Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

In a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the sugar, cocoa powder, and oil. Beat on medium speed until well combined and shiny.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating until well combined. Beat in the vanilla.
Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, stirring to combine. Add the flour mixture to the cocoa mixture and mix on low speed just until combined.
Cover the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
Once the dough has chilled, preheat oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the powdered sugar in a small bowl.
Using a small ice cream scoop or tablespoon, scoop the chilled dough and roll into roughly one-inch balls. Roll the dough balls in powdered sugar until well coated and place on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. (Only coat as many dough balls as you can fit on the baking sheets at one time. Refrigerate the remaining dough balls and roll in powdered sugar just before baking.)
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are firm and the center is puffed but still appears slightly wet. Let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Don’t rush the chilling time. This dough is quite sticky when it’s first made, so it needs time to firm up before you can roll and coat the balls. Also, a warm dough will result in flat cookies, so don’t let it sit out too long either. If desired, you can shape all of the dough into balls and chill them uncoated, then roll them in sugar just before baking.
Sugar-coat just before baking. Only coat as many dough balls as you can fit on the baking sheets at one time. Otherwise, the cookie dough will absorb the powdered sugar coating as they sit before going in the oven, and can actually create a hard shell keeping the cookies from spreading or crinkling in the oven. Refrigerate the remaining cookie dough balls and roll in powdered sugar just before baking.
Remove the cookies from the oven when the centers still look wet. Though they may not appear as though they are fully baked at this point, the chocolate crinkles will firm up as they cool, leaving a delightfully soft interior for the perfect fudgy chocolate cookies. Baking them much beyond this point will dry out the crinkles.
Save time by making the dough ahead of time. If desired, the chocolate cookie dough can be kept covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, making this recipe a fantastic one to make ahead of time during the busy holiday season.