Easy Chocolate Crinkles with Orange Zest (Holiday Cookie Recipe) Updated

The holiday baking season is officially here — and if you’re anything like me, that means your kitchen is about to smell like butter, chocolate, and pure joy for the next three weeks. Every year I go through a full cookie-baking phase where my kids magically appear in the kitchen the moment they hear the mixer running. But this year, instead of our usual cookies, I wanted something a little more cozy, a little more elegant, and a lot more chocolatey.

Enter: Chocolate Crinkles with Orange Zest — a chewy, fudgy, snow-dusted holiday cookie that looks dramatic but is secretly so easy to make.

These cookies have that beautiful crackly surface (the “crinkle”) that peeks out under a coat of powdered sugar, like little edible snowcaps. And because I love adding a Mag-twist to classic desserts, I brighten the batter with fresh orange zest. It gives the chocolate a warm, citrusy perfume that feels extra festive — perfect for December gatherings, cookie gift boxes, or baking with kids who love rolling things in powdered sugar.

Before we dive in, let’s get into all the delicious details so you can make a batch that tastes bakery-level without the stress.

Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Crinkle Recipe

If you need a cookie that checks every holiday box, this one does:

• Soft, fudgy, brownie-like center
• Crackly, powdered-sugar exterior
• A burst of citrus from the orange zest
• Easy to make ahead + freezer-friendly
• Kid-friendly baking moment
• Only requires simple pantry ingredients

These cookies look fancy, but trust me — they are so easy that you can make them after a long day while answering emails and yelling at kids to stop jumping on the couch. (Not speaking from experience or anything…)

What Makes Chocolate Crinkles Special?

Chocolate crinkles are one of those classic holiday cookies that make everyone feel nostalgic. The magic happens when the cookie dough expands in the oven: the powdered sugar coating cracks into those signature snow-like fissures.

Texture-wise, they’re somewhere between:

• a brownie
• a soft cookie
• and a chocolate truffle

More importantly, they deliver that rich cocoa flavor with very little effort — which is exactly my kind of holiday baking.

The Best Chocolate for Chocolate Crinkles

Here’s where we get a little bougie (but in the best way).

For deep chocolate flavor, always pick chocolate with 70% cocoa. It melts smoother, tastes richer, and gives your cookies a velvety depth you simply do not get with lower-quality chocolate. In this recipe, I have used Galler, a Belgian company that is known for its incredibly delicious chocolate. I got them from my time in Belgium.

If you want to treat yourself (or pretend you’re strolling through Paris), look for chocolate brands like:

✔️ Valrhona
✔️ Ghirardelli 70%
✔️ Lindt 70%
✔️ Scharffen Berger

Of course, if you’re feeling extra fancy and want to support my kitchen habit, you can shop my baking essentials on my Amazon Storefront — I curated my favorite tools and baking ingredients there, including my go-to chocolate. 😉

Are Chocolate Crinkles Healthy?

Listen…
It’s December.
We’re not pretending cookies are kale.

But I do balance the sweetness. These crinkles use:

• less sugar
• fewer eggs
• and more real chocolate

The result is a cookie that feels indulgent without being tooth-achingly sweet. You get the richness without going into a sugar coma.

Tips for Perfect Chocolate Crinkles

Here are the secrets that make these cookies perfect every single time:

1. Chill the Dough

The dough is sticky (that means it will be good!).
Chill for at least 1 hour so the dough firms up and rolls easily.

2. Roll Twice in Powdered Sugar

If you want those dramatic snowy crinkles, roll generously — no skimping. The more sugar, the prettier the cracks.

3. Don’t Overbake

12 minutes is usually perfect.
The cookies should look soft in the center when you take them out.

4. Add Fresh Orange Zest

This isn’t optional for me. Citrus + chocolate = holiday magic.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Simple. Elegant. Pantry-friendly.

How to Make Chocolate Crinkles (Step-by-Step)

Melt butter + chocolate

Use a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until silky.
The smell alone will make you feel like you should open a bakery.

2. Whisk dry ingredients

Flour, baking powder, salt. Set aside.

3. Mix eggs, sugar, vanilla, and orange zest

This mixture already smells like Christmas.

4. Combine the chocolate with the egg mixture

Stir until glossy.

5. Add dry ingredients slowly

Don’t just dump it all in like you’re mad at the bowl.
Gentle folds = soft cookies.

6. Chill for at least 1 hour

Don’t skip.

7. Scoop + roll

Use a small ice cream scoop (also linked on my Amazon storefront).
Roll in powdered sugar — generously.

8. Bake at 350°F for 12 minutes

Remove when the center still looks soft.
They’ll continue setting as they cool.

Freezing Instructions

Yes, you can freeze the dough!

To freeze:

Roll dough into balls (without powdered sugar).
Freeze on a tray, then store in a bag.

To bake later:

Let thaw 5–10 minutes, roll in sugar, bake normally.
Add 1–2 minutes if needed.

Perfect for busy holiday schedules.

Holiday Pairings & Flavor Variations

1. Chocolate Crinkles + Red Wine Poached Pears

If you want a dessert table that screams “elegant holiday soirée,” serve these cookies next to my Poached Pears in Red Wine — the cinnamon, star anise, and orange pair beautifully with chocolate.

2. Chocolate Crinkles + French Crêpes with Apple Filling

Nothing says French-inspired holidays like crêpes.
Add these cookies on the side of your brunch spread and nobody will complain.

3. Chocolate Crinkles + Sablés with Coconut Flakes

For a buttery, crumbly contrast, pair them with my coconut sablés — another beautiful cookie for gifting.

Tools I Recommend (All on My Amazon Storefront)

✔️ Non-stick baking sheet
✔️ Parchment paper
✔️ Small ice cream scoop
✔️ Mixing bowls
✔️ Fine zester for the orange
✔️ Cooling rack
✔️ 70% dark chocolate bars

These are the exact tools that make my cookie-baking days go smoothly. They’re organized neatly on my Amazon storefront for easy shopping.

Final Thoughts: The Coziest Cookie of the Season

In the end, these chocolate crinkles with orange zest will forever be one of those recipes that feels luxurious but is incredibly simple. They look like snow-kissed holiday cookies you’d find in a little bakery tucked away on a Paris side street — yet you can make them in under 90 minutes while wearing sweatpants.

Serve them with hot chocolate, red wine, a holiday cocktail, or just eat them standing in the kitchen like I do. Zero judgment.

However you enjoy them, these cookies bring joy, comfort, and a little sparkle to the season — and honestly, that’s all we need right now.

Originally posted on Dec 3, 2020

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