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    Home » Cookies & Brownies

    Published May 30, 2020 · Updated May 20, 2022 · by Tammy Spencer · This post may contain affiliate links.

    How to Make Chocolate Cookie Crumbs

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    If you need chocolate cookie crumbs for a recipe, there's no need to go to the store or even make chocolate cookies first. These cookie crumbs are very chocolatey, easy to make, and perfect for pie crusts or as a topping or mix-in!

    Chocolate cookie crumbs in a glass bowl from overhead. this …

    Why this recipe works

    • Chocolate cookie crumbs are easy to make with common ingredients
    • Very chocolately, these cookie crumbs taste great as a chocolate pie crust or as a recipe mix-in
    • No need to go to the store or even bake chocolate cookies first

    Does your recipe call for chocolate cookie crumbs, but you don't have chocolate cookies at hand? Want to make a chocolate pie crust, but can't get to the store?

    Not to worry! You can make your own Chocolate Cookie Crumbs using common ingredients. Making tasty chocolate cookie crumbs is fast and easy, and you don't even have to make the chocolate cookies first!

    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe works
    • What you need
    • How to Make Chocolate Cookie Crumbs
    • Questions asked and answered
    • Pro Tip: Make an easy chocolate pie crust
    • Have cookie crumbs when you need them
    • Related Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    What you need

    You just need some common ingredients to make this cookie crumb recipe: flour, cocoa powder, sugar, butter, and salt. That's less than what you'd need to make the cookies themselves!

    Chocolate cookie crumb ingredients portioned into glass bowls from overhead.
    All you need to make your own chocolate cookie crumbs (here they're made mint-flavored)

    How to Make Chocolate Cookie Crumbs

    Step 1: Make the dough

    The process starts like you're making cookies, except the dough is much drier (there's really no liquid being added besides that in the butter).

    Cream the butter and sugar together using a hand mixer on high speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed (photo 1).

    a small scone
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    Creaming butter & sugar in a glass bowl.
    Creaming the butter and sugar together

    In a small bowl, sift the flour and cocoa powder together to remove any lumps. Whisk in the salt.

    Add the flour mixture and any extract (if using) to the butter mixture. Use a spatula to just combine, then stir with the mixer on low speed until the crumb mixture is uniform, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. The dough will be dry and crumbly (photo 2).

    Collage of mixing in flour, cocoa powder, & salt to make chocolate cookie crumb dough.
    The cookie crumb mixture is dry and crumbly, unlike regular cookie dough

    Step 2: Bake the crumbs

    Pour the crumb mixture onto a half sheet baking pan lined with a Silpat silicone mat or parchment paper and spread it to approximately ½-inch thick.

    Bake the crumb mixture at 350˚F for 10 minutes, rotating after 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and stir the crumbs around so they bakes evenly (photo 3).

    Collage of chocolate cookie crumbs before and halfway through baking.
    Bake the cookie crumbs for a few minutes before stirring to prevent burning

    Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes (photo 4). Cool the crumbs on the pan for about 10 minutes.

    Baked chocolate cookie crumbs on a baking pan.
    The baked cookie crumbs cooling

    Step 3: Process the crumbs

    Break up the larger chunks, then transfer the crumbs to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until they are a small and uniform, about 20 seconds (photo 5).

    Collage of pulsing cookie crumbs in a food processor.
    After baking, pop the cookie crumbs into a food processor to make them small and uniform

    Questions asked and answered

    Here are some questions you might have...

    What can I do with cookie crumbs?

    Beyond the usual cookie pie crust, you can use cookie crumbs as a mix-in for trifle or ice cream, sprinkle them on pudding or mousse, or as a coating for truffles and rum balls. You can even use them to rim your glass for your favorite chocolate cocktail!

    Can I flavor the cookie crumbs?

    Sure! For variety, you can flavor the cookie crumbs with vanilla extract, or choose another flavor like almond, mint (pictured with the ingredients above), or orange flavor extracts.

    Finished chocolate cookie crumbs in a glass bowl from overhead.

    Pro Tip: Make an easy chocolate pie crust

    You can use these chocolate cookie crumbs to make a delicious chocolate pie crust using the same method as you would for a graham cracker pie crust. After crushing the cookie crumbs in the food processor, transfer the crumbs to a bowl and stir in melted and cooled butter. The crumbs will feel slightly wet.

    Using your fingers, press the crumbs into the bottom and sides of your pie pan, forming a uniform crust. Refrigerate for 20 minutes before filling for a no-bake crust, or bake at 375˚F for 10 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool before filling.

    • For a 7-inch pie pan: use the same ingredient amounts and use 1½ tablespoons of melted and cooled butter
    • For a 9-inch pie pan: double the ingredients and use 3 tablespoons of melted and cooled butter

    Have cookie crumbs when you need them

    These cookie crumbs hold their texture well, and aren't too hard or gritty. They've got a wonderful chocolate flavor that can be a nice complement or counterpoint to other flavors.

    Since these crumbs are dry, they store well in an airtight container at room temperature for a week or two, and freeze well in a ziplock bag. This recipe makes 1½ cups of cookie crumbs.

    Chocolate Mint Marshmallow Ice Cream in bowl with spoon on a green towel.
    Use chocolate cookie crumbs to mix in to ice cream

    That's it! Now you can have chocolate cookie crumbs for whatever purpose suits your fancy whenever you need them. No chocolate cookies or shopping trip needed!

    Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!

    Tammy

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    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and a comment further down the page, follow me on Instagram and Pinterest, and become a fan on Facebook. You can also share the photo and link with your friends on Facebook or Pinterest using the hashtag #scotchandsconesblog so that more folks can enjoy it!

    Recipe

    Chocolate cookie crumbs in a glass bowl from overhead.

    How to Make Chocolate Cookie Crumbs

    Tammy Spencer
    If you need chocolate cookie crumbs for a recipe, there's no need to go to the store or even make chocolate cookies first. These cookie crumbs are very chocolatey, easy to make, and perfect for pie crusts or as a topping or mix-in!
    Adapted from Serious Eats
    4.86 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Cooling Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Course DIY ingredients
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 oz
    Calories 149 kcal

    Equipment

    • half sheet baking pan
    • Silpat silicone mat or parchment paper
    • sifter
    • hand mixer
    • food processor
    Prevent your screen from going dark while cooking

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 3½ tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
    • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
    • ½ cup all-purpose flour, sifted
    • ¼ cup cocoa powder, sifted
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract, or another flavor extract, optional, see Recipe Notes

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Line a half sheet baking sheet with a Silpat silicone mat or parchment paper and set aside.
    • In a bowl medium bowl, cream the butter and sugar together using a hand mixer on high speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
    • In a small bowl, sift the flour and cocoa powder together to remove any lumps. Whisk in the salt.
    • Add the flour mixture and vanilla extract (if using) to the butter mixture. Use a spatula to just combine, then stir with the mixer on low speed until the crumb mixture is uniform, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. The dough will be dry and crumbly.
    • Pour the crumb mixture onto the baking pan and spread it to approximately ½-inch thick.
    • Bake the crumb mixture for 10 minutes, rotating after 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and stir the crumbs around so it bakes evenly. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Cool the crumbs on the pan for about 10 minutes.
    • Break up the larger chunks, then transfer the crumbs to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until they are a small and uniform, about 20 seconds.
    • Since these crumbs are dry, they store well in an airtight container at room temperature for a week or two, and freeze well in a ziplock bag.
    • This recipe makes 1½ cups of cookie crumbs, enough to mix into ice cream or make a small cookie pie crust (see the Recipe Notes for how to make a cookie crumb pie crust).

    Notes

    You can vary the flavoring for the cookie crumbs with different extracts. Substitute ⅛ teaspoon mint, almond, or orange extracts for the vanilla, for example.
    How to make a cookie crumb pie crust:
    After crushing the cookie crumbs in the food processor, transfer the crumbs to a bowl and stir in melted and cooled butter. The crumbs will feel slightly wet.
    Using your fingers, press the crumbs into the bottom and sides of your pie pan, forming a uniform crust. Refrigerate for 20 minutes before filling.
    • For a 7-inch pie pan: use the same ingredient amounts and use 1½ tablespoons of melted and cooled butter
    • For a 9-inch pie pan: double the ingredients and use 3 tablespoons of melted and cooled butter

    Your Notes

    Click here to add your own private notes

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 ozCalories: 149 kcalCarbohydrates: 21 gProtein: 2 gFat: 7 gSaturated Fat: 5 gCholesterol: 18 mgSodium: 99 mgPotassium: 66 mgFiber: 1 gSugar: 11 gVitamin A: 207 IUCalcium: 7 mgIron: 1 mg
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Elizabeth says

      June 02, 2020 at 10:38 am

      5 stars
      Fun recipe, can't wait to see what fun thing you made with yours!

      Reply
      • Tammy says

        June 02, 2020 at 10:43 am

        Thanks!

        Reply

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    Profile picture - Tammy, July 2019 square

    Hi, I'm Tammy! My fascination with baking comes from my love of science and the magic of bringing together ingredients to produce something yummy. Coupling that with my appreciation of scotches and bourbons, I love to bake stuff, jot down my whisky tasting notes, and share my experiences with you!

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