Home · Recipes · Desserts & Baking · Cookies Chocolate Sugar Cookies Author: Maryanne CabreraPublished: Dec 6, 2023 View Recipe2 ReviewsThis post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy. Chewy chocolate sugar cookies rolled in granulated sugar for extra crunch and sparkle. Table of Contents Ingredient NotesMix Cookie DoughPortion Dough and BakeScoop SizesSugar Cookie VariationsMake Ahead and Freezing InstructionsMore Chocolate RecipesChewy Chocolate Sugar CookiesView moreView less The perfect chocolate cookie to satisfy your chocolate craving! This no chill chocolate sugar cookie recipe is ready from mixing bowl to baking to happy stomach in less than 30 minutes. It’s a chocolate version of the classic sugar cookie. The addition of Dutch-processed unsweetened cocoa powder and molasses makes this a well balanced cookie. It’s not too sweet, has the perfect soft chew, and is great for mailing to friends and family in holiday cookie tins! This recipe is part of The Sweetest Season, an annual virtual cookie swap co-hosted by Erin of The Speckled Palate Susannah of Feast + West. Every year, food bloggers get together to share new holiday cookie recipes to make and give. This year we are raising money for Cookies 4 Kids’ Cancer, which is a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to funding research for new, innovative and less-toxic treatments for childhood cancer. Ingredient Notes For best results, measure dry ingredients using a digital kitchen scale. Measuring by weight ensures consistent results. However, if you prefer volume measurements (such as cups), please measure flour using the spoon and level method. Molasses: Be sure to use unsulphured molasses. It is the most commonly available type of molasses. It is sometimes labeled as light or original molasses. Do not use blackstrap molasses, which is much more concentrated in color and flavor. Brown Sugar: Light brown, golden brown, or dark brown sugar are all suitable for this recipe. The darker the color, the more molasses flavor. Make sure the break down any hard clumps of sugar. Granulated Sugar: White sugar is not included in the cookie dough. Instead, this sugar is used to coat the portioned cookie dough balls. For more crunch and sparkle, use coarse sugars as turbinado sugar, demarara sugar, or coarse sparkling sugar. Cocoa Powder: Use any kind of unsweetened cocoa powder. Highly recommend using Ghirardelli 100% Cocoa Dutch Process or Trader Joe’s Cocoa Powder Unsweetened. Dutch-process cocoa has been treated with an alkali to neutralize the natural acidity of cocoa making it richer and darker in color and less bitter in flavor. This recipe also requires flour, butter, baking soda, salt, and one egg. Mix Cookie Dough Sift dry ingredients. Cocoa powder can get lumpy. It’s a good idea to sift the cocoa powder with the other dry ingredients. Otherwise, give mixture a very good whisk. Set aside. Cream butter and sugar. Mix together softened butter, brown sugar, and molasses using stand mixer or electric hand mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla. Mix until fully incorporated. Stop mixer as needed to scrape down mixture to ensure thorough mixing. Add dry ingredients. Mix in dry flour mixture. Be careful not to over-mix or overwork the dough. Portion Dough and Bake Use a #40 scoop (or a 1 1/2 Tablespoon scoop) to evenly portion out the cookie dough. It’s important to have uniform sized cookie dough balls. The cookies bake evenly at the rate when they are roughly the same size. Generously coat the cookie dough ball in granulated sugar. Don’t fret if the dough balls aren’t perfect rounds. They will still bake into rounds/circles in the oven. Transfer to baking sheet pan and bake! Remember it is better to err on under-baked versus over-baked cookies. Cookie 101Scoop SizesThe number of a cookie scooper, also known as a disher, is equal to how many scoops it would take to fill a quart container. For example, size 1 scoop takes one scoop to fill a quart. A size 20 scoop would take twenty scoops to fill a quart. In other words, the large the scoop number, the smaller to scoop capacity. Or, the smaller the scoop number, the bigger the scooper size Sugar Cookie Variations Matcha Sugar Cookies are soft, chewy, and a luscious bright green color! They are great for making ice cream sandwiches. Ube Sugar Cookies can be rolled in your choice of powdered sugar, granulated sugar, or purple sanding sugar. The variety of sugars result in a different textures. Cashew Cookies made with rich cashew butter. The cookie dough in coated in both granulated sugar and powdered sugar to create the crinkle cookie or earthquake cookie look. Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions Like to plan ahead? Mix together the chocolate cookie dough ahead of time! Portion out cookie dough. Arrange in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. Place in the freezer for about 30 minutes to an hour until firm. Then, transfer frozen cookie balls into a freezer safe storage bag. Keep in the freezer for up to three months. When you’re ready to bake- roll frozen cookie dough in granulated sugar. Bake for an additional 2-3 minutes. More Chocolate Recipes Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Marshmallows Decadent Chocolate Cookies Chocolate Butter Mochi Cake Chewy Chocolate Sugar Cookies 5 from 5 votes Chewy chocolate sugar cookies rolled in granulated sugar for extra crunch and sparkle. Prep Time: 10 minutes minutesCook Time: 15 minutes minutesTotal Time: 25 minutes minutes Servings: 28 cookies Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Ingredients▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour (260 g)▢ ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (40 g)▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt or fine sea salt*▢ 1 cup unsalted butter (226 g), room temp, softened▢ 1 ½ cup brown sugar (300 g), packed▢ 1 Tablespoon molasses (20 g)▢ 1 large egg room temp▢ ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract▢ ½ cup granulated sugar (100 g), for rolling Instructions Preheat the oven to 350℉. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or reusable silicone baking mat. Set aside.Sift together flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda into a bowl. Whisk in salt. Set aside.In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using an electric hand mixer) cream together softened butter, brown sugar, and molasses until smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure thorough mixing.Add egg and vanilla. Mix on medium speed until fully incorporated.Add flour mixture to mixing bowl. Mix on low speed until dough comes together. Scape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Be careful not to over-mix or overwork the dough.Use a #40 scoop (1 ½ Tablespoon scoop) to portion out cookie dough.Roll cooke dough balls into granulated sugar. Place balls 2-inches apart on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes, rotating the baking sheet midway through baking. Remove from the oven. (*Reshape cookies if needed.) Leave cookies in the baking sheet pan for 5 minutes. Then, unmold and transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool to room temperature. NotesIngredients: Recommend Ghirardelli 100% Cocoa Dutch Process or Trader Joe’s Cocoa Powder Unsweetened. Recipe tested with Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt. 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt = ¾ teaspoon Morton kosher salt = ½ teaspoon table salt Baking Notes: If cookies are not perfect rounds, use a slightly larger round cookie cutter to gently reshape hot cookies into a round shape. Alternatively, use a mini offset spatula or silicone spatula to gently reshape hot cookies into a round. Storage: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Keep in a cool, dry area away from heat and direct sunlight. NutritionCalories: 157kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 88mg | Potassium: 64mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 212IU | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg Author: Maryanne Cabrera Course: DessertCuisine: American Did you make this recipe?Show us on Instagram! Tag @littleepicurean and hashtag #littleepicurean.
Erin says: December 13, 2023 These are just the most perfect sparkly, chocolatey sugar cookies I’ve ever seen! I love that they’re no chill, too, so we can get these made and on the table quickly for a cookie craving. ;) Thanks so much for participating in this year’s collaboration and bringing these amazing cookies to the table! Reply
Kayoko says: February 13, 2024 I love this recipe so much! The dough comes together and baked in an hour (or less) and bakes exactly as written. I also appreciate that the recipe also has the measurements in grams. This is definitely a favorite recipe of mine. Next time I may experiment rolling the dough in colored sanding sugar to give a different effect. Reply