Festive Holiday Crinkle Cookies Recipe: Jolly Christmas Treats

These festive chocolate crinkle cookies bring a delightful winter magic to any holiday gathering.

Dusted with powdered sugar, these Christmas crinkle cookies create a mesmerizing snow-like effect that delights both kids and adults.

Dark chocolate provides a rich, decadent base that melts in your mouth with each bite.

The crisp exterior and soft, fudgy center make these treats irresistibly tempting.

Rolling the dough in confectioners’ sugar before baking ensures the iconic crackled appearance that gives these cookies their signature charm.

Bakers of all skill levels can master this simple yet impressive dessert.

Serve these delectable cookies at your next holiday party and watch them disappear in moments.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 2 minutes

Calories: 130 kcal

Servings: 23

Everything Fun Inside Christmas Crinkle Cookies

• All-Purpose Flour: The backbone of our cookie, providing structure and tender crumb with its soft, silky texture.
• Baking Powder: The magical rising agent that gives cookies their perfect lift and delicate, airy structure.
• Salt: A flavor enhancer that balances sweetness and brings out the cookie's rich, buttery notes.

• Granulated Sugar: Delivers sparkling sweetness and helps create those gorgeous golden-brown edges.
• Powdered Sugar: Creates the signature crinkle effect and adds a delicate, snow-like coating with magical visual appeal.
• Vanilla Extract: Infuses warm, comforting depth and rounds out the cookie's complex flavor profile.

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy foundation and ensures a melt-in-your-mouth texture with luxurious smoothness.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients together, contribute to soft texture, and help create a perfectly cohesive dough.
• Food Coloring (Red, Green): Transforms ordinary cookies into festive, vibrant Christmas treats with holiday cheer.

Bake Tools For Easy Christmas Crinkle Cookies

• Mixing Bowls: Large bowl for creaming butter and sugar, separate bowl for dry ingredients.
• Electric Mixer or Whisk: Essential for creaming butter and beating eggs until light and fluffy.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Precise measurements for flour, sugar, and other ingredients.
• Baking Sheets: Two sheets lined with parchment paper for even cookie baking.
• Parchment Paper: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
• Wire Cooling Rack: Allows cookies to cool evenly without getting soggy.
• Plastic Wrap: Covers dough during chilling to prevent drying out.
• Tablespoon or Cookie Scoop: Creates uniform cookie sizes for consistent baking.
• Whisk: Combines dry ingredients smoothly and breaks up any lumps.

Steps To Get Christmas Crinkle Cookies Just Right

• Festive Dough Preparation

Create a smooth, creamy mixture by blending butter and sugar until they transform into a fluffy cloud. Gently introduce eggs and vanilla, whisking with love and care.

• Color Magic

Split your dough into twin portions, then awaken them with vibrant Christmas colors. Red and green will dance together, turning ordinary dough into holiday magic.

• Chill Time

Let your colorful dough rest in the refrigerator, allowing flavors to mingle and texture to firm up. This quiet moment prepares your cookies for their delicious destiny.

• Sugar Transformation

Roll sweet dough balls into perfect spheres, then generously bathe them in powdery white sugar. Watch as they become winter wonderland treasures, ready to sparkle.

• Oven Enchantment

Slide your cookie-laden trays into a warm oven. In just minutes, witness plain dough evolve into crackled, sugar-dusted delights that whisper holiday cheer.

• Cooling Celebration

Allow cookies to rest briefly on baking sheets, then transfer them to a cooling rack. These festive treats will become irresistible nibbles that capture the season’s joy.

Tips For Soft And Crinkly Christmas Crinkle Cookies

• Perfect Cookie Texture: Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and ensure a soft, tender crackle effect. Cold dough helps maintain the cookies' shape and creates beautiful crinkle patterns.
• Festive Color Mixing: Experiment with different color combinations like deep burgundy and emerald green or soft pastel red and mint green. Use gel food coloring for more vibrant, concentrated colors without affecting the dough's consistency.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Swap regular flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to make these cookies celiac-friendly. Add an extra tablespoon of cornstarch to help maintain the classic soft texture and prevent crumbling.
• Dairy-Free Option: Replace butter with equal amounts of coconut oil or vegan margarine. Use plant-based egg substitutes like ground flaxseed mixed with water or commercial egg replacer to make the recipe completely dairy-free and vegan-friendly.
• Storage and Gifting Hack: Layer cookies between sheets of parchment paper in an airtight container to prevent sticking. These cookies stay fresh for up to 5 days at room temperature and can be frozen for up to 3 weeks, making them perfect for holiday meal prep and gift-giving.

Ways To Serve Christmas Crinkle Cookies With Joy

• Festive Cookie Platter: Arrange these colorful Christmas crinkle cookies on a decorative holiday tray with sprigs of fresh rosemary and cinnamon sticks for a stunning seasonal display.
• Christmas Gift Packaging: Wrap these beautiful cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with red and green ribbons, creating charming homemade gifts for neighbors, teachers, or family friends.
• Holiday Dessert Pairing: Serve alongside warm mulled wine or hot chocolate for a delightful after-dinner treat that captures the cozy Christmas spirit and brings everyone together.
• Decorative Cookie Moment: Create a fun cookie decorating station where guests can dust extra powdered sugar or add festive sprinkles to personalize their crinkle cookies during holiday gatherings.

How To Store Christmas Crinkle Cookies Safely

• Smart Storage Strategies: Seal cooled cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for 5-7 days at room temperature. Keep layers separated with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
• Freezing Magic: Wrap unbaked cookie dough balls in plastic wrap, then store in freezer-safe bags for up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator overnight before baking.
• Gifting Genius: Create festive cookie packages by stacking cookies between wax paper in holiday-themed tins or clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon. Perfect for sharing seasonal cheer.
• Make-Ahead Mastery: Prepare dough up to 3 days before baking and store in refrigerator. This technique allows flavors to develop and simplifies holiday baking preparation.

Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe

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4.9 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 2 minutes
• Yield: 23 1x

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Description

Festive christmas crinkle cookies bring winter holiday cheer with powdered sugar-dusted chocolate delights. Delicate cocoa cookies rolled in confectioners’ sugar create classic seasonal sweetness you’ll savor with each delightful bite.

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Ingredients

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• 1 ¾ cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• Red food coloring
• Green food coloring

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Instructions

1. Workspace Preparation: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and preheat oven to 350F (175C), creating the perfect environment for cookie crafting.
2. Butter Mixture Creation: Whip softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, forming the foundational base for the cookies.
3. Wet Ingredient Fusion: Add eggs one at a time, blending thoroughly, then incorporate vanilla extract to elevate the flavor complexity.
4. Dry Ingredient Integration: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl to ensure uniform distribution of dry components.
5. Dough Formation: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, mixing until just combined to maintain a delicate cookie texture.
6. Color Transformation: Divide dough into two equal portions, infusing one with red food coloring and the other with green, creating festive holiday hues.
7. Chilling Process: Encase colored dough portions in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up and simplify handling.
8. Dough Shaping: Roll tablespoon-sized dough balls, thoroughly coating each in powdered sugar to achieve a pristine white exterior.
9. Cookie Placement: Position sugar-dusted dough balls on prepared baking sheets, spacing them approximately 2 inches apart.
10. Baking Ritual: Bake for 10-12 minutes, observing the signature crinkle formation and achieving a soft, puffy consistency.
11. Cooling Stage: Let cookies rest on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
12. Festive Presentation: Arrange the colorful crinkle cookies on a holiday platter or package as delightful homemade gifts.

Notes

• Manage Dough Consistency: Refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes to prevent spreading and ensure cookies maintain their crinkle shape during baking.
• Color Control Technique: Use gel food coloring for more vibrant, intense holiday colors without altering dough moisture; start with small amounts and gradually increase.
• Sugar Coating Trick: Roll dough balls generously in powdered sugar just before baking to create pronounced crinkle effect and beautiful white-cracked exterior.
• Dietary Adaptation: Swap regular flour with gluten-free flour blend and use plant-based butter for vegan/gluten-free version without compromising texture or flavor.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 23
• Calories: 130
• Sugar: 11 g
• Sodium: 45 mg
• Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 19 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 25 mg