Decadent Vegan Crinkle Chocolate Cookies Recipe

Fabulously Fun Vegan Crinkle Chocolate Cookies Recipe

Soft, fudgy, and irresistibly decadent, these vegan crinkle chocolate cookies dance between crisp edges and a melt-in-your-mouth center.

chocolate lovers rejoice as this plant-based treat brings pure indulgence to your dessert table.

The powdered sugar coating creates a stunning crackled appearance that makes these cookies stand out from ordinary sweets.

Every bite delivers rich chocolate flavor without any dairy or eggs.

Baking these cookies fills your kitchen with an intoxicating aroma that beckons everyone nearby.

The recipe is surprisingly simple, requiring just a few straightforward ingredients.

Chocolatey bliss awaits you with this delightful vegan dessert that promises to satisfy even the most discerning sweet tooth.

How to Make Vegan Crinkle Chocolate Cookies

  • Sugar Station Preparation

Grab two shallow dishes and fill one with white sugar, the other with powdered sugar. These will be your magical coating zones for delightful cookie transformation.

  • Chocolate Base Mixing

In a spacious bowl, blend cocoa powder with white sugar and olive oil until smooth. This creates a rich, dark foundation that promises deep chocolate flavor.

  • Liquid Magic

Whisk plant-based milk with cornstarch until silky, then pour into chocolate mixture. Stir enthusiastically to create a luscious, glossy batter that hints at cookie deliciousness.

  • Flavor Boost

Introduce vanilla extract, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gently fold in flour until everything comes together in a perfect chocolate harmony.

  • Dough Sculpting

Scoop small dollops of dough and roll into cute little balls. Each one will become a crinkly chocolate treasure.

  • Sugar Coating Dance

Roll each dough ball first through white sugar, then luxuriously dust with powdered sugar. This creates the signature crackled exterior that makes these cookies irresistible.

  • Oven Transformation

Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes. Watch as they magically spread and develop beautiful chocolate cracks across the surface.

  • Cooling Celebration

Let cookies rest briefly on the baking sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack. Their texture will settle into crispy-edged perfection.

Tips for Soft and Chewy Crinkle Cookies

  • Swap regular cocoa with Dutch-processed cocoa for deeper, richer flavor that makes these cookies taste like decadent chocolate dreams.
  • Chill the dough for 30 minutes before rolling to prevent spreading and create perfectly crackled cookie edges that look professionally baked.
  • Replace plant-based milk with almond, soy, or oat milk depending on personal preference or dietary needs without compromising the cookie's incredible texture.
  • Experiment with different sugar combinations like mixing brown sugar with powdered sugar for a more complex caramelized crinkle effect that adds unexpected depth to each bite.
  • Prepare cookie dough balls in advance and freeze them up to 3 months – simply thaw for 15 minutes before rolling in sugar and baking for instant chocolate happiness.

Serving Suggestions for Vegan Chocolate Cookies

  • Cozy Coffee Companion: Pair these decadent vegan chocolate crinkle cookies with a warm mug of oat milk latte or rich espresso for an indulgent afternoon treat that melts in your mouth.
  • Dessert Plate Perfection: Arrange cookies alongside fresh berries, a sprinkle of mint leaves, and a light dusting of powdered sugar to create an elegant and Instagram-worthy dessert presentation that looks as amazing as it tastes.
  • Ice Cream Sandwich Twist: Transform these chocolatey delights into a cool summer dessert by sandwiching a scoop of dairy-free vanilla or chocolate ice cream between two cookies, creating a delightful frozen treat that will impress everyone.
  • Gifting Goodness: Package these cookies in cute mason jars or decorative boxes with a ribbon, making them a thoughtful homemade gift for friends, family, or as a sweet gesture for a special occasion that shows you care.

Keeping Vegan Crinkle Cookies Fresh

  • Quick Refrigeration Trick: Store cookies in a sealed container inside the refrigerator for up to 5 days, maintaining their delightful soft texture and preventing crumbling during storage.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cookie dough balls in advance and freeze them uncoated for up to 3 months, allowing spontaneous baking whenever sweet cravings strike.
  • Counter Storage Strategy: Keep cookies in a ceramic or metal container with a tight-fitting lid at room temperature, ensuring they remain fresh and delectable for 3-4 days.
  • Freezing Flavor Lock: After complete cooling, stack cookies between wax paper inside a freezer-safe container, where they'll retain excellent taste and quality for approximately 2 months.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 137 kcal

Servings: 25

Ingredients in Vegan Crinkle Chocolate Cookies

For Base and Moisture:
  • Olive Oil: Provides rich, smooth texture and helps bind ingredients without using eggs.
  • Plant-Based Milk: Adds liquid moisture and helps create soft, chewy cookie consistency.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor depth with warm, sweet aromatic notes.
For Dry Ingredients and Structure:
  • Unbleached All-Purpose Flour: Creates essential cookie structure and provides tender crumb.
  • Dutched Cocoa Powder: Delivers deep chocolate flavor with smoother, less acidic profile.
  • Cornstarch: Helps create super soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture and prevents toughness.
  • Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Provides necessary leavening to help cookies rise and become light.
  • Salt: Balances sweetness and intensifies overall flavor complexity.
For Sweetness and Coating:
  • White Granulated Sugar: Offers primary sweetness and helps create crisp cookie edges.
  • Powdered Sugar: Creates signature crinkle effect and provides delicate sweet exterior coating.

What Tools You Need for Vegan Crinkle Cookies

  • Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining dry and wet ingredients thoroughly.
  • Small mixing bowl: Perfect for preparing the plant-based milk and cornstarch mixture.
  • Whisk: Great for smoothly blending ingredients and creating a consistent texture.
  • Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient proportions.
  • Baking sheets: Needed for baking and cooling the cookies.
  • Parchment paper: Prevents cookies from sticking and makes cleanup easy.
  • Sifter or fine-mesh strainer: Helps remove lumps from cocoa powder.
  • Spoon or cookie scoop: Helps create uniform cookie sizes.
  • Cooling rack: Allows cookies to cool evenly and prevent soggy bottoms.
Print
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Decadent Vegan Crinkle Chocolate Cookies Recipe

Decadent Vegan Crinkle Chocolate Cookies Recipe


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4.6 from 27 reviews

  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 25 1x

Description

Chocolate crinkle cookies bring festive vegan magic to holiday dessert tables. Rich cocoa-dusted treats deliver delightful sweetness that satisfies chocolate cravings without compromise.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup / 200g white granulated sugar
  • 1 cup / 130g unbleached all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup / 40g dutched cocoa powder
  • ¼ cup / 32g cornstarch
  • ¼ cup / 59 ml olive oil
  • 6 tbsps / 89 ml plant-based milk (e.g., almond milk)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup / 100g white granulated sugar
  • ½ cup / 60g powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat Preparation: Ignite the oven to 350°F (175°C) and strategically line baking sheets with parchment paper, ensuring uniform coverage.
  2. Chocolate Foundation: Sift cocoa powder into a spacious mixing bowl, blending seamlessly with white sugar and olive oil until a silky, homogeneous texture materializes.
  3. Liquid Integration: Whisk plant-based milk and cornstarch in a separate vessel until impeccably smooth, then delicately incorporate into the chocolate base, creating a unified mixture.
  4. Flavor Enhancement: Introduce vanilla extract, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into the developing dough, meticulously stirring to distribute ingredients with precision.
  5. Dough Formation: Gradually fold flour into the mixture, gently combining until a cohesive, malleable dough emerges without excessive manipulation.
  6. Sugar Coating Setup: Arrange two shallow dishes – one with granulated white sugar, the other with powdered sugar – for comprehensive cookie coating.
  7. Dough Portioning: Utilize a tablespoon to form individual dough spheres, rolling each between palms to craft smooth, symmetrical orbs.
  8. Sugar Encrustation: Methodically roll dough balls first in granulated sugar, then lavishly coat with powdered sugar, ensuring complete coverage and achieving the signature crackled exterior.
  9. Baking Arrangement: Position sugar-coated dough balls on prepared sheets, spacing them approximately 2 inches apart to accommodate natural spreading.
  10. Baking and Cooling: Bake for 8-10 minutes, observing surface cracking and slight expansion as indicators of perfect doneness. Allow cookies to rest briefly on the sheet before transferring to a wire rack for complete cooling.
  11. Storage Protocol: Once thoroughly cooled, preserve cookies in an airtight container, strategically layering with parchment paper to prevent adhesion and maintain optimal freshness for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold flour to maintain soft, tender cookie texture and avoid tough, dense results.
  • Sugar Coating Technique: Double-roll dough balls in granulated then powdered sugar for perfect crackled exterior and professional bakery-style finish.
  • Temperature Precision: Stick to exact 350°F to ensure even baking and signature chocolate crinkle surface cracking.
  • Storage Strategy: Use parchment paper between cookie layers when storing to prevent sticking and preserve delicate powdered sugar coating.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Snacks, Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 25
  • Calories: 137
  • Sugar: 10 g
  • Sodium: 88 mg
  • Fat: 5 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4.3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 22 g
  • Fiber: 0.6 g
  • Protein: 1.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sophie Reynolds

Sophie Reynolds

Co-Founder, Recipe Curator & Culinary Educator

Expertise

  • Home Cooking Innovation & Comfort Recipes
  • Flavor Development & Ingredient Pairing
  • Seasonal Produce Integration
  • Recipe Testing & Instructional Clarity
  • Culinary Education & Community Workshops

Education

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO

  • Degree: Diploma in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Hands-on training in classic and modern culinary techniques, emphasizing sustainable cooking practices, kitchen professionalism, and real-world restaurant experience through externships.

Oregon State University

  • Degree: B.S. in Nutrition and Food Management
  • Focus: In-depth study of human nutrition, food safety, meal planning, and food-service operations, with a strong foundation in public health, dietetics, and community-based nutrition programs.

Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café. 

Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.

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