Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free version)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs (or flax/chia egg for vegan version)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add-ins and Coating
- ½ cup dried cherries (or dried cranberries as a variation)
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for coating)
Instructions
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the unsweetened cocoa powder, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure even distribution.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat the sugar and eggs until light and fluffy. Add in the vegetable oil and vanilla extract and mix until smooth and combined.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients and Dried Cherries: Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until a thick dough forms. Gently stir in the dried cherries, spreading them evenly without overmixing.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least one hour to firm up for easier handling and better shape retention during baking.
- Shape and Coat: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll into balls. Generously coat each ball in powdered sugar until fully covered.
- Bake to Perfection: Place sugar-coated dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet spaced apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges set but centers remain soft. Let cookies cool slightly on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack.
Notes
- Don’t skip chilling the dough to improve texture and ease of shaping.
- Use room temperature eggs for lighter, better-mixed dough.
- Coat cookies thoroughly with powdered sugar to achieve the signature cracked surface.
- Watch baking time closely; slightly underbaked cookies will firm up as they cool.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to keep them soft.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free (if gluten-free flour used)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 70mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: chocolate cherry cookies, crinkle cookies, fudgy cookies, chewy cookies, gluten-free cookies, holiday cookies