🎉 Introduction
If you’re searching for a cookie that’s rich, soft, chocolatey, and beautifully sparkly, these Chocolate Sugar Cookies are the perfect treat. With a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture and deep cocoa flavor, they offer a delicious twist on classic sugar cookies — turning them into chocolaty, bakery-style favorites. These cookies are rolled in sparkling decorator’s sugar before baking, giving them a stunning shimmering finish that looks stunning on dessert platters, holiday boards, and Pinterest-style recipe spreads.
Unlike typical sugar cookies that are crisp or crumbly, these chocolate sugar cookies stay soft and chewy thanks to the blend of cocoa, butter, milk, and a slightly higher sugar ratio. The combination of baking soda and baking powder helps them rise gently while maintaining their chewy center and crackly top. Every bite feels like a cross between a sugar cookie and a soft chocolate brownie.
They’re perfect for Christmas, holiday treat boxes, birthdays, Valentine’s Day chocolate desserts, or everyday baking when you need something satisfying and simple. Whether you’re creating high-engagement recipe content, photographing cozy winter desserts, or just craving something chocolatey, these cookies are guaranteed to hit the spot.
Let’s bake these soft, chewy, sparkly chocolate sugar cookies!
🧰 Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowls
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Silicone spatula
- Whisk
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Cookie scoop
- Baking trays
- Parchment paper
- Cooling rack
- Shallow bowl for decorator’s sugar
🛒 Ingredients
Fresh Ingredients
- 1 Large egg
- 3 tablespoons Whole milk
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups All-purpose flour
- ½ cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ cups Granulated sugar
- ¾ teaspoon Baking powder
- 1 ¼ teaspoons Baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt
- ⅓ cup Sparkling decorator’s sugar (for rolling)
Flavoring
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
Dairy
- 1 cup Unsalted butter, softened
👩🍳 Directions
Step 1: Cream the Butter & Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat together:
- Softened butter
- Granulated sugar
Beat for 2–3 minutes until light, creamy, and fluffy.
This step creates the perfect soft sugar-cookie texture.
Step 2: Add Egg, Milk & Vanilla
Mix in:
- Egg
- Whole milk
- Vanilla extract
Beat until smooth, shiny, and fully combined.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together:
- Flour
- Cocoa powder
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Salt
Whisk to remove lumps and evenly distribute cocoa.
Step 4: Form the Dough
Gradually add the dry mixture into the wet mixture.
Use a spatula or mixer on low until a soft, thick dough forms.
The dough will be soft but workable — perfect for sugar cookies.
Step 5: Shape the Cookies
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line baking trays with parchment paper.
Scoop dough into balls (1–1½ tablespoons each).
Roll each dough ball in sparkling decorator’s sugar until fully coated.
The sugar coating gives the cookies their classic shimmer and crunch.
Step 6: Bake
Place dough balls on trays with room to spread.
Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until:
- Tops look slightly crackled
- Edges are set
- Centers still look soft
Do not overbake — they firm up while cooling.
Step 7: Cool
Let cookies cool on the tray for 5 minutes.
Transfer to a cooling rack to finish cooling completely.
They will stay soft, chewy, chocolatey, and sparkly — cookie perfection!
🍽️ Servings & Timing
- Servings: 28–32 cookies
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Bake Time: 9–11 minutes
- Total Time: ~20 minutes
🧊 Storage & Reheating
Room Temperature
Store in an airtight container for 5–6 days.
Freezer
Freeze either baked cookies or dough balls for up to 2 months.
Reheating
Microwave baked cookies for 5–6 seconds for brownie-like softness again.
🥄 Variations
1. Double Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Add chocolate chips for extra richness.
2. Peppermint Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Mix in ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract for winter flavor.
3. Espresso Chocolate Cookies
Add 1 teaspoon instant coffee to intensify chocolate flavor.
4. Fudgy Brownie Sugar Cookies
Replace 2 tablespoons flour with 2 tablespoons extra cocoa.
5. Cinnamon Mocha Cookies
Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon + pinch of nutmeg.
6. White Chocolate Drizzle Cookies
Drizzle melted white chocolate over cooled cookies.
❓ 10 FAQs
1. Why did my cookies spread too much?
Butter may have been too soft; chill dough for 15 minutes.
2. Why are my cookies dry?
They were overbaked. Remove them while centers still look soft.
3. Can I make the dough ahead?
Yes — refrigerate up to 24 hours.
4. Can I skip rolling in decorator’s sugar?
Yes, but the cookies will be matte instead of sparkly.
5. Can I use dark cocoa powder?
Yes — cookies will turn darker and richer.
6. Can I add mix-ins?
Chocolate chips, nuts, or mini marshmallows work great.
7. Can kids help with these?
Absolutely — rolling in sugar is fun and easy.
8. My dough feels too dry — why?
Add ½–1 tablespoon extra milk if dough seems crumbly.
9. Can I make giant cookies?
Yes — use ¼ cup dough per cookie and bake 12–13 minutes.
10. Are these good for cookie boxes?
Yes — they stay soft and look beautiful.
🏁 Conclusion
These Chocolate Sugar Cookies bring together everything cookie lovers adore: soft texture, rich chocolate flavor, a chewy bite, and a sparkling sugar finish that makes them visually stunning. They’re easy to make, perfect for gifting, and absolutely delicious — ideal for Christmas cookie boxes, dessert boards, birthdays, cozy winter nights, and chocolate-inspired Pinterest posts.
Their tender crumb, cocoa richness, and shimmering sugar coating create a cookie that’s simple yet elegant, comforting yet indulgent, and always satisfying. Bake them once, and they’ll become a staple in your recipe library.
Share them with loved ones, photograph them for your socials, or enjoy them warm with a cup of milk — these cookies bring joy in every bite.
Chocolate Sugar Cookies – Soft, Chewy & Sparkly
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together:
- Softened butter
- Granulated sugar
- Beat for 2–3 minutes until light, creamy, and fluffy.
- This step creates the perfect soft sugar-cookie texture.
- Mix in:
- Egg
- Whole milk
- Vanilla extract
- Beat until smooth, shiny, and fully combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together:
- Flour
- Cocoa powder
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Whisk to remove lumps and evenly distribute cocoa.
- Gradually add the dry mixture into the wet mixture.
- Use a spatula or mixer on low until a soft, thick dough forms.
- The dough will be soft but workable — perfect for sugar cookies.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line baking trays with parchment paper.
- Scoop dough into balls (1–1½ tablespoons each).
- Roll each dough ball in sparkling decorator’s sugar until fully coated.
- The sugar coating gives the cookies their classic shimmer and crunch.
- Place dough balls on trays with room to spread.
- Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until:
- Tops look slightly crackled
- Edges are set
- Centers still look soft
- Do not overbake — they firm up while cooling.
- Let cookies cool on the tray for 5 minutes.
- Transfer to a cooling rack to finish cooling completely.
- They will stay soft, chewy, chocolatey, and sparkly — cookie perfection!
Notes
Room Temperature Store in an airtight container for 5–6 days. Freezer Freeze either baked cookies or dough balls for up to 2 months. Reheating Microwave baked cookies for 5–6 seconds for brownie-like softness again. 🥄 Variations
1. Double Chocolate Sugar Cookies Add chocolate chips for extra richness. 2. Peppermint Chocolate Sugar Cookies Mix in ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract for winter flavor. 3. Espresso Chocolate Cookies Add 1 teaspoon instant coffee to intensify chocolate flavor. 4. Fudgy Brownie Sugar Cookies Replace 2 tablespoons flour with 2 tablespoons extra cocoa. 5. Cinnamon Mocha Cookies Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon + pinch of nutmeg. 6. White Chocolate Drizzle Cookies Drizzle melted white chocolate over cooled cookies. ❓ 10 FAQs
1. Why did my cookies spread too much? Butter may have been too soft; chill dough for 15 minutes. 2. Why are my cookies dry? They were overbaked. Remove them while centers still look soft. 3. Can I make the dough ahead? Yes — refrigerate up to 24 hours. 4. Can I skip rolling in decorator’s sugar? Yes, but the cookies will be matte instead of sparkly. 5. Can I use dark cocoa powder? Yes — cookies will turn darker and richer. 6. Can I add mix-ins? Chocolate chips, nuts, or mini marshmallows work great. 7. Can kids help with these? Absolutely — rolling in sugar is fun and easy. 8. My dough feels too dry — why? Add ½–1 tablespoon extra milk if dough seems crumbly. 9. Can I make giant cookies? Yes — use ¼ cup dough per cookie and bake 12–13 minutes. 10. Are these good for cookie boxes? Yes — they stay soft and look beautiful. 🏁 Conclusion These Chocolate Sugar Cookies bring together everything cookie lovers adore: soft texture, rich chocolate flavor, a chewy bite, and a sparkling sugar finish that makes them visually stunning. They’re easy to make, perfect for gifting, and absolutely delicious — ideal for Christmas cookie boxes, dessert boards, birthdays, cozy winter nights, and chocolate-inspired Pinterest posts. Their tender crumb, cocoa richness, and shimmering sugar coating create a cookie that’s simple yet elegant, comforting yet indulgent, and always satisfying. Bake them once, and they’ll become a staple in your recipe library. Share them with loved ones, photograph them for your socials, or enjoy them warm with a cup of milk — these cookies bring joy in every bite.
