugar, are perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy winter afternoons.

The image shows a rectangular white plate with 11 round chocolate crinkle cookies on it. Each cookie has a cracked white powdered sugar layer on top, revealing dark brown chocolate beneath. The cookies are arranged in three scattered rows. The plate sits on a white marbled surface, with a red cloth beside it and part of a round plate visible at the top right corner holding more similar cookies. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

60g cocoa powder, sieved
200g caster sugar
60ml vegetable oil
2 large eggs
180g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
Zest of 2 oranges
2 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp cinnamon
50g icing sugar
Pinch of salt

Instructions

Step 1: In a large bowl, mix the sieved cocoa powder, caster sugar, and vegetable oil together until well combined.
Step 2: Add the eggs one at a time, whisking thoroughly after each addition until the mixture is smooth and fully blended.
Step 3: In a separate bowl, combine the plain flour, baking powder, orange zest, mixed spice, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.
Step 4: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the cocoa mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms. If the dough feels too soft to handle, refrigerate it for about 1 hour to firm up.
Step 5: Preheat your oven to 190°C (170°C fan)/gas mark 5 and prepare a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
Step 6: Pour the icing sugar into a shallow dish. Take heaped teaspoons of dough (around 20g each), roll them into balls, then coat each ball thoroughly in the icing sugar.
Step 7: Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking tray, spacing them evenly apart to allow for spreading.
Step 8: Bake on the middle rack for 10 minutes. Once baked, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely; they will firm up on the outside but remain fudgy in the center.

Tips & Variations

For extra citrus flavor, add a teaspoon of freshly squeezed orange juice to the dough.
Chill the dough longer if it is too sticky to handle comfortably.
Substitute mixed spice with pumpkin pie spice for a slightly different warm flavor profile.
To make the cookies vegan, replace eggs with flax eggs and use a plant-based oil.

Storage

Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will keep fresh for up to four days. To enjoy them warm, gently reheat in a low oven for a few minutes before serving.

How to Serve

A white rectangular tray holds eleven round chocolate crinkle cookies, each covered in white powdered sugar with split dark brown cracks showing the soft cookie inside. The cookies have a cracked, rough texture on top with a soft, dense interior visible through the cracks. The tray is placed on a white marbled surface with a red cloth and a white star near the top left. At the top right, another white round plate with a few more cookies is partially visible. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. This can help the flavors develop and makes shaping easier.

What causes the cookies to crack and form a crinkle pattern?

The coating of icing sugar combined with the rising of the dough during baking creates the signature crackled surface, giving these cookies their charming crinkle effect.