This recipe for Zebra cookies makes a rich chocolate cookie with a striped Hershey's Hug pressed in the middle. They're a chocolate crinkle cookie with a sweet treat on top. Always popular, and fun to add to a holiday cookie assortment.
These Zebra Cookies have been a favourite in our family for many years. They're a simple little chocolate thumbprint cookie made spectacular by pressing a striped chocolate Hershey's Hug in the middle.
Chocolate Zebra Cookies are a Christmas tradition
Every family has a different list of things they love to do every year during the Christmas season. Us? Well, I have a long list too, many of which I'm sure are part of your celebrations, as well.
Besides cutting down a tree, putting up outdoor lights, and hanging a wreath, I decorate my home with treasured ornaments I have collected over the years. When the kids were young, they were allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve. (It always used to be new pyjamas, so the kids looked presentable in the Christmas Day photos 😊. Later it was a book).
Our celebrations changed over the years as the kids grew older. In years past, we sampled the Christmas baking while we were decorating the tree. Now I tend to put our tree up earlier and I never have baking done by then!
Some traditions I cherished, like watching Denis lift our youngest child up high to put the angel on top of the tree once it was all decorated, finding heartfelt letters to Santa left on the hearth beside the milk and cookies and snuggling on the couch to read The Night Before Christmas to three little ones in cozy flannel pyjamas.
The food we enjoy at Christmas time has changed too. While we still decorate a gingerbread house, I tend to avoid most things made with refined sugar, and now avoid foods with gluten as well.
These Zebra Cookies, however, made with Hershey's Hugs, are always requested by friends and family who aren't bothered by wheat or gluten, so I've posted them here to save for all. Enjoy!
🛒 Ingredients
Before we get to the full recipe in the recipe card below, here are a few notes about some of the ingredients.
- unsweetened chocolate
- granulated sugar: white sugar produces the best crinkle texture
- unbleached flour: note that these cookies are not gluten-free, like most of my recipes
- icing sugar: also known as confectioner's sugar
- milk chocolate Hershey’s Hugs. These are the striped ones, not the Kisses . . . that’s where the cookies get their name.
🥄 Step-by-step instructions
- Melt the chocolate in a small bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water. Cool.
- Combine the eggs, sugar, melted chocolate, oil, baking powder and vanilla in a large bowl. Whisk together until well combined.
- Gradually add the flour to chocolate mixture, stirring by hand until combined.
- Cover the dough and chill it for 1 to 2 hours. This step is important to insure the cookies don't spread in the oven.
- Shape the dough into ¾ inch to 1 inch balls. Roll in confectioner's sugar. Place the cooies 2″ apart on an ungreased cookie sheet or one lined with parchment paper. Bake at 375°F. for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are set and the tops are cracked.
- While still warm, (but not immediately) press a Hug into the centre of each. If you press it in too soon, the Hug will melt and lose its shape. If you wait too long, the cookie will harden. Cool on a wire rack.
❓Reader's Questions
You can use any of the varieties of Hershey's Kisses. The cookies will still be delicious, they just won't have zebra stripes!
Yes! These Zebra cookies freeze beautifully. Store them in an airtight container with small sheets of parchment paper between layers. They'll last for three months or more.
🍽 Serving suggestions
These chocolate crinkle cookies with a little striped candy on top look even more beautiful when they're arranged with other cookies and bars in a holiday assortment. Try some of my other holiday cookie recipes! The ones below are all gluten-free!
Have a wonderful season, celebrating your own traditions with your family and friends. When you make this chocolate crinkle cookie recipe, please leave a comment and a rating below. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter and have new recipes delivered straight to your inbox!
📖 Recipe
Zebra Cookies
Ingredients
- 4 oz unsweetened chocolate
- 3 large eggs beaten
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup oil
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 cups unbleached flour
- sifted icing sugar for rolling the unbaked cookies
- 48 milk chocolate Hershey’s Hugs . One package will be exactly enough if you don’t sneak any. the striped ones, not the Kisses . . . that’s where the cookies get their name
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Melt unsweetened chocolate in a small bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water. Cool.
- Combine eggs, sugar, melted chocolate, oil, baking powder and vanilla in a large bowl. Whisk together until well combined.
- Gradually add flour to chocolate mixture, stirring by hand until combined.
- Cover the dough and chill it for 1 to 2 hours.
- Shape the dough into 1 inch balls. Roll in icing sugar. Place 2″ apart on ungreased cookie sheet or one lined with parchment paper. Bake at 375°F. for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are set and tops cracked.
- While still warm, (but not immediately) press a Hug into the centre of each. If you press it in too soon, the Hug will melt and lose its shape. If you wait too long, the cookie will harden. Cool on a wire rack.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2014. I've updated it with new information. The recipe remains the same.
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