
Don’t let the humble title fool you, these Dirt Ball Cookies are classic treat that will have everyone going back for seconds. With a dark, cocoa loaded dough and sweet sugar tops, Dirt Ball Cookies are a little rustic and a whole lot delicious. One bite will have you hooked on their soft, chewy centers and perfectly crackled edges. I’ve heard people describe them as a brownie in cookie form, a take we really can’t argue with! If you need a fun new cookie recipe to add to your collection, let this be the one.


What makes these cookies so special is their perfect balance of texture and flavor. A generous amount of cocoa powder gives them a deep, chocolatey base without being overly sweet, while the sugar coating creates a crisp exterior that gives way to a tender interior. The process of pressing each dough ball with a sugar-dipped glass gives the cookies their signature shape and sparkle. It’s a simple step that makes a big difference, and the end result is as beautiful as it is delicious.


Another reason to love Dirt Ball Cookies is how easy they are to whip up. With ingredients you likely already have on hand—butter, sugar, flour, cocoa—they come together in no time. A brief chill in the fridge helps the dough firm up just enough to make scooping and pressing a breeze, and a quick bake ensures they stay soft and chewy in the middle.

They’re perfect for holiday platters, after-school snacks, or those moments when you just need a quick chocolate fix without fussing over fancy decorations or fillings. Serve them with a cold glass of milk, a scoop of ice cream, or simply warm from the oven with sugar still glistening on top. One batch might not be enough—you’ve been warned.

Dirt Ball Cookies
Yield(s): Makes 24 cookies
10m prep time
15m inactive
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar, for pressing
Preparation
- In a large bowl, add butter and 2 cups sugar and mix until well combined, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add egg and vanilla and mix until incorporated.
- In another bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet until just combined.
- Add cocoa powder and mix until fully incorporated.
- Cover dough and chill for 15 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Remove dough from fridge and scoop in 2 tablespoon portions onto the prepared baking sheets, about 8 per sheet.
- Sprinkle the remaining sugar on a small plate and grease the bottom of a large, flat bottomed cup. Dip the cup in the sugar and press down on cookies one at a time to flatten into a ⅓-inch tall circle, dipping into sugar again each time.
- Sprinkle additional sugar on top if desired and bake cookies for 8-10 minutes.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
Recipe adapted from Purplechocolathome.com











