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Soft Ginger Molasses Cookies

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These chewy molasses cookies are warm, sweet and spicy. They are also soft and chewy. They are sure to be a hit on your holiday cookie tray!

Hand holding crinkly looking spiced molasses cookie.

These soft and chewy cookies are laced with deep molasses flavor and a hint of spice. They are perfect for the holidays or any time.

Ginger molasses cookies are like gingersnaps without the snap. They will definitely dance across your taste buds.

It is funny that even though I come from a very German family on my dad’s side, gingerbread wasn’t really a holiday staple.  We always had sugar cookies, and crescent cookies, there was always peanut brittle and a variety of other cookies and candies.

Scooping out molasses cookie dough and rolling in sugar before baking.

But we never really got into the molasses and spiced cookies.  My husband’s German family, however got a bit more into gingerbread.

His uncle Doug and family bake and send gingerbread men from Washington state each year.  It is the highlight of his grandma’s Christmas season, I think.

She gets the lot of gingerbread men and picks out a couple for each of the family members.  Over the years my love for the combination of molasses, ginger, cinnamon and cloves has grown to the point where it feels like it just wouldn’t be the holidays without the flavor combination.

Now we also make gingerbread cookies cut in cute shapes and decorated with colorful royal icing.  But being a lover of chewy cookies, these molasses cookies might be my favorite way to enjoy the spices of the season.

It turns out I’m not the only one. My brother-in-law and father-in-law also make a bee line for these cookies when they spot them on our cookie trays.

Stack of crinkly looking ginger molasses cookies ready to eat.

They are the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. Honestly, I don’t know why I only make them around the holidays.

Molasses cookies deserve to be made all year long!

What is the best way to store cookies?

Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Try adding a couple of marshmallows to the container to keep them soft longer. For longer storage, freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months.

Plate of sugar coated crinkled molasses cookies ready to be served.

Possible Variations

We always eat our molasses cookies plain, but they would be great dunked in white chocolate too.  Maybe just the bottoms, for a bit of a snap followed by a soft cookie?

You could make a powdered sugar glaze to drizzle over the cookies. Vanilla would be great, but lemon also goes well with ginger treats.

Try making a little cream cheese buttercream to sandwich between two cookies. The creamy frosting and spicy cookies would be so good together.

If you like extra ginger, try putting in some diced crystalized ginger. That would add great texture and zing.

Love this recipe? Give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review in the recipe card below!

Hand holding crinkly looking spiced molasses cookie.

Soft and Spicy Molasses Cookies

Carlee
These molasses cookies are warm, sweet and spicy. They are also soft and chewy. They are sure to be a hit on your holiday cookie tray!
4.86 from 27 ratings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 44 minutes
Total Time 59 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 48 Cookies
Calories 70 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup molasses
  • cup all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • additional granulated sugar for rolling

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Cream together butter and sugar.
    ¾ cup unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar
  • Add egg and molasses and beat until smooth.
    1 large egg, ¼ cup molasses
  • In a small bowl, stir together flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt.
    2¼ cup all purpose flour, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and mix until combined.
  • Roll into 1-inch balls, then roll into sugar. Place a couple of inches apart on a baking sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until puffy and lightly browned.
  • Cool for a couple of minutes on the baking sheet and then move to a wire rack to cool completely
  • Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Serving: 1CookieCalories: 70kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 1gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 62mgSugar: 6g
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Recipe Rating




Carlee

Thursday 7th of December 2017

Ha! Come and get some! xoxox

Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies

Friday 16th of December 2016

Oh my gosh Carlee! I don't know if I have enough flour in the house to get all these cookies made!

Carlee

Saturday 17th of December 2016

There's always more! I picked up another bag at the store yesterday "just in case" I need it this weekend. Apparently I had the same thought before as there were already two bags in the pantry, not to mention the one in the bin already. I guess I better get baking!

Unknown

Tuesday 13th of December 2016

Unless I'm eating a biscotti I like my cookies to be soft and yummy. These look perfect to me. My mom used to make molasses cookies when we were little, adding the ginger, cinnamon and cloves make this 2 of my favorites in one treat! Yes! These would be so good with the cup of coffee I'm drinking right now!

Carlee

Wednesday 14th of December 2016

Me too! I wish I could share!

Unknown

Tuesday 13th of December 2016

What wonderful flavors and yummy cookies!

Carlee

Wednesday 14th of December 2016

Thank you!

Unknown

Sunday 11th of December 2016

These sound and look so perfect for Christmas!!! :)

Carlee

Monday 12th of December 2016

Thank you!