Fudge Crinkles (A Great 4 Ingredient Cake Mix Cookie)

Karen=^..^='s Note:

These are chewy, fudgy, SUPER EASY cookies that you can probably make right now! I have watched these disappear time and again and everyone is always asking for the recipe. It is almost embarrassing to give it out, it is that easy :) Enjoy! (12/14/06: I wanted to add that Betty Crocker has updated this recipe by adding 1 tsp. vanilla extract, but I don't want to change the original recipe.) *12/22/07: Please see my tips at the end of the recipe! **12/23/08: Betty Crocker has now added a version of the same exact recipe in which the cookie dough balls are rolled in granulated sugar instead of powdered sugar. I've tried this and they're also very good.

• Total Time: 15 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 30 cookies

• 1 (18 1/4 ounce) box devil's food cake mix (Betty Crocker Super Moist suggested)
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• confectioners' sugar or granulated sugar, for rolling

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Stir (by hand) dry cake mix, oil and eggs in a large bowl until dough forms.
3. Dust hands with confectioners' sugar and shape dough into 1" balls.
4. Roll balls in confectioners' sugar and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until center is JUST SET.
6. Remove from pans after a minute or so and cool on wire racks.
7. *My Notes*:.
8. I have tried these with several different cake mix brands. They all come out good, but the Betty Crocker does come out the best.
9. I was having a problem with my cookies flattening while baking. This usually happens with the generic cake mix brands. You can play with your oven temp and try them on 375 to keep them from spreading. Adding more oil than called for will also cause the cookies to spread -- I wouldn't suggest it, they really don't need extra oil.
10. Another way to keep them nice and thick and to get the most "crinkled" or "crackled" look is to make them bigger. When I roll them at about 1.5 inches they look prettier.
11. And my best tip: My confectioners' sugar was consistently being absorbed by the dough. The last time I baked them, I rolled them into balls without rolling in the sugar and let them "dry" for a few minutes. Then I rolled them in sugar and baked. These came out with a nice coating of sugar that didn't disappear.

Reviews

[Java]

I have always had trouble making the usual Chocolate Crinkles - they always turned out crunchy! These are so easy - I have made them three times for Christmas already and will probably make more today. I do chill the dough which makes them a little easier to work with. Great recipe!

[Deb New]

A super easy and fast recipe. I had a bit of trouble getting the cookies to "set" -- a few passes back through the oven did the trick. I recommend a beginning bake time of no less than 12 minutes. Also, really dredge the cookie balls in the sugar ... much is absorbed during baking, which leaves the cookies with only a minimum of white powdered coating. I plan on decreasing the oil to 1/4 cup to see if this helps stop the powdered sugar from "disappearing."

[ciao]

Karen, these were AWESOME! I have three words for anyone thinking of making these: QUICK, EASY, DELICIOUS! I only wish I had made a double batch of these! You can bet next time I will! BTW, these were for my Christmas goody trays, and everyone loved them, especially my husband, who would rather not have parted with them...but you know, Christmas, better to give than to receive, all that.:) Thanks for another great recipe!