Chocolate Earthquake Cookies
When you get a mad cookie craving, these rich, Fudgy Chocolate Earthquake Cookies will fulfill your deepest desire!
Rolled in powdered sugar, the dough balls bake up with dark chocolate cracks resembling earthquake faults. Besides the unique look, these Chocolate Crinkles are absolutely irresistible!
Why You Must Make
- I’ve made Martha Stewart’s Chocolate Crackle Cookies a number of times and even Chocolate Crinkles.
- My friend, Sharon, shared her mom’s recipe which was even fudgier than Martha’s. What’s not to love about extra fudgy?
- These are perfect for the holidays as the powdered sugar coating looks like snow!!
Ingredient Notes
- Kitchen Staples – Flour, Butter, Salt, Sugar
- Unsweetened Chocolate – I use the Ghirardelli brand.
- Eggs – Have them at room temperature for easier incorporation.
- Baking Powder – Note that baking powder is not the same as baking soda. It also has a much shorter shelf life. So check the expiration date before you start making the dough. If you want to double-check its freshness, place a spoonful into a cup of very hot water. If it’s still active, it will bubble vigorously.
- Vanilla Extract – Always use real vanilla extract for the tastiest results. If the word artificial appears on the label, it won’t taste nearly as good.
How to Make
Recipe Tips
To make chocolate earthquake cookies AKA crinkles or crackles, the chocolate dough is rolled into balls, then into powdered sugar before baking. The cracks form naturally as the leaveners expand the dough when exposed to heat in the oven. Here are a few more tips for making these chocolate cookies.
- Since the butter is melted, it does not need to be brought to room temperature before mixing. However, bringing your eggs out of the refrigerator about an hour before mixing will bring them closer to room temperature. This enables better incorporation into the dough.
- PRO-Tip: Check the expiration on your baking powder as it’s used less often than baking soda and often expires without your knowledge.
- Do not over-mix the cookie dough as it will encourage gluten formation and make less tender cookies.
- This dough should be chilled for at least 20 minutes before forming into dough balls.
- Use a medium-sized cookie disher to scoop out consistent-sized dough balls.
- Roll the dough between your palms to make nice spheres, then roll in powdered sugar.
- You can roll in the powdered sugar twice for better coverage.
- Bake as directed. I like using parchment-lined baking sheets for easy cleanup.
- Do not overbake as that will cause the cookies to be less fudgy.
Frequently Asked Questions
The crackled surface of these crinkle cookies is due to the surface of the cookies firming up before the cookies are finished rising. As they puff, the exteriors crack.
If your oven is not hot enough or the baking powder is expired, your cookies might not rise rapidly enough to cause the crackles to form.
If the dough gets too warm, the dough balls will melt into flat rounds instead of keeping their shape as they begin to bake. So chill for at least 20 minutes or even longer if your kitchen is warm or your dough is still soft after the initial chilling time.
You May Also Like:
- Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Hot Chocolate Cookies
- Caramel Filled Chocolate Cookies
- Flourless Chocolate Cookies
- Death by Chocolate Cookies
- Triple Chocolate Cookies
- Killer Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Layered Chocolate Chip Cookies
- More Chocolate Recipes
Chocolate Earthquake Cookies
Super rich and fudgy cookies coated in powdered sugar.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter (the original recipe called for "butter the size of an egg")
- 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, I use Ghirardelli brand
- 2 eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup flour
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Gently melt butter and chocolate in the microwave; stir till smooth.
- Add sugar gradually, then use a mixer to mix in eggs.
- Sift dry ingredients, and add to the chocolate mixture. Mix till just combined.
- Add vanilla and mix into the dough. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or more.
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- Roll tablespoonfuls of dough into balls; then roll into powdered sugar. Bake for 9-10 minutes. The centers should be fudgy if not overbaked.
Notes
Total time does not include chilling time.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1 cookieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 90Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 53mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 1gSugar: 8gProtein: 1g
My girlfriends were thrilled when I aimed the camera on
them.
23 Comments on “Chocolate Earthquake Cookies”
You can’t eat just one of these earthquake cookies and they call you from the refrigerator or even the freezer. Dangerously delicious. Wishing you and the family a fabulous holiday season and an awesome new year!
These crinkle cookies are a house favourite so I’d bet that your fudgier recipe would be even more beloved!
You know, I just finished baking a batch of gingerbread cookies that look a lot like these. I wonder how well the two would go together? I think it’d make a pretty plate. Thanks for the recipe!
Hi! I have no clue what I’m doing wrong haha I’m new to baking. The cookies rise and stuff in the oven but once I take them out they flatten like a pancake, I was thinking maybe it’s something to do with the cooking time? But I already cook them for 10m and don’t deviate from the recipe? Any help would be amazing!!
Hi, Lucy, I’m sorry to hear you had trouble with these. Here are some of the reasons cookies can be flat—the oven is too hot (try decreasing the temp by 25 degrees), the dough wasn’t cold enough and the butter got too soft. Also, make sure your cookie sheets cool off between batches. I hope that helps. I’ve also added a couple tablespoons more of flour to the remaining dough if a first batch comes out flat. Good luck and I hope they still tasted yummy!!!
Thank you so much I will try them again. And yes they tasted amazing, lots of people have asked me for your recipe! Have a good day 🙂
Thank you. I lost my grandmother’s recipe card for these cookies. And this is the recipe because her recipe called for “butter the size of an egg”. You’ve made me very happy.
Oh, I’m so glad, Andee! Hope it’s as good as your grandmother’s recipe!!
This is the kind of earthquake that I’d go for!
Crinkle cookies are my favorite! These look so rich and fudgy!
Cut twist on the name. 🙂 I’ve always been a fan of crinkle cookies. I love the look and texture — and oh my, with all of that chocolate, I love this recipe! ~Valentina
Your earthquake cookies look great Liz, especially love the contrast of the colors…I would love to have a couple of them now…thanks for the recipe. Have a wonderful weekend!
These were a sure hit with the kids!
Do you deliver??? These would be a huge hit at our house, would need to double the batch for sure.
When the kids and I make these, they disappear in a day!
These cookies were gone in a flash! So good!
These were so good and chocolaty! My girls loved helping make them!
First time I think I would look forward to an earthquake 😀 Especially a very fudgy one. Awesome cookies Liz!
They are a favourite! This just reminds me that I haven’t baked a batch in a long while.
They look great! I haven’t turned the oven on in a month… Will add these cookies to my fall baking list:@)
I love making these! I call them crinkles cookies, but they are oo so good, no matter what they are called
I love earthquake cookies! These look delicious.
Four girlfriends sampled these last night, Kim…and at least two wanted the recipe! Just watch the baking time 🙂