Chocolate Cracklen cookies

Chocolate Crackle Cookies….The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2013

December 11, 2013Danita

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The long awaited day is finally here!

Back in October, someone shared “The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap” button on Facebook. When I checked it out, it sounded like a great opportunity and lots of fun; after all, what’s not to love about sending and receiving three dozen cookies in the mail? My middle daughter LOVES cookies so I thought she might enjoy getting involved too. As it turned out…I was right about all those things.

First, we had to decide on just the right cookie. It needed to taste great, look pretty and travel well. Fortunately, my cookie loving daughter has a whole cook book of nothing but cookies. She has made several of the recipes and knew right away which one would be best. We chose these Chocolate Crackles Cookies. It met all the requirements, plus it looks like a “Christmas Cookie”, and makes about five dozen…enough to share and still have some for the family.

Next, we baked. (Here I’m sharing the recipe, but PLEASE read all the way to the end to see the great cookies we received, as well as other “surprises”)

Here’s the Recipe:

(Printable version below with ingredients listed)

Cookie swap choc Collage

Chop chocolate and melt in the top of a double boiler setting aside to cool

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Sift together flour, baking powder, cocoa and salt

Cookie swap sugarbutter Collage

Beat together butter and brown sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy (about 2-3 min)

Mix in eggs, vanilla and melted chocolate

Cookie swap mixing choc Collage

 Reducing speed to low, add half the flour mixture then milk.  Mix well then repeat

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Divide dough into four containers, cover and refrigerate at least 2 hrs. or overnight

When ready to bake…preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper

Cookie swap Collage

Remove one batch of dough at a time from frig (it gets too soft if all comes out at once)

In separate shallow dishes, place granulated sugar and powdered sugar

Coat hands, liberally, with powdered sugar.  Work quickly, so dough doesn’t get too melty.  Shape dough into one inch balls and roll first in granular sugar to coat, then in powdered sugar.  

Don’t overcoat in powdered sugar, it won’t crackle correctly

Place on baking sheet about 2 inches apart

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Bake until surfaces crack, about 14 minutes.  Cool on wire racks before storing

Cookie swap sent wrapping Collage

Lastly, we had to decide on packaging.  The wonderful ladies who organized the cookie swap, Lindsay and Julie, were thoughtful enough to provide free printables for us to use.  They were very colorful and I just happened to have ribbon and tissue paper to match.  

Our cookies went to Foodness Gracious, Live..Bake…Love, and West Street Story

Then, a few days later….the cookies began arriving at our house!  They came a few days apart, which was great…we like to spread out the excitement.  

Cookie swap rec 1 40c

The first batch was Chocolate Italian Cookies from Crew Cuisine.  They were in a lovely Christmas bag and the taste was wonderful!  She also send a Christmas card with it, our first of the season. My daughter got the bright idea to heat them in the microwave for a few seconds just before eating. I wasn’t sure they could get much better…but that put them over the top!  Thanks Jennifer!

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Our next dozen came from Jenn at The Rebel Chick.  She sent Peppermint Double Chocolate Chip Cookies and was kind enough to include a recipe card.  My family loves chocolate and mint so these were enjoyed very much.

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The last batch was Old Fashion Sugar Cookies from Chris at The Keenan Cookbook.  My son loves sugar cookies and had been asking me to make some.  Thanks for helping me out!  

The Cookie Swap was great fun, but the ultimate goal here was to raise money for children’s cancer research.  We were partnering with Cookies for Kid’s Cancer and four great corporate sponsors who matched the blogger donations.  The sponsors also sent some “surprises” in the mail.

Cookie swap gifts Collage

From Imperial Sugar, we received this great cookie tin, which happens to be full of cookies right now, and a coupon for a FREE bag of sugar.  OXO (one of my favorite brands) sent these great spatulas.  I can’t tell you how much I needed these AND the green and red match my kitchen! From Grandma’s Molasses we also received a coupon for a FREE jar of molasses,  which my husband loves in his oatmeal.  

My daughter and I really enjoyed participating in the 2013 Cookie Swap.  It was so much fun to bake, give and receive the cookies, not to mention over $13,000 was raised by bloggers and sponsors for children’s cancer research.  

Thanks again to Lindsay and Julie for all your hard work!  Can’t wait ’till next year!

Chocolate Crackles
Yields 5
Soft, chewy and beautiful
Write a review
Print
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
15 min
Total Time
3 hr
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
15 min
Total Time
3 hr
Ingredients
  1. 8 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
  2. 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  3. 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  4. 2 teaspoons baking powder
  5. 1/4 teaspoon salt
  6. 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
  7. 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  8. 2 eggs
  9. 1 teaspoon vanilla
  10. 1/3 cup milk
  11. 1 cup granular sugar
  12. 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
  1. Chop chocolate and melt in the top of a double boiler setting aside to cool
  2. Sift together flour, baking powder, cocoa and salt - set aside
  3. In large mixing bowl, beat together butter and brown sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy (about 2-3 min)
  4. Mix in eggs, vanilla and melted chocolate
  5. Reducing speed to low, add half the flour mixture then milk. Mix well then repeat
  6. Divide dough into four containers, cover and refrigerate at least 2 hrs. or overnight
  7. When ready to bake...preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper
  8. Remove one batch of dough at a time from frig (it gets too soft if all comes out at once)
  9. In separate shallow dishes, place granulated sugar and powdered sugar
  10. Shape dough into one inch balls and roll first in granular sugar to coat, then in powdered sugar.
  11. Don't overcoat in powdered sugar, it won't crackle correctly
  12. Place on baking sheet about 2 inches apart
  13. Bake until surfaces crack, about 14 minutes.
  14. Cool on wire racks before storing
Notes
  1. Coat hands, liberally, with powdered sugar. Work quickly, so dough doesn't get too melty.
Adapted from Martha Stewart's Cookies
Adapted from Martha Stewart's Cookies
O Taste and See https://otasteandseeblog.com/

  

 

 

 

11 Comments

  • Create With Joy

    December 22, 2013 at 7:12 PM

    Merry Christmas to you Danita and thanks for sharing your fabulous cookie recipe with us at Inspire Me Monday at Create With Joy!

    Congratulations – you are one of our featured guests this week! 🙂

    1. Danita

      December 22, 2013 at 7:38 PM

      Yeah! So exciting. Thanks for stopping by to let me know. Have a Merry Christmas!

  • Cathy

    December 16, 2013 at 4:56 PM

    THESE look so yummy & they caught my eye at the Foodies & Crafties Soiree–I had to stop by!

    I would love it if you stopped by our Facebook page, and said “hello!”

    https://www.facebook.com/OurMiniFamily

    Your fan,

    ~Cathy Mini

    ourminifamily.com

  • Harvey Morris

    December 13, 2013 at 10:18 PM

    Your cookies look amazing; they have perfect crackling.

    This was my first year participating in the Cookie Swap; I made Soft-Baked Gingersnap Molasses Cookies, 3 ways. Had great fun and enjoyed getting exposed to so many other passionate food bloggers.

    Happy holidays!

  • Faye

    December 12, 2013 at 1:10 PM

    Thanks so much for the cookies! I loved them!!

  • Jamie H

    December 11, 2013 at 9:50 AM

    I’ve always heard these called crinkle cookies, but either way they are one of my favorite cookies. We participated in the cookie exchange too, and I was so excited to get all the goodies in the mail! Pinning.

    1. Danita

      December 12, 2013 at 10:57 AM

      Thanks Jamie for stopping by. I’ve been seeing several variations on these cookies recently. Getting those cookies in the mail was really fun and looking around today to see what others received was great too. Hope you’re having a great week and Merry Christmas!

  • LindaI

    December 11, 2013 at 7:57 AM

    This lookks great! Pinning to cookies on my Pinterest board. Linda

  • Jen @ West Street Story

    December 11, 2013 at 7:48 AM

    The cookies were amazing! And you packaged them up so nicely. Thanks for sending them over to West Street Story! I added your cookies to my blog post here:
    http://www.weststreetstory.com/soft-and-chewy-molasses-cookies-grandmas-recipe/

    1. Danita

      December 12, 2013 at 11:05 AM

      Thanks for your kind comment and for linking to me, Jen. Your pictures are great!

  • 5 crew

    December 11, 2013 at 7:46 AM

    So glad you enjoyed the cookies. Hmmm….warming them…never thought of that but thanks for the idea! And I will definitely be making your chocolate cookies very soon. I still have a few batches to make for Christmas…these may just sneak in there! Merry Christmas!

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