Bake a batch of North Pole double chocolate “coal” cookies and add a printable label for a festive holiday treat that’s perfect for gifting and sharing.
You might also enjoy similar recipes such as hot cocoa brownie bites or peppermint bark shortbread cookies.
Watch our step by step video!
North Pole Coal Cookies + Printable Cookie Labels
These double chocolate “coal” cookies are rich, soft, and chewy — the kind of cookie that’s too good to pass up even for kids who pretend they want coal. With a deep chocolate flavor and optional mini chocolate chips, these cookies are an excellent addition to any holiday baking lineup. They also look adorable packaged in scalloped white treat boxes with a printable North Pole Cookie Co. label for gifting.
This recipe uses melted butter and dark cocoa for a deep, chocolatey base. Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder is suggested if you prefer a very dark cookie, but any quality cocoa will work. The dough is chillable, which makes it easy to scoop and bake evenly. I often adapt this base recipe for other flavor variations like hot cocoa cookies, mint-chocolate cookies, or chocolate-peanut butter cookies.
To present the cookies as gifts, print and cut the free North Pole Cookie Co. label, then tape or tie it to a box or bag of cookies. The printable label gives a polished, festive look to homemade treats and makes them feel extra special for holiday friends, teachers, or neighbors.
North Pole Coal Cookies Ingredients
(scroll down for a printable-style recipe)
- 1 cup (2 sticks) melted butter
- ½ cup cocoa powder (use a dark baking cocoa for a richer color and flavor)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
How To Make Chocolate Coal Cookies
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Combine the melted butter and cocoa powder in a mixing bowl. Stir until smooth and fully incorporated.
2. Add the brown sugar and white sugar to the butter/cocoa mixture and cream together until combined and slightly glossy.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract and mix until incorporated.
4. Stir in the salt, baking soda, and flour a little at a time until you form a soft cookie dough. Avoid over-mixing to keep the cookies tender.
5. Fold in the mini chocolate chips if using.
6. Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Chilling firms the dough and helps the cookies spread minimally for a soft, chewy center.
7. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Scoop dough with a medium cookie scoop (about 2 tablespoons per cookie) onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie.
8. Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes. The edges should be set while the centers remain slightly soft. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Yield: Approximately 2½ dozen cookies, depending on scoop size. Because these cookies are soft and chewy, store them in a single layer or in two shallow layers rather than stacked thickly to preserve texture.
These cookies are ideal for holiday gift boxes and party platters. Use scalloped treat boxes or any small bakery-style box to present them neatly. Attach the printable North Pole Cookie Co. label to the top of each box for a festive finishing touch.
Fun note: The North Pole theme pairs perfectly with holiday treats and makes these cookies feel whimsical and special for seasonal gifting.
North Pole Cookie Co. Printable Cookie Labels
Print the label on quality paper, trim to size, and affix to boxes or bags with tape or ribbon. A small printed label transforms homemade cookies into charming, gift-ready treats.
North Pole Coal Cookies Recipe (Printable Version)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup melted butter (2 sticks)
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
Directions:
- Combine melted butter and cocoa powder until smooth.
- Cream in brown and white sugars.
- Add eggs and vanilla, mixing until combined.
- Stir in salt, baking soda, and flour until a dough forms.
- Fold in chocolate chips, if desired.
- Chill dough for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Scoop dough (about 2 Tbsp per cookie) onto parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Bake 10 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the pan before transferring to a wire rack.
Notes
This recipe makes about 2½ dozen cookies. Because they remain soft and chewy, store them in a shallow container in a single row or two layers to avoid squashing and to maintain texture.
Nutrition
Calories: approximately 180 kcal per cookie (estimate based on recipe yield and typical ingredient values).
If you bake these for holiday gifting, consider pairing them with other small treats or a handwritten note for a thoughtful, homemade present. Happy baking and enjoy sharing these rich, chocolatey coal cookies this season!