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Chocolate Earthquake Cookies

posted by Liz Berg on July 25, 2019 (updated 4/19/23)

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!

Overhead view of 3 earthquake cookies on a round white plate.

Table of Contents hide

1 Why You Must Make

2 Ingredient Notes

3 How to Make

4 Frequently Asked Questions

5 You May Also Like:

6 Chocolate Earthquake Cookies

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.

Earthquake Cookies in a white ceramic bowl.

How to Make

Like the above-mentioned chocolate crinkles and crackles, to make these chocolate earthquake cookies, 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. Though 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 that 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.
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

What Makes Chocolate Crinkles Crack?

The crackling of the 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.

Why Did My Crinkle Cookies Not 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.

Why Are My Chocolate Crackle Cookies Flat?

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.