This post may contain affiliate links. Click to read our Disclosure Policy . Click to read our Privacy Policy

If you are a chocolate lover you are going to want to try our chocolate Christmas crinkle cookie recipe. It is a favorite Christmas cookie at our house. If you are making gifts for teachers, neighbors or going to a cookie swap you will be glad you tried adding Christmas crinkle cookies to your holiday cookie tray. 

Christmas sugar cookies are fun for the kids with cookie cutters and colorful icing, but try this classic Christmas cookie recipe if you want one you just have to roll into a ball (try for 1-inch balls). With the shortcut of a cake mix this one is so convenient. You can use a small cookie scoop to keep everything uniform but it is not necessary. 

If you want to get the kids to help make the chocolate crinkles you can show them how to roll the cookie dough balls and coat them in the confectioners' sugar. You might give them each a small bowl with the confectoiners sugar to roll their dough in. Just a few simple steps and they can line them up on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Using a lined baking sheet helps make clean up so simple. A 1 tablespoon cookie scoop is great for making uniform sizes.  

I love finding easy recipes that are delicious and fun to add to the cookie platter. Combine these with chocolate chip cookies, ginger snaps, and peanut butter blossoms to make some amazing cookie plates to take to all of those holiday gatherings that land on the calendar this time of year. 

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies – Cake Mix Cookies for your holiday cookie exchange or gift tray!

These cookies are a favorite of mine for holiday baking, since they come together so quickly and are the perfect recipe to line up with a few others. They don't require much hands-on time at all! Print this Chocolate Christmas Crinkle Cookie recipe so you have it handy when it is time to bake. Your dry ingredients can be a simple box mix, and you can dress these up with powdered sugar. If you want to try different varieties you can use a white cake mix and add green colors or red with food coloring after adding the wet ingredients and then roll them in the powdered sugar and use this recipe for the rest of the steps. You may also want to add a splash of vanilla extract to dress up your boxed white cake mix. 

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies-

I have always added those no bake cookies (the ones with oats) to my Christmas baking day just because they are a little different, and we all need some chocolate for cookie exchanges! I make up a few cookie trays for family, friends and in the past any teachers or anyone who I felt needed a thoughtful gift. 

Although I do enjoy making the no bakes occasionally, I have actually come to love making Crinkle Cookies instead. You can make these cookies in any flavor, and all you need is a cake mix, powdered sugar, and a couple usual cookie ingredients. I like melted butter but a lot of people have also tried this with vegetable oil or canola oil and that is OK too. 

Make it!

To make these soft treats, just combine your favorite cake mix and your cold ingredients.  The dough will be very stiff. Almost too stiff to blend by hand, so a hand mixer or stand mixer might be a good idea if you struggle to blend mixes. This Christmas crinkle cookie recipe is so fun and easy it is worth trying at least one and I know you will be glad you did. 

The other main step for this recipe is letting the cookie dough chill in the fridge for just long enough to be able to shape the dough easily.  For best results do not skip this step. 

With that, it does harden up a little more, but I prefer the dough thick enough to mold into shape. I like them perfectly uniform and cookie shaped! Having a great shape really gives these cookies a professional look– everyone will be reaching for these on the dessert tray!

Cover with Powdered Sugar

No matter which type of cake mix and crinkle cookie recipe you're baking, what gives these cookies the typical “crinkle” appearance is the powdered sugar.

Prepare a small prep bowl with powdered sugar, while your dough chills in the fridge. Then, with clean hands, roll each cookie into a small (about 1-2″) dough ball.  Drop the ball into the powdered sugar and roll just until it's well covered.  The confectioner's sugar will hold on to the sticky dough, but you want the cookie ball to be chilled so they don't spread too much and make flat cookies. 

When we have kids in the kitchen helping, this is their job.  They just love coating things in powdered sugar– of course! I think it's always ended up in an argument over who achieved the perfect cookie. The powdered sugar does resemble snow, so I think that's another reason why these cookies are just so perfect for the Christmas season!

Finishing Up your Chocolate Crinkle Cookies- Bake and Serve!

Be sure not to overcook these– I have mentioned this in other crinkle cookie posts but don't want this tip to get overlooked! Baking time will vary based on how big you make the dough balls. Smaller cookies will bake faster. When they come out of the oven they do look pretty soft. Resist the urge to give them a few more minutes cooking time. Instead, let them rest on the cookie tray a few minutes to set and continue cooking slightly from the heat of the pan. Don't try transferring these to a wire rack while they are still hot. 

These are best served after cooling off entirely, and you must store in an airtight  container.  The best thing about them is the softness! Of course they do loose that if they sit out for too long, so grab a covered tin or container and seal to keep these fresh.

Can Your Freeze Chocolate Crinkle Cookies After Baking

One of the most common questions we get asked is whether Chocolate Crinkle Cookies can be frozen after baking. The answer is yes! In fact, freezing these cookies is a great way to extend their shelf life and enjoy them for longer. Here are a few tips for freezing Chocolate Crinkle Cookies:

-Place the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for about 2 hours, or until solid.

-Transfer the frozen cookies to a freezer-safe bag or container. A freezer bag is great for saving space, you can also wrap them individually in plastic wrap before putting them in the bag.

-To thaw, place the frozen cookies on a plate and let them sit at room temperature for about an hour. Alternatively, you can place them in the refrigerator overnight. Enjoy!

Be sure to print below and save this cookie recipe for your next baking day– and ENJOY!

We love all of the holiday cookie recipes. This one is great for chocolate lovers and it looks so festive with the powdered sugar coating. If you are looking to add a new chocolate cookie to your recipe file be sure to add this recipe card to your holiday file. If this chocolate crinkle cookie recipe isn't what you are looking for you can make some brownie-like cookies, add some chocolate chips to a basic peanut butter cookie or drizzle some melted chocolate over pretzels. We love to make our favorite cookies during the holidays, but sometimes a no bake option is good too. 

You can make a cookie dough from scratch if  you want and use your all purpose flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar or whatever you want, we just love the simplicity of a shortcut with baking mix. I've seen holiday cookie recipes that call for extra dark unsweetened cocoa powder to make cookies that look like coal! Those are another fun option if you are not ready to start with crinkle cookies. You might need a cookie form or mold if you want a particular shape. 

The best part about this recipe is the simplicity of the cake mix. Get out your large baking sheet and make a double batch, store the extras in a freezer container or take a try to the neighbors! These will be a holiday staple once you try them. 

If you are doing a cookie swap these are cute but also great to fill the cookie jar on the counter. Our Chocolate Christmas crinkle cookie recipe is always a hit. Don't forget that chewy chocolate crinkle cookies can be made year round, so don't be surprised when your family asks for them instead of other home baked cookies! Have you tried this recipe with the crisp powdered sugar on the outside? If so, let us know what you think! I am curious if anyone has a fail proof scratch cookie dough that is good for crinkle cookies when you want to change it up some.

Print your Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Recipe Here:

More Holiday Favorites

• Eggnog Cake Recipe Bundt Cake
• Savory Oyster Cracker Recipe
• Candy Cane Kisses Puppy Chow
• Instant Pot Hot Chocolate Recipe- Tuxedo
• Easy Peppermint Pretzel Bites
• Chocolate Crinkle Cookies – Cake Mix Cookies
• Candy Cane Cookies Recipe
• Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies: With Cake Mix!
• Festive Cranberry Orange Chex Mix Recipe
• Peanut Butter Blossoms Cookie Recipe
• Buckeye Candies

• Healthy U TV 49¢ for a Year!
• Tide Liquid 64 Loads $7.97
• Walgreens Photo Deals| Discounts, Codes & Freebies
• Axe Body Wash $1.95 Each at Walgreens
• Taco Bueno | 3 for $6 Menu Line-Up!

See more holiday recipes here!