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ByGaby Dalkin
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These soft and chewy Molasses Cookies are hands down my all time favorite Christmas Cookie! Every year they are the crowd favorite from my Christmas Cookie Roundup.
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
These Molasses Cookies come from my mom - who I think got the recipe from my her mom and she probably got it from her mom. Who knows. Either way - these Molasses Cookies are perfection. The dough comes together quickly, chills in the fridge to harden it up, and then rolled into balls and coated in sugar before baking. The result is a perfectly soft and chewy molasses cookie that you'll totally love!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Unsalted Butter – I like to use unsalted butter when baking to control the amount of salt I add to the recipe. Make sure your butter is at room temperature before creaming it together with the sugars to yield the best results.
- White Sugar– White sugar helps aerate the cookies when creamed with the butter to create tiny air pockets for a crispier cookie.
- Egg – Use large eggs at room temperature. If they're straight from the fridge, they will make the butter seize and won't combine evenly.
- Dark Molasses – Some people might tell you that you can substitute other ingredients like Maple Syrup, Cane Syrup or Sorghum Syrup, but there really isn't anything else that compares to the flavor of molasses. It's carried at almost every grocery store so it's easy to come by, and it keeps for years in the pantry!
- All-Purpose Flour– Measured by scoop and leveling.
- Baking Soda – For leavening, texture, flavor, and browning.
- Spices – I like using a combination of cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground ginger.
*For full list of ingredients and instructions please see recipe card at the bottom of the post.
How to Make Molasses Cookies
Step 1: In a large stand mixer combine the butter, sugar, egg and molasses. Mix for a minute or two until well combined.
Step 2: Slowly add the flour mixture and mix until evenly combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Step 3: Once chilled, scoop 2 tablespoons of dough at a time and roll into balls.
Step 4: Roll them around in a small cup of sugar and set onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
Step 5: After baking remove from the oven and transfer the cookies onto a cooling rack to cool.
Step 6: Store any leftover Molasses Cookies in the freezer. This way they stay fresh even longer!
The in's and outs of Molasses Cookies!
- What does molasses do for cookies?
- Molasses makes baked goods extra soft so these cookies stay chewy even longer!
- What's a good substitute for molasses?
- Some people might tell you that you can substitute other ingredients like Maple Syrup, Cane Syrup or Sorghum Syrup, but there really isn't anything else that compares to the flavor of molasses. It's carried at almost every grocery store so it's easy to come by, and it keeps for years in the pantry!
- How do you store molasses cookies?
- My family has been storing them in the freezer since I was a kid. I'll take out as many as I need an hour or so before I plan on eating them and let them come to room temp. This way they stay fresh even longer! You can also nuke them in the microwave for 10 seconds when they come out of the freezer to speed the process up
- Should I use light or dark molasses?
- For baking - always use dark molasses!
So whip up a double batch of these and store them in the freezer for the next few weeks while you’re prepping for the holidays! Grab a few when you’re sweet tooth strikes and warm them up a bit in the microwave just so you can pretend you’re eating a cooking fresh outta the oven. They are pure perfection - I promise!
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If you tried this recipe, please leave a 🌟star ratingand let me know how it goes in the 📝commentsbelow. Thanks for visiting today!
Molasses Cookies
Author: Gaby Dalkin
4.9 from 52 votes
These perfectly soft and chewy Molasses Cookies are an absolute must-make for your holiday baking!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Total Time 17 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 15 people
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 cup white sugar, plus extra for rolling
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup dark molasses
- 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour (measured by scoop and leveling)
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon powdered ginger
Instructions
In a large stand mixer combine the butter, sugar, egg and molasses. Mix for a minute or two until well combined.
Combine the flour, cloves, ginger cinnamon and baking soda and sift together.
Slowly add the flour mixture to the molasses mixture and mix until evenly combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Once chilled, scoop 2 tablespoons of dough at a time and roll into balls. Roll them around in a small cup of sugar and set onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Remove from the oven and transfer the cookies onto a cooling rack to cool.
Notes
- What does molasses do for cookies?
- Molasses makes baked goods extra soft so these cookies stay chewy even longer!
- What’s a good substitute for molasses?
- Some people might tell you that you can substitute other ingredients like Maple Syrup, Cane Syrup or Sorghum Syrup, but there really isn’t anything else that compares to the flavor of molasses. It’s carried at almost every grocery store so it’s easy to come by, and it keeps for years in the pantry!
- How do you store molasses cookies?
- My family has been storing them in the freezer since I was a kid. I’ll take out as many as I need an hour or so before I plan on eating them and let them come to room temp. This way they stay fresh even longer! You can also nuke them in the microwave for 10 seconds when they come out of the freezer to speed the process up
- Should I use light or dark molasses?
- For baking – always use dark molasses!
Nutrition Information
Calories: 228kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 155mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 300IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg
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How many cookies does the 1x recipe make? Your recipe says it serves 15 people. ?? Thank you.
Reply
30 cookies - 2 per person
Maldon salt is mentioned in the equipment list but the recipe doesn’t mention adding it, nor does have any salt in the recipe. I assume we should sprinkle a little salt after rolling in sugar?Reply
great catch - it shouldn't have been in the equip list! no salt needed unless you want a sprinkle on top before baking
Recipe specifies melted butter, do you mean softened or melted?
Also, I don't see any salt in the recipe...is that correct?
Reply
melted butter is correct! and yes, I dont add salt to these but you totally could add a pinch
Gaby, I love these cookies! I baked them this weekend, but mine turned out kind of flat. I don’t think it was the wine I was drinking, but… any thoughts on what I did wrong?
Reply
Did you measure the flour by scooping and leveling or spooning and leveling?
Hi Gaby! This recipe has been a family favorite ever since I started following you, years ago! But the rule follower in me has a quick question…When you say to “sift” the dry ingredients together in step two, do you want us to use an actual flour sifter tool to sift them all together once combined? Or does a regular whisk get the job done just fine? Thanks for your help!Reply
honestly either works!! I use an actual sifter but I've done it without sifting too
I can't find "dark" molasses anywhere- it's all either blackstrap or just Grandma's "original". Do you have a brand you recommend? Will this work with the regular kind?
Reply
GRANDMA'S ORIGINAL!
