If you’re craving something delightfully soft, sweet, and rich with chocolate flavor, Chocolate Sugar Cookies are just the treat for you. These cookies blend the familiar, buttery comfort of classic sugar cookies with a deeply cocoa-forward twist, delivering a treat that’s crisp on the edges, chewy in the middle, and coated in a shimmer of sugar crystals. They’re as fun to make as they are to eat, making them an all-season favorite you’ll want to bake again and again.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Great Chocolate Sugar Cookies start with a handful of pantry staples and a few little extras for depth of flavor. Each ingredient plays a role in creating that irresistible chewy bite and chocolatey hug we all love.
- All-purpose flour: This is the backbone of your cookie, creating a sturdy yet tender structure.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: For that rich, unapologetically chocolatey base—use the best you can find!
- Baking soda: Adds a gentle lift, so your cookies bake up soft and slightly puffy.
- Baking powder: Works with the baking soda for just the right amount of spread and softness.
- Salt: A pinch amps up the chocolate’s depth and balances the sweetness.
- Unsalted butter (softened): Brings silky richness and helps create that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the dough and forms a sparkling, crunchy shell on the outside.
- Large egg: Binds the dough and adds moisture for perfect chewiness.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavors and rounds out the chocolate with a cozy aroma.
- Milk: Just a touch keeps the cookies tender and balances the dough.
- Additional sugar for rolling: Gives each cookie a glistening finish with the perfect amount of crunch.
How to Make Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Step 1: Prep Your Baking Sheets and Oven
Start by lining two baking sheets with parchment paper and preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Getting this ready now makes the whole process smooth and prevents your dough from sitting out too long once it’s mixed.
Step 2: Whisk Together the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until everything looks consistent and well combined. This step ensures that the leavening and chocolate are evenly distributed throughout every bite of your Chocolate Sugar Cookies.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process is key for building air into your cookies and achieving a gentle, melt-away texture.
Step 4: Add the Egg, Vanilla, and Milk
Crack in the egg, add the vanilla extract, and pour in the milk. Beat until the mixture is creamy and fully blended—no streaks remaining. These additions work together to bind the dough, add flavor, and give your Chocolate Sugar Cookies their signature softness.
Step 5: Mix in the Dry Ingredients
Gradually add your whisked dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a soft, chocolatey dough forms. Don’t over-mix; just go until everything is incorporated. The dough should be pliable and a little sticky—perfect for rolling.
Step 6: Shape and Sugar the Dough
Scoop out tablespoon-sized pieces of dough and roll them gently between your palms into balls. Roll each ball generously in granulated sugar, coating every side. Place them on your prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart so your cookies have room to spread.
Step 7: Flatten and Bake
Use the bottom of a glass or your palm to gently press down the tops of each dough ball. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, just until the edges are set but the centers look a little soft. This is the trick for that classic chewy center.
Step 8: Cool and Enjoy
Let your cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes—this allows them to firm up enough to transfer. Then move them to a wire rack to cool completely. The anticipation is worth it, I promise!
How to Serve Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Garnishes
Sometimes the easiest touches make the biggest difference. Top your Chocolate Sugar Cookies with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt right after baking for a sweet-salty hit, or dust with a little extra cocoa powder for deeper chocolate flavor. For a festive touch, a drizzle of white chocolate or a shower of colorful sprinkles turns them into party-ready treats.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with a cold glass of milk, but they also shine alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a bowl of fresh berries. For coffee fans, try enjoying them with a latte or strong cup of espresso—the chocolate and coffee make a dreamy duo.
Creative Ways to Present
Stack the cookies high in a clear glass jar tied with ribbon for a gorgeous edible gift, or use them to make ice cream sandwiches. If you want a simple but eye-catching dessert platter, line up the cookies with chocolate-dipped strawberries and mini marshmallows for a DIY s’mores vibe.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your Chocolate Sugar Cookies soft and fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay deliciously chewy for about 4 to 5 days—if they last that long without being devoured!
Freezing
For longer storage or future cravings, freeze the cookie dough balls (before rolling in sugar) on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a zip-top bag. Or freeze fully baked cookies: layer them between parchment and seal tight. They’ll thaw beautifully at room temp for a perfectly fresh bite.
Reheating
If you love cookies warm from the oven, pop a baked Chocolate Sugar Cookie in the microwave for about 10 seconds. The chocolatey aroma returns and the texture goes right back to that just-baked perfection.
FAQs
Can I add chocolate chips or nuts to these cookies?
Absolutely! Stir half a cup of mini chocolate chips or chopped toasted nuts into the dough before shaping for a little extra texture and a bigger chocolate punch.
Why did my cookies spread too much or too little?
Cookie spread can be affected by ingredient temperature and measuring. Make sure your butter is softened but not melted, and measure the flour carefully—too much flour leads to thick cookies, too little and they’ll spread thin.
Can I make the dough ahead and bake later?
Definitely. You can chill the dough in the fridge for up to 48 hours before rolling in sugar and baking. Chilled dough often results in an even richer flavor and slightly thicker cookie.
Are these cookies good for holiday gifting?
They’re perfect for it! Chocolate Sugar Cookies hold their shape, travel well, and look stunning in a gift box. Personalize the flavor with festive toppings or colored sprinkles for any occasion.
What’s the best way to get a crackly sugar crust?
Roll the dough balls thoroughly in granulated sugar, then flatten just before baking. The sugar caramelizes as the cookies bake, giving you that irresistible crackled finish.
Final Thoughts
If you’re ready for a cookie that’s sweet, chocolatey, and always a hit, it’s time to try these Chocolate Sugar Cookies. They’re simple to bake, incredibly satisfying, and just the thing for sharing—though you might want to keep a few extra for yourself. Happy baking!
Print
Chocolate Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 30 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the rich, chocolatey goodness of these soft and chewy Chocolate Sugar Cookies. Perfect for any occasion, these cookies are a chocolate lover’s dream come true!
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Additional sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Prepare dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and milk until well combined.
- Combine and shape dough: Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until a soft dough forms. Roll tablespoon-sized portions of dough into balls. Roll each ball in granulated sugar and place on baking sheets.
- Bake: Gently flatten the tops of the dough balls and bake for 8–10 minutes until set. Cool on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For extra chocolate flavor, stir in 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips.
- These cookies freeze well and stay soft for days when stored in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
