Description

These Very Best Chocolate Cookies are rich, fudgy, and packed with deep chocolate flavor enhanced by cocoa powder and an optional hint of espresso and cardamom. Soft on the inside with crisp edges, these cookies offer a perfectly balanced texture and sweetness, ideal for any chocolate lover.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
3 1/2 cups brown sugar, loosely packed
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (470 grams)
1 cup dark cocoa powder (100 grams)
1–2 tablespoons espresso powder (optional)
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

For Rolling

Extra cane or granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)

Instructions

Mix Wet Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350°F. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the unsalted butter and brown sugar together until the mixture is fluffy and light. Then, add the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing gently just until combined to maintain a smooth wet base.
Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour, dark cocoa powder, espresso powder (if using), baking soda, and salt to the wet ingredients in the mixer. Mix until everything is fully incorporated into a soft, chocolatey dough.
Roll Dough: Using about 1/4 cup of dough per cookie, form the dough into balls. Roll each ball in the extra cane or granulated sugar, mixed with ground cardamom if desired, to add a sweet and aromatic crust.
Bake: Place the sugared dough balls spaced on a baking sheet, baking 6-8 cookies at a time for 10-12 minutes in the preheated oven. Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them rest on the baking sheet. This resting time helps the cookies develop crisp edges while keeping a soft, thick center.

Notes

For deeper chocolate flavor, use espresso powder if you are using regular cocoa powder; it enhances the chocolate notes.
Rolling the dough balls in sugar with cardamom adds a subtle aromatic twist that pairs wonderfully with chocolate.
Bake in small batches to ensure even baking and avoid overcrowding the baking sheet.
Allow cookies to rest after baking on the sheet for best texture results—crispy outside with a soft interior.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: chocolate cookies, fudgy cookies, homemade chocolate cookies, best chocolate cookie recipe, chocolate dessert