In a world of flashy instagram-worthy cookies stuffed with trendy fillings du jour and the countless other unique recipes out there soliciting oohs and ahhs from bakers, the humble molasses cookie might seem a bit too simple to make a big fuss about. That is exactly why I’m here to make a fuss – molasses cookies are my favorite!
While I’m happy to allow my head to turn for a chocolate chip, a peanut butter blossom, or pretty much any other cookie on the tray, I always come back to this underrated classic. Although, they don’t seem as common as a snickerdoodle or even a shortbread. I think that’s because molasses cookies are suffering from the bad PR sometimes associated with gingerbread. We’ve all bitten into that gingerbread man whose dough was rolled out too many times and ended up tasting more like a spiced piece of chalk than a holiday cookie. Ick!
Molasses cookies are gingerbread’s sophisticated older cousin. While gingerbread cookies can be as hard as a rock, molasses cookies are soft, chewy, and gorgeous.
Even if you think you’d never like them, bake these cookies for your next get together, and you might just join the molasses cookie fan club too! (That is a fantastic shirt idea! Who’s in?)
My Favorite Molasses Cookies
DifficultyEasy
Servings2 to 3 dozen, depending on size
Prep time1 hour30 minutes
Cook time15 minutes
Total time1 hour45 minutes
These spicy, chewy molasses are the perfect sweet treat for fall and winter. Add them to your holiday cookie boxes and they’ll be requested every year!
Ingredients
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 12 tablespoons salted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup molasses
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- extra granulated sugar, for rolling
Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl, use a stand or handheld mixer to cream the butter and sugar until fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla and continue to beat until well mixed. Scrape down the bowl to be sure all ingredients are mixed in evenly.
- 2
In another bowl whisk the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg together. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until combined. The cookie dough will be slightly sticky. Once mixed, cover the dough and chill in the fridge for 1 hour.
- 3
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 4
Add granulated sugar to a dish and use your hands to shape the cookie dough into balls. Roll each in the sugar and arrange on your baking sheet, allowing an inch or two for the cookies to spread. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes or until edges are set.
- 5
Remove from the oven and allow cookies to cool completely before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
For a chewier cookie, try the recipe with melted butter!
Keywords:molasses cookies, gingerbread, holiday cookies, christmas cookies, spice cookies, cookies
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