These Chocolate Crinkles Are a Timeless Easy Cookie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is powdered sugar melting on crinkles? ›

Any humidity in the air will soak into the confectioners' sugar, slightly melting it. Sometimes you can't avoid humidity, but if you're wondering why the sugar melts, it could be the weather. Again, go heavy on that confectioners' sugar layer.

Why are my crinkle cookies not crinkling? If the dough is too wet, then it will dissolve the sugar and the crinkle will get lost. In order for a defined crinkle to form, the surface of the dough needs to be dry. If your cookies are not crinkling then there is too much free water in the dough.

The most common reason for cookies that don't crack is either that the oven was not hot enough or the baking powder was expired. Be sure to allow plenty of time for your oven to heat, and use a fresh container of baking powder!

The part that makes this a 'crinkle' cookie is the generous coating of powdered sugar that the cookie dough ball gets before going into the oven. As it bakes and spreads on the baking sheet, cracks develop and are exposed, giving the perfect crackle cookie.

Scoop out the dough — you want a level tablespoon of dough for each cookie — and roll each scoop into a ball between your palms. One by one, drop the balls into the raw sugar, rolling them around to coat them evenly, and then into the confectioners' sugar — get a generous, snowy coating on each ball.

Different types of sugars affect the texture because they absorb different amounts of water. Remember moisture is the key! White sugar creates crispier cookies and brown sugar creates chewier cookies.

Most cookies are soft and flexible, so the dough evenly expands as the cookies bake. In crinkle cookies, however, the powdered sugar dries out in the oven, creating a hard outer shell that is not flexible.

Can you bake crinkles without parchment? Yes, you can bake Chocolate Crinkle Cookies without parchment paper. Grease the baking sheet with cooking spray, oil, or butter. Don't overdo it because it can cause the cookies to spread out too much.

Who invented crinkles? ›

Crinkle cookies have been around since the early 1950s and were initially made with chocolate. Helen Fredell invented crinkle cookies in St. Paul, Minnesota.

See note above about baking times. The most likely reason that the cookies are not moist is that they've been overbaked. With cookies, overbaking by only a few minutes can be the difference between a perfect cookie and a dry, crumbly one. Another reason could be that they haven't been stored in an airtight container.

When does Crinkle Cookies expire? Crinkle cookies are good to eat for about 2 weeks at room temperature when stored properly. If they are unopened and still in their original packaging, they can often last slightly longer, typically until the 'Best By' date printed on the package.

You can freeze filled cookies, such as thumbprint cookies and cookies that are coated in powdered sugar, such as Mexican wedding cookies either after they are baked or freeze the cookie dough. If you're freezing the baked cookies, wait to fill them or roll in powdered sugar until you're ready to serve.

To Keep Powdered Sugar from Melting, Add Cornstarch

So go slow and be conservative with the amount of cornstarch you add. A good rule of thumb is 1 teaspoon of cornstarch for every 1/4 cup of powdered sugar used.

After the cookies bake, roll each one in confectioners' sugar. The trick to the stick (ha!) is to roll them twice. Give the cookies their first coating when they are slightly warm. As the cookies cool, the confectioners' sugar will melt into them.

If you put your sugar cookies on a warm cookie sheet the dough will start melting immediately even before the tray hits the oven. To prevent this make sure the baking sheets are always at least on room temperature. Ideally you want to cut your cookies and then chill them with the baking sheet.

Powdered sugar can be used for several purposes in baked goods: Sweetener: provides a sweet flavor. Tenderizer: interferes with gluten formation, protein coagulation and starch gelatinization. Shelf life improvement: reduces the amount of water available for microbial deterioration.