My chocolate gingerbread crinkle cookies are easy to make and full of nostalgic holiday flavors. Add them to your Christmas cookie baking plans ASAP!
And if you enjoy this recipe, you'll love my spiked gingerbread hot cocoa, too!
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❤️ Why You'll Love this Recipe
Simple to Make - This easy recipe for chocolate gingerbread cookies uses common pantry ingredients and requires no special technique so it's beginner friendly.
Festive Holiday Flavor - The combination of warming spices and sweet molasses with cocoa powder makes these cookies taste like gingerbread dunked in hot chocolate. Christmastime perfection!
I love baking Christmas cookies and sharing them with my family, friends, and neighbors. Check out my viral candy cane cookies, dark chocolate chip peppermint cookies, peanut butter jelly thumbprints, and soft Christmas sprinkle cookies next!
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Cocoa Powder, of course! I recommend using dark unsweetened cocoa powder for the truest taste without unneeded sweetener.
Brown Sugar and Molasses add lots of sweet molasses flavor for distinctive gingerbread man taste and a very soft and tender cookie. You can use either dark or light brown sugar here.
Gingerbread Spices like ginger, cinnamon, and clove provide the nostalgic flavor you know and love. Use the highest quality ground versions of these spices you can get. If you already have these seasonings in your kitchen, double check to make sure they aren't expired or else their taste will be muted.
Powdered Sugar, also called confectioner's sugar, helps the surface of the cookies develop cracks during baking, which creates the crinkly, cracked appearance!
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients list, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Orange Flavor pairs nicely with gingerbread and chocolate so you can try adding half a teaspoon of orange extract to your dough for brightness.
Vegan - Use plant-based, dairy-free milk and butter options and a vegan friendly molasses to make vegan chocolate ginger spice cookies!
Bars - Bake the dough up in one solid piece then cut into squares or rectangles to enjoy as Christmas cookie bars instead.
Decorations - I like to add an extra sprinkle of powdered sugar over the finished crinkle cookies for a festive snowy look. You can also add sprinkles (before baking) or frost them with drizzles of icing once baked and cooled.
How to Make Soft Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies
- Step 1: Whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cocoa powder, and spices.
- Step 2: Beat in butter until the mixture resembles a coarse, sandy meal.
Pro Tip #1
You can whisk the dry ingredients by hand or with the whisk attachment of a stand mixer.
- Step 3: Mix in molasses and milk until a wet dough forms. Then cover and chill the dough to stiffen it.
- Step 4: Roll chilled dough into balls then dip them in mixture of granulated sugar and powdered sugar. Place on the baking sheet, and bake.
Pro Tip #2
These cookies do spread quite a bit even with chilling, so I recommend leaving at least two to three inches space between each ball of dough when placing on the baking pan.
- Step 5: Bake the cookies then dust with more powdered sugar, if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks. Alternatively, you can refrigerate them for up to one month--just note that they will not be as moist.
Chocolate gingerbread cookies freeze wonderfully. To freeze the cookie dough, scoop the dough into balls onto a parchment lined sheet pan and flash freeze until solid (about one hour). Transfer the frozen dough into an airtight, freezer-safe container. To freeze the cookies after baking, cool them to room temperature then place in freezer on parchment lined sheet pan and flash freeze. Transfer the cookies to an airtight, freezer-safe container. Keeps for up to 4 months.
How to Serve
You can serve these cocoa ginger crinkle cookies warm or cooled and they'll remain soft either way. They are very tender so take that into account.
Of course, they're amazing with a glass of ice cold milk but it doesn't get more cozy than gingerbread cookies and hot chocolate. Try my crockpot peppermint hot chocolate for an extra festive flavor combination!
More Favorite Gingerbread Recipes
Looking for other recipe like this? Try these:
I hope you'll enjoy this chocolate crackle gingerbread cookie recipe soon and very soon. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this recipe for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies
Equipment
- 1 stand mixer or hand mixer
- 1-3 cookie sheets
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ginger
- 1 teaspoon clove
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup molasses
- ⅛-1/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Add flour, brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, clove, nutmeg, and salt to a large bowl and whisk or beat on low setting until just combined.
- Add butter and beat at medium speed until the mixture resembles a coarse meal (will look like wet sand).
- Add molasses, milk, and vanilla extract and continue mixing until you have a wet dough (about two minutes). Do not over mix.
- Cover dough and place in freezer to chill for 30 to 45 minutes or refrigerate for later use (up to three days).
- In a small bowl, mix together powdered and granulated sugars.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet(s) with parchment paper and set aside.
- Remove cookie dough from freezer and uncover. Scoop about three inches of dough and roll into a ball. Dip and roll in sugar mixture then place on prepared cookie sheet, leaving two to three inches of space between each ball (up to nine cookies per pan).
- Transfer pan(s) to oven and bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes then remove and let fully cool before handling. If using one cookie sheet, repeat baking process with remaining cookie dough and sugar mixture.
Notes
- Orange Flavor pairs nicely with gingerbread and chocolate so you can try adding half a teaspoon of orange extract to your dough for brightness.
- Vegan - Use plant-based, dairy-free milk and butter options and a vegan friendly molasses to make vegan chocolate ginger spice cookies!
- Bars - Bake the dough up in one solid piece then cut into squares or rectangles to enjoy as Christmas cookie bars instead.
- Decorations - I like to add an extra sprinkle of powdered sugar over the finished crinkle cookies for a festive snowy look. You can also add sprinkles (before baking) or frost them with drizzles of icing once baked and cooled.
Aline says
These are such a classic!!! Love them!
Eden says
Absolutely perfect for the holidays! Everyone at our Christmas party LOVED them!
Jazz says
Yay! So glad to hear that.
Kenya Rae says
These sound awesome and perfect for the Christmas season! Cookies are my weakness for sure.
Mila Clarke Buckley says
These totally put me in the holiday spirit! GREAT recipe!
Adri Ruff says
These are beautiful and look absolutely delicious!
Katrina Adams says
This recipe is right on time and I love chewy cookies!! 🎄🎄🎄
LaKita says
The cookies look delicious and I love the combination of cocoa and gingerbread!
Whitney says
I love gingerbread cookies and your pictures are delicious! Can we talk about your gorgeous apron though, love it!
Jazz says
Thanks, Whitney! The apron is from http://www.bespokebinny.com!
SHANIKA says
These Gingerbread Cookies definitely look chewy and delicious!
Desiree says
These look so festive and EASY to make! YUM!
Marta says
Why have I never thought to put cocoa in gingerbread!?!? It's so rich and decadent!
Halima says
Wooow I looove the recipe and will definitely make this. In fact I am bookmarking the recipe so I know I have it when I need it.
By the way love you pictures and your apron.
Jazz says
Thanks, Halima!
Renia Butler says
Love how you didnt mention a preferred type of flour. This makes ot versatile for those of us who are living a gluten-free lifestyle!
Jazz says
Versatility is key! 🙂