North Pole Coal Cookies

They're especially fun to make for kids because you can package them with a "Naughty or Nice" theme or give them as a playful Christmas gift. They're also easy enough to make with kids, making them a fun addition to a holiday baking day.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Rich and chocolatey. These cookies have a soft, fudgy chocolate-cookie base that's perfect for chocolate lovers.
• Easy to decorate. You don't need detailed decorating skills. The cookies are simply shaped and finished to resemble pieces of coal.
• Perfect for Christmas. The playful coal theme makes these cookies especially fun for Christmas parties, cookie exchanges, and holiday gifting.
• Great for kids. Kids can help shape and decorate the cookies, making this a fun Christmas baking project.

• Make a fun naughty-or-nice gift. Package a few cookies in a clear bag with a "North Pole Coal" label for a cute Christmas gift.

Tips and Tricks

• Don't overbake the cookies. The cookies should stay soft and fudgy in the center. Overbaking will make them dry and take away from their brownie-like texture.
• Use a cookie scoop. A cookie scoop makes it easy to portion the dough evenly so the cookies bake at the same rate.
• Let the cookies cool completely before decorating. Warm cookies are softer and more fragile, so give them plenty of time to cool before handling and decorating.
• Don't worry about making the coal pieces perfect. Part of the fun is that every piece can look a little different. Rough, irregular shapes actually make them look more like chunks of coal.
• Make them extra dark. Use a good-quality unsweetened cocoa powder for the deepest chocolate color and flavor. Hershey's Special Dark is a great, affordable option.
• Package them for gifting. Put several cookies into a cookie box or clear cellophane bag and add a printable "North Pole Coal" label for an easy Christmas gift.

Ingredients

• Butter: Butter gives the cookies a rich flavor and soft texture.
• Granulated sugar: Sugar sweetens the cookies and helps create their chewy texture.
• Egg: Egg adds richness and helps bind the cookie dough together.
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla enhances the chocolate flavor.
• All-purpose flour: Flour provides structure for the cookies while keeping them soft.
• Cocoa powder: Cocoa powder gives these cookies their deep chocolate flavor and dark color.
• Baking soda: Baking soda provides the leavening needed to give the cookies some lift.
• Salt: Salt balances the sweetness and intensifies the chocolate flavor.
• Chocolate chips: Chocolate chips add extra chocolate flavor and create pockets of melted chocolate throughout the cookies.

See the recipe card below for the complete ingredient list and exact measurements.

How to Make North Pole Coal Cookies

Step 1: Make the cookie dough. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until combined.

Step 2: Add the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until a soft dough forms.

Step 3: Add the chocolate chips. Fold the chocolate chips into the cookie dough until evenly distributed.

Step 4: Shape the cookies. Scoop portions of dough onto a baking sheet. Gently shape each portion into an irregular ball so the finished cookies resemble pieces of coal.

Step 5: Bake the cookies. Bake until the cookies are set around the edges but still soft in the center. Don't overbake them—you want them to stay fudgy.

Step 6: Cool the cookies. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

How to Store North Pole Coal Cookies

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh for several days. For gifting, allow the cookies to cool completely before packaging them so condensation doesn't build up inside the bag or container.

Can You Freeze North Pole Coal Cookies?

Yes! These cookies can be frozen for longer storage.

Place completely cooled cookies in an airtight freezer-safe container with parchment paper between the layers. Freeze for up to 2-3 months and thaw at room temperature before serving. You can also freeze the cookie dough and bake the cookies later.

Frequently Asked Questions