I am one of those “cooking purists” who feels like using cake mixes in baked goods or onion soup in savory dishes is “cheating”. Not that I judge other people – only myself. But sometimes ones sanity is barely hanging on by a thread and cheating is not only condoned but also required. This is one of those times. My fiancé has been requesting Chocolate Crackle Cookies for days now and I have been struggling between making them using cake mix and making them from scratch.
My Mom always made them from a cake mix and they were darn good. I don’t know why I have been so stubborn. Honestly, Lindsey! It’s like I’m a Taurus or something… Everyone needs several reliable kitchen cheats in their arsenal. These Chocolate Crackle Cookies are a must!
One day I will make them from scratch and compare the results but, for now, my pre-wedding sanity demands a short cut! There are four ingredients. Four. Including powdered sugar. Waiting for them to cool enough to eat is the most time consuming part.
Today I bring you my Mom’s Chocolate Crackle Cookies. Patience is optional. Super chocolaty taste and powdered sugar mustache are not!
Chocolate Crackle Cookies
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 16 minutes
- Total Time: 21 minutes
- Yield: 36 Cookies 1x
Ingredients
- 1 box cake mix [Devils Food or other amazing chocolate mix]
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup oil
- Powdered sugar
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350°
- Mix first three ingredients together until few lumps remain. Batter will continue to thicken as it sits. Not that it matters.
- Drop tablespoon sized balls into powdered sugar and generously coat.
- I mean generously. I’ve done this step wrong. It resulted in plain old chocolate cookies. Seriously not okay. Cake it on.
- Place on cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes in pre-heated oven. 8 minutes if you want them under baked (let them cool!!!) or 10 minutes if you want them soft but more cakey.
Notes
My Mom used to make these around Christmas and she would color white cake mix red and green. Cute! My fiancé is not as discerning about time of year!
Note: My Mom used to make these around Christmas and she would color white cake mix red and green. Cute! My fiancé is not as discerning about time of year!
Tis the Season for festive desserts!
No Bake Gingersnap Brandy Balls
Grandma’s Molasses Sugar Cookies
Spiced Apple Cider Cranberry Cupcakes
Soft Nutella Chocolate Chip Cookies
23 Comments
Phillip
August 10, 2013 at 8:15 amI love these! I’ve made them various ways over the years. I’m not sure if I’ve ever tried them with a cake mix.
Lindsey
August 10, 2013 at 10:20 amIt’s crazy easy! I’ll have to see if Maida has a Chocolate Crackle or Crinkle recipe.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress)
August 10, 2013 at 10:26 amI’m with you on not using cake mixes, but sometimes exceptions have to be made 😛 These cookies look delicious!
Lindsey
August 10, 2013 at 10:34 amAgreed! Right now cake mix is all I can handle!
Lelia Farr
August 10, 2013 at 1:29 pmMessage from Mom: Other variations are limited only by the available cake mixes – for quick fix with a kitchen of hungry boys, I have done them with lemon, cherry chip (huge hit), carrot cake (Halloween), you name it!
Lindsey
August 10, 2013 at 9:44 pm🙂
Choclette
August 11, 2013 at 2:23 amChocolate crackles are so delicious, they are still a fairly new concept to me. Oh but they are so easy to make from scratch. I made some as Christmas presents for the first time last year and they took no time. I still haven’t blogged about them yet though. Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving such a nice comment. Good luck with your wedding.
Lindsey
August 11, 2013 at 10:22 amThanks for stopping by! I’m sure from scratch are easy too but it’s really hard to beat a 5 minute prep time!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
August 11, 2013 at 10:21 amFor a long time I was stubborn too, then I gave in. Cake mix is good, and so easy sometimes when you need easy!
Lindsey
August 11, 2013 at 10:25 amFor serious! I do still feel this need to try crackles at least once from scratch…
Miss Kim @ behgopa
August 12, 2013 at 3:00 amI want some! I totally laughed when you mentioned the stubborn Taurus. I am a Taurus and totally stubborn lol.
Lindsey
August 12, 2013 at 12:08 pmI don’t put a ton of stock in horoscopes but I’ve never met a Taurus that wasn’t as stubborn as a bull! Just handed off the remainder of these delicious crackles to my brother who was passing through Atlanta, so I can finally stop eating them! The Wedding Fairy has been giving me the stink-eye for days.
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen
August 12, 2013 at 11:27 pmNothing wrong with using cake mix every now and then. Especially if it means you only need 4 ingredients. They look so tempting!
Lindsey
August 13, 2013 at 11:03 amAgreed! It’s definitely hard to argue with 4 ingredients and a five minute prep time!
Rachel Cotterill
August 17, 2013 at 6:00 amI don’t really use mixes – but the idea of using a cake mix to make cookies is totally new to me. They look great, ‘cheating’ or no 🙂
Lindsey
August 17, 2013 at 11:52 amThis is the only recipe that I’ve ever used cake mix in (other than cake), but it is definitely one to keep. I still want fresh chocolate cookies even when times are crazy!
Tam Francis
December 11, 2013 at 5:09 pmI just blogged about these because they are one of my fave cookies especially for this time of the year. I do it the long way or I like to call VINTAGE way. I’m all about a 40s lifestyle and even use a vintage 1940s Hamilton Beach mixer. LOL! Anyway, if you’d like the long version (or want to read about jitterbuggin’ and classic movies and books), check out my blog! Thanks for this recipe though, I may try it in a pinch or let the kids do this one! Great to know there IS a shortcut! Happy Christmas.
Lindsey
December 11, 2013 at 6:26 pmThanks! I am a huge fan of doing it the long way 90% of the time. This is a great recipe for kids! I’ll definitely check out your site! Thanks for stopping by!
tam francis
December 11, 2013 at 6:42 pmPlease come on over and post a link back to your site. I would welcome it and it would be a fun option for bakers as well to try your quick recipe!
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