Molasses Cookies

Each year, when the holiday season begins to stir the air with a touch of magic, a familiar and comforting aroma fills our home – that of our cherished molasses cookies. This recipe, a precious gem passed down from my dear mother, captures the joy and warmth of Christmas like no other. Over time, with a dash of love and a sprinkle of creativity, I have fine-tuned this recipe to what it is today – cookies with a soft, chewy texture, beautifully balanced spices, and a characteristic display of cracks on top.

So, why will you fall head over heels for these cookies?

1. Recipe Success: Whether you’re an avid baker or a beginner testing the waters, this recipe ensures a foolproof outcome. Expect perfect cookies, every single time.
2. A New Holiday Tradition: Kickstart a heartwarming Christmas tradition with these cookies. Imagine them being the much-anticipated sweet note that your family looks forward to each holiday season.
3. Comfort in Every Bite: The aroma and flavor of these ginger molasses cookies, with their well-mixed spices and tender texture, is synonymous with comfort and love. It’s like having Christmas spirit baked into a cookie.

Key Ingredients

Here’s a list of ingredients we’ll need for our soft molasses cookies:

• Flour: We’re using all-purpose flour here, but feel free to substitute with a 1:1 gluten-free blend if needed.
• Baking Soda: This is our secret to achieving beautiful cracks and perfect rise in the cookies.
• Spices: Ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves lend a flavorful warmth to our cookies.
• Butter: Opt for unsalted butter to maintain control over the salt content. If you have only salted butter, just adjust the additional salt in the recipe.
• Light Brown Sugar: This provides a rich sweetness and moist texture to our cookies. You could replace it with dark brown sugar, if necessary.
• Molasses: I recommend using unsulphured molasses for a deep, robust flavor. Do not use the blackstrap molasses, the cookies will be bitter.
• Egg: An essential binder that also enhances the texture. Use one large egg that is brought to room temperature.
• Vanilla Extract: I like to use pure vanilla extract instead of imitation. It’s added for an extra layer of flavor, but can be omitted.

How To Make Molasses Cookies

Now that we have our ingredients, let’s get baking! I promise it’s easier than you think, especially with these detailed instructions:

1. Preparation: Preheat your oven to the recommended temperature (this helps the cookies rise and crack beautifully). Get your cookie sheets ready with a lining of parchment paper or with silicone baking mats to ensure the cookies don’t stick.
2. Mixing the Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and spices. This ensures the leavening and spices are evenly distributed throughout the flour.
3. Creaming the Butter and Sugar: In a separate, larger bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This process of whipping together butter and sugar traps air, which helps the cookies rise.
4. Adding the Wet Ingredients: Now it’s time to add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract. Make sure to mix these in well with the creamed butter and sugar to get a consistent blend. You’ll find your mixture is not only smooth but also beautifully glossy!
5. Combining Dry and Wet Mixes: Gradually add the dry ingredients to your wet mixture. This part requires some care – remember not to overmix! Stir until the ingredients are just combined to ensure your cookies have a tender, melt-in-the-mouth texture.
6. Forming Cookies: For consistent, evenly baked cookies, we need uniform dough balls. I use the medium OXO cookie scoop, which holds 1.5 tablespoons of cookie dough. This scoop delivers perfect dough balls weighing around 24 grams each.

1. Baking: Place your formed dough balls on the cookie sheet. Keep an eye on your oven and bake until the cookies just start to show their characteristic cracks. The cookies might feel soft initially but will firm up as they cool. Do remember to let them cool on the baking sheet itself for about 5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Top Tips

• Accurately measure your flour to prevent dry or crumbly cookies. Scoop it into your measuring cup and level it off. Or use a kitchen scale for the most accurate measurement.
• Room Temperature Butter: Using room temperature butter is crucial for the creaming process. It whips up better and blends seamlessly with the sugar, creating a smooth and well-aerated base for your cookies.
• Don’t overmix your dough when you combine the wet and dry ingredients together, as this can make your cookies tough.
• Space Out the Dough: When placing your cookie dough balls on the baking sheet, be sure to leave enough space between them to allow for spread during baking. Nobody wants their cookies to stick together!
• Cooling is Crucial: After taking your cookies out of the oven, let them rest on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. This allows them to firm up slightly and makes them easier to transfer to a cooling rack. Remember, cookies continue to cook from residual heat even after they’re out of the oven, so this rest period helps prevent them from over-baking.
• To store these cookies, let them cool completely before placing them in an airtight container. They can stay fresh for up to a week this way.
• To freeze, wrap each cookie individually in plastic wrap before stowing them in a ziptop bag. This method allows them to last for up to three months.

Recipe FAQs

Other Desserts You Should Try

Why not explore more of my festive treats? You might fall in love with these delicious gingerbread bars, or perhaps you’d like to try your hand at our gingersnaps recipe. If you’re in the mood for more cookies, these gingerbread kiss cookies are definitely worth a try (they’re super cute on cookie trays, too!). And, if you fancy getting creative and want a no-bake treat, you can’t miss out on my gingerbread cookie dough.

For more Christmas inspiration, head over to my extensive Christmas cookie category.

These chewy molasses cookies are more than just a treat; they are a tradition, a symbol of love and warmth, and a true Christmas staple. So go ahead, and give this recipe a try. Remember to rate, review, and pin this recipe on Pinterest. Happy baking!