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These are one of my dad’s favorite cookies! My dad is a pretty cool guy, and I suppose I’m biased, but he’s the best dad out there. I’ve always admired his hard work ethic, the way he loves on his grandkids, his goofy jokes, and his big bear hugs. He’s the kind of dad I want my kiddos to grow up with…Zach’s got some big shoes to fill (and I will say, he’s doing a darn good job so far! :))
Dad and I have a lot in common. We’re both passionate about agriculture. We both love breaking it down on the dance floor. We’re both stubborn and hold grudges longer than we should. We both love a good four-wheeler ride in the mountains. And we both put God and our family above all else.
However, there are a few things Dad and I will always disagree on. First off, our music preferences….wooooofta! When we were little, he made up this rule that “whoever’s driving gets to choose the radio station.” I still think he played some of those oldies to see how quickly he could get an eye-roll from the kids in the back seat!
And another thing we’ll never see eye-to-eye on… baked goods. Dad just isn’t a big sweets guy. I’m the complete opposite with a raging sweet tooth… if you haven’t figured that out yet! 😉
However, as much as dad says he’s “not a sweets guy,” these Chocolate Crackle Cookies are one thing he just can’t turn down!
Why I Love This Recipe for Chocolate Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies
- So easy even your kids can help make them.
- Since the dough uses cake mix, this recipe comes together really quickly.
- Perfect for the holiday season (or anytime!)
Key Ingredients
The full list of ingredients and amounts are in the recipe card below, but I wanted to draw attention to a few of them.
- Boxed Cake Mix – Devil’s food cake mix is my favorite to use, but you could also use Dark Chocolate or Chocolate Fudge cake mix.
- Butter – I use salted butter in this recipe (some recipes call for vegetable oil, but I prefer the flavor and texture of butter in these).
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips – I like using mini chips for great distribution, but regular-sized chocolate chips work great too!
How to Make Chocolate Crinkle Cookies with Cake Mix
Start by preheating the oven and lining baking sheets with parchment paper. Pour the powdered sugar into a small bowl and set aside.
To make the dough, combine the dry cake mix, eggs, butter and water in a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer.
Now, it´s important to note that using melted butter can cause the cookies to spread more than you want. Make sure the butter is just softened (not melted).
Also, a box of cake mix seems to change in size all the time…though I haven’t run into this issue with these cookies, a smaller cake mix might require an additional tablespoon or two of flour.
Once those ingredients are combined, stir in the chocolate chips. Though not totally necessary, I love getting a pocket of melty chocolate in a fudgy chocolate crinkle cookie!
At this point, you can bake them right away OR cover the bowl with plastic wrap and bake up to 48 hours later.
Use a medium cookie scoop to scoop the cookie dough and drop it into the powdered sugar.
Roll the cookie dough balls in the powdered sugar until completely covered; transfer to the prepared cookie sheet. Make sure you give the cookies enough space to spread a bit as they bake.
Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes. The cracks should look moist but very soft, and the edges should be set. If you find that your cookies are spreading more than you’d like, stir 1 tablespoon of flour into the dough before you bake the next batch. Or, if you need to firm the dough up a bit, place the bowl in the fridge for an hour and try again.
Let the baked cookies sit for 5 minutes on the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Do NOT overbake these!! They’ll firm up as they cool.
Can I Use Other Flavors of Cake Mix?
Devil’s food cake is definitely the classic in our family! However, you can make just about any flavor of cake mix crinkles! Here are a few options that would be really delicious!
- Funfetti Crinkle Cookies – Use a confetti cake mix and white chocolate chips.
- White Chocolate Strawberry Crinkle Cookies – Use a strawberry cake mix and white chocolate chips.
- Spiced Crinkle Cookies – Use a spice cake mix and cinnamon chips.
- Lemon Crinkle Cookies – Use a lemon cake mix, lemon juice (in place of the water), and skip the chocolate chips.
- Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies – Use a red velvet cake mix and white chocolate chips.
How long can you store crinkle cookies?
Store them at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days.
Can you freeze crinkle cookies?
Absolutely. Store in a freezer bag for 1-2 months.
Other Cake Mix Cookie Recipes I Love
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Equipment
- Oven
Ingredients
- 1 box Devil's food cake mix
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips (regular size works too)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Stir together cake mix, eggs, water and softened butter until well blended. Stir in the chocolate chips.*1 box Devil's food cake mix, 2 eggs, 1 tablespoon water, 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup mini chocolate chips
- Shape the dough into 1 – 1 1/2 inch balls. Roll in powdered sugar and place 1 1/2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet (or on a parchment or silicone mat-lined baking sheet).1/2 cup powdered sugar
- Bake for 8-10 minutes. (The cracks might still look a bit wiggly, but they'll firm up when they cool.)
- Remove cookies to a cooling rack.
Can you substitute cream cheese for Crisco
I haven’t tried that, so I can’t say for sure!
I absolutely love your recipes! Thank you for sharing…