Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies Recipe (2024)

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by Haley//November 1, 2018 (updated October 11, 2022)

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If you want a cookie that gives you all the cozy winter vibes, then I have a recipe for you. Warm baking spices and molasses create a flavorful ginger molasses cookie perfect for Christmas and snowy days!

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies Recipe (1)

Cookie season is here and these chewy molasses cookies are a must for the holiday season. I am a fan of pretty much all cookies, but every now and then I bake a cookie that is especially hard to resist. These cookies are one of them. They are chewy and crinkly at the same time, plus they have all the good baking spices.

Table of Contents

Why this recipe works

The molasses and brown sugar create the most perfect chewy consistency while cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg bring in the winter spice flavor. Talk about a killer combo!

Ingredient notes

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies Recipe (2)
  • Unsalted butter: Unsalted is best when baking (make sure it’s room temperature).
  • White and brown sugar: A mix of sugars gives great flavor and improves the texture of these cookies.
  • Molasses: Grabbing a bottle of this sweetener (if you don’t normally use it) gives these cookies their deep taste.
  • Spices: Mix up some cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves here. The combo is what adds depth rather than using a single flavor.
  • Cinnamon Sugar: Take the extra step of rolling the dough in sugar before baking. This gives the baked cookies a sweet crunchy bite.

Recipe variations

If you prefer to use fresh ginger in your cookies, you totally can use it! I recommend grating the ginger on a fine grate for best results. Start with 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger and adjust according to your preferred taste.

Another way to personalize these cookies is adding a simple glaze on top. Is suggest the maple glaze I use on my gingerbread scones. Whisk together 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, 1 Tablespoon pure maple syrup and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Add milk if needed for thinner consistency. Drizzle glaze over cookies and serve.

I also love to use these cookies to make ice cream sandwiches with eggnog ice cream. It’s such a lovely flavor combo!

Add some mix-ins, such as 1 cup chopped nuts or white chocolate chips. I also think raisins would taste amazing (I use them in hermit cookies, which have a similar flavor profile).

How to make ginger molasses cookies

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies Recipe (3)
  1. Whisk together dry ingredients—flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Set aside.
  2. Beat together wet ingredients—butter and sugars, then egg, vanilla and molasses.
  3. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Stir just until combined.
  4. Shape dough into balls and roll in cinnamon sugar.
  5. Bake cookies at 350° F for 8 to 10 minutes until edges are set.

Expert tips

The key to a crinkly top cookie is using enough sugar in the dough and then rolling the cookie dough balls in sugar before baking. They will glisten and shimmer making them super appealing on the cookie platter.

If you want thicker cookies, chill the cookie dough before rolling into balls and baking. About an hour of chilling should do the trick! You can also chill the dough for up to 48 hours for easy holiday prep.

​​​​​​​Frequently Asked Questions

Which molasses is best for cookies?

Light molasses (unsulphured) works best to keep cookies soft. I prefer Grandma’s Original Molasses for these cookies.

How to soften molasses cookies:

Place a small apple slice in an airtight container with the cookies. In a couple hours they should be soft again!

Can you freeze the cookie dough?

Yes. Store the dough in an airtight container or wrap securely with plastic wrap. Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator before baking.

Why are my molasses cookies hard?

Too much flour is usually the answer. I use a kitchen scale to weigh my flour. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, fluff up your flour with a fork then spoon it into a measuring cup (never pack down flour). Another culprit is over-baking. The edges of the cookies should be set, but the center soft (only about 8 minutes of baking!)

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies Recipe (4)

Related recipes

Molasses is a unique flavor that lends itself well to baking. Here are more ways to use up your jar!

Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies
Gingerbread Man Cookies
Pfeffernüsse Cookies
Gingerdoodle Cookies (aka Ginger Snickerdoodles)

Did you love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below and if you REALLY loved it, consider leaving a comment further down the page.

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies Recipe (9)

Get the Recipe: Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

Yield: 24 cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 8 minutes mins

Total Time: 18 minutes mins

Chewy ginger molasses cookies are made with baking spices and molasses to create a flavorful cookie perfect for Christmas and the winter season!

4.92 (12 ratings)

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Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ cup (113 g or 1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar, (light or dark)
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup light unsulphured molasses

For the cinnamon sugar coating:

  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. Set aside.

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer (or using a hand mixer), beat butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg, vanilla and molasses, and beat until the dough turns a light brown color, about 2 more minutes.

  • With the mixer on low, slowly add the flour mixture to the dough and mix together until just combined.

  • In separate a small bowl, mix together your cinnamon and sugar topping. Use a cookie scoop to scoop 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball. Roll your dough ball into the cinnamon sugar mixture.

  • Place cookie dough on prepared sheet and space about 2 inches apart.Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until cookies are crinkly and the edges are set. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool for 2 minutes on cookie sheet before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Notes

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days.

Store cookie dough in an airtight container the refrigerator for up to two days or in the freezer for up to three months. Let dough defrost in the refrigerator before baking.

Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 125kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 17mg, Sodium: 100mg, Potassium: 71mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 13g, Vitamin A: 128IU, Calcium: 16mg, Iron: 1mg

Author: Haley D Williams

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

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Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Which molasses is best for cookies? ›

Medium Or Dark Molasses

“It adds enough bold flavor and sweet notes with a hint of bitterness to any recipe, which is exactly what you want for making gingerbread cookies.” Bourdon added that it's also versatile and can be used for marinades, baked beans, sauces, breads and recipes for other foods.

Why are my ginger molasses cookies flat? ›

If your cookies repeatedly turn out flat, no matter the recipe, chances are your oven is too hot. Here's what's happening. The butter melts super quickly in a too-hot oven before the other ingredients have firmed up into a cookie structure. Therefore, as the butter spreads so does the whole liquidy cookie.

What makes a chewy cookie? ›

Cornstarch helps product soft and thick cookies. Using more brown sugar than white sugar results in a moister, softer cookie. An extra egg yolk increases chewiness. Rolling the cookie dough balls to be tall and lumpy instead of wide and smooth gives the cookies a bakery-style textured thickness.

Why are my ginger molasses cookies not cracking? ›

Molasses cookie dough won't have those signature cracks on top if the dough is too wet. The cracks happen when the surface of the dough dries up. Rolling in sugar really helps this because the sugar binds the moisture and dries out the dough.

Which is better Sulphured or Unsulphured molasses? ›

Usulphured vs.

Sulphured molasses is molasses that has been treated with sulphur dioxide as a preservative. However, since the sulphuring process can leave the molasses with a strong pronounced chemical flavor and is less sweet, most commercial molasses is unsulphured.

What is the secret ingredient to keep cookies soft? ›

If you enjoy your cookies soft and chewy, chances are likely the recipe contains a common ingredient that serves a very specific purpose. No, it's not granulated sugar, nor the butter. It's not the egg, all-purpose flour, or even the vanilla extract. The simple, yet oh-so-necessary component is cornstarch.

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

Why are ginger cookies so hard? ›

“There are some gingerbread recipes that are hard right after baking and need to sit for a few days to soften. Molasses and honey hardens gingerbread, but as the sugar absorbs moisture, it will get softer.”

What is the secret to making cookies soft and chewy? ›

Baking cookies quickly in a hot oven – at 375 degrees F as opposed to a lower temperature – will make for soft results. They'll bake fast instead of sitting and drying out in the oven's hot air. Ever so slightly underbaking your cookies will give you softer results than cooking them the full amount the recipe says.

How do I get my cookies soft and chewy? ›

How to Make Soft Cookies
  1. Cream your butter and sugar well.
  2. Choose a low-protein flour.
  3. Don't overmix your dough.
  4. Chill your dough.
  5. Use a higher ratio of white to brown sugar.
  6. Don't chill your dough.
  7. Smash your dough and bang the pan.
Feb 19, 2021

What are 3 factors that contribute to a chewy cookie? ›

The ingredients you use and how you shape your cookies both play an important role in whether your cookies turn out crispy or chewy. The type of flour and sugar you use, if your cookie dough contains eggs, and whether you use melted or softened butter all factor into the crispy-chewy equation, too.

How do you know when molasses cookies are done? ›

Easy to Notice Signs:
  1. Golden Brown Edges – Check the edges of the cookies for a golden brown colour. This indicates that the cookies have caramelized and are likely done. ...
  2. Set Centres – Gently touch the centre of a cookie. ...
  3. Light Cracking – Look for light cracks on the surface of the cookies.
Oct 18, 2023

What's the difference between a ginger snap and a molasses cookie? ›

Gingersnaps typically have a crisp, snappy texture and a spicier, more pronounced ginger flavor, while molasses cookies are soft with a deeper, rich molasses flavor. Can this dough be frozen? Definitely!

Why don t my ginger cookies crackle on the top? ›

Not enough leavening (it needs to be strong enough to crack the top once it's set) Using a single-acting baking powder (double acting gives extra rise when it gets heated) Not creaming the fat long enough (creaming cuts little air pockets into the fat, which means the leavening has to do less work)

What type of molasses is best for baking? ›

Light molasses is the liquid that remains after the first white sugar is extracted from cane juice. The flavor is lighter and has more fruity notes to it, in the same way the first pressing of olives makes a lighter, fruitier olive oil. Light (sometimes called "fancy") molasses is ideal for baked goods and candies.

Why not use blackstrap molasses in cookies? ›

Using Molasses in Baking

It's dark, dense, and comparatively dry, thanks to the lower moisture content of blackstrap. It's also bitter and salty, so there's nothing to temper the heat of the ginger, making it all but inedible.

Is sulfured or unsulfured molasses better? ›

Sulfured vs.

Molasses made from ripe sugar cane is called unsulfured molasses because it has no additives. If green, unripe sugarcane is used, it is treated with sulfur dioxide first to preserve it. It can leave a chemical taste in the mouth, so we recommend looking for unsulfured molasses whenever possible.

What's the difference between Supreme baking molasses and blackstrap molasses? ›

Blackstrap Molasses contains more minerals than Supreme Baking Molasses because it is more concentrated as more sugar has been removed.

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