Our generous #ChristmasCookiesWeek sponsor, Nielsen-Massey, recently gifted me with a bottle of Pure Chocolate Extract to help inspire a unique and flavorful Christmas cookie recipe. All thoughts, ideas, recipes, pictures, and general silliness contained within this post are solely my own and not necessarily that of our sponsors.
A hint of cinnamon and spice make these traditional Christmas chocolate chip crinkle cookies coated in powdered sugar a real holiday treat.
Besides choosing cookies with different textures and using a glaze to enhance the taste and the appearance of a cookie, what else can you do to up your holiday cookie swap, cookie exchange, or cookie tray game? Why not experiment with flavorings and extracts to transform classic Christmas cookies into something just a little bit different?
I think we can all agree that Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are an all-time Christmas fave for most people. Don’t ask me why they only seem to come out at Christmas time, but that just seems to be how things go with this sugary snow-covered holiday favorite. By adding a touch of cinnamon and spice to this traditional chocolate holiday treat, it’s fairly simple to transform a classic cookie recipe into something entirely different.
In addition to adding a little spice, a touch of pure chocolate extract also helps to bring out the rich chocolate flavor in this cookie. So y’all, here’s the thing you need to know about chocolate extract, on its own in a recipe without chocolate, it doesn’t really do that much, however, when combined with actual chocolate in a recipe, it truly does enhance the chocolate flavor in the best way possible.
Don’t be afraid to keep a few extracts or flavorings on hand in your pantry. A 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon is usually all it takes to make a difference you can taste, which pretty much won’t have any effect on the integrity of most cookie, cake, or pastry recipes. In addition, don’t be afraid to toss a little bit of that extract into your cookie glaze as well. It’s a great way to easily add some zing to your traditional holiday favorites.
Ingredients:
- 3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/4 Cup Canola Oil
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Teaspoon Pure Chocolate Extract
- 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Chipotle
- 1/4 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/2 Cup Miniature Chocolate Chips
- Powdered Sugar
Directions:
Cookies:
- Place the sugar and oil in a large bowl and cream together on medium speed for 3 minutes.
- Add each egg, one at a time; mix 30 seconds after the addition of each egg.
- Add the extracts; mix for 30 seconds.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, cinnamon, chipotle, and salt.
- Using a spatula, slowly stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just incorporated.
- Fold the miniature chocolate chips into the cookie dough.
- Place the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap, wrap tightly, and then refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Baking:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Fill a small bowl with powdered sugar.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls using your hands and then roll each ball in the powdered sugar to coat.
- Place each cookie ball on a Silpat or parchment paper-lined baking sheet and then bake for 10 minutes.
- Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes before removing them to a baking rack to finish cooling completely.
Suggestions:
- This cookie dough will be very sticky. You may want to wash your hands after rolling half of the cookies to make rolling them a little bit easier.
- If you don’t have chocolate extract on hand, you can replace it with additional vanilla extract.
- This recipe will yield approximately 2 dozen cookies.
Improvements:
- Roll each cookie ball in finely grated coconut instead of powdered sugar.
- Use Nielsen-Massey Pure Chocolate Extract in this festive Christmas cookie recipe.
- Add finely chopped almonds to the cookie dough.
- CLICK HERE to check out all of our past cookie recipes. Don’t forget to check out our Christmas cookies section.
Ingredients:
- 3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/4 Cup Canola Oil
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Teaspoon Pure Chocolate Extract
- 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Chipotle
- 1/4 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/2 Cup Miniature Chocolate Chips
- Powdered Sugar
Directions:
- Place the sugar and oil in a large bowl and cream together on medium speed for 3 minutes.
- Add each egg, one at a time; mix 30 seconds after the addition of each egg.
- Add the extracts; mix for 30 seconds.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, cinnamon, chipotle, and salt.
- Using a spatula, slowly stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just incorporated.
- Fold the miniature chocolate chips into the cookie dough.
- Place the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap, wrap tightly, and then refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Fill a small bowl with powdered sugar.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls using your hands and then roll each ball in the powdered sugar to coat.
- Place each cookie ball on a Silpat or parchment paper-lined baking sheet and then bake for 10 minutes.
- Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes before removing them to a baking rack to finish cooling completely.
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Coconut Grinchy Christmas Breakfast Cookies
Old-Fashioned Jubilee Jumbles Cookies
Chocolate Fudge Brownie Oatmeal M&M Cookies
Christmas is a time for family, friends, and delicious holiday cookies. From classic butter cookies to iced gingerbread cookies, this list of ultimate Christmas cookie recipes has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for festive colors, unique seasonal ingredients, or just a cookie that’s super easy to make, these Christmas cookie recipes will help you find the perfect cookie for the season. CLICK HERE for the recipes.
Click on the links below to check out other festive Christmas Cookies Week recipes.
- Caramel-Stuffed Snickerdoodles by The Redhead Baker
- Chocolate Cake Mix Christmas M&M Cookies by Family Around the Table
- Chocolate Chip Mint Cookies by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Cookies by Frugal Pantry
- Coffee-Kissed Pizzelle by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Dark Chocolate Dipped Orange Biscotti by Making the Most of Naptime
- Frosted Peppermint Sugar Cookies by My Southern Sweet Tooth
- Gingerdoodles by Making Miracles
- Ginger Chocolate Chip Cookies by Kate’s Recipe Box
- Mexican Chocolate Chip Crinkle Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
- Pignoli Cookies by Love and Confections
- Peppermint Macaroons by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Place Setting Sugar Cookies by The Freshman Cook
- Santa’s Chocolate Chip Cookies by Soulfully Made
- Santa’s Thumbprint Cookies by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
Make sure to come back each day of this week to see more great Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Christmas Cookies Week recipes.
Day 1: Crystallized Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookies
Day 2: Cranberry Orange Cookies
Day 3: Heavenly Almond Cookies
Day 4: Mexican Chocolate Chip Crinkle Cookies
Day 5: Lemon Ginger Crinkle Cookies
