These soft and chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies are just what your holiday season has been waiting for! Delightfully chewy with a crisp sugar coated exterior and plenty of spice and warmth, these molasses cookies are impossible to resist! Holiday baking? Make sure to try these Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies, Coconut Macaroons, and Peppermint Snowball Cookies!Â
Molasses Cookies
Ginger molasses cookies. The quintessential Christmas cookie that needs to happen in your house at least once this season.
I have a number of ginger cookie recipes that I adore. I’m spoiled year-round by my sister who makes ginger cookies all the time for the boys. It’s their favorite. I have three favorite recipes and this is one of them. It yields the prettiest soft molasses cookies you’ve ever seen: soft, chewy and with tons of flavor.
Love all things ginger? Try these recipes!
- Â Slow Cooker Gingerbread Mocha
- Mini Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe with Gingersnap Crust
- Pumpkin Ginger Bars with Maple Glaze
- Pear Ginger Cinnamon Oat Smoothie
What Spices are In Ginger Cookies?
There is a ton of spice in this soft molasses cookie recipe. This combination of three spices makes for a powerful punch:
- ginger
- cinnamon
- cloves
This combination of spices is critical for that extra depth of flavor. It really makes your mouth go wow.
Let’s Make Molasses Cookies
I’m a total sucker for molasses and I think that is the ingredient that makes ginger cookies shine. Such a deep, bold flavor that screams, “Eat me! It’s Christmas time!” Making these cookies is a Christmas tradition and I love that they are SO easy to make.
- Combine flour, baking soda, corn starch, salt, and spices in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugars.
- Beat in the egg and then the vanilla and molasses.
- Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, stirring just until combined.
- Chill for at least 2 hours. I like to leave it in there for a solid 24 hours if I have the time. I know this seems like such a buzzkill when you’re making cookies but chilling does two important things:
- limits spreading
- allows the flavors to meld together
- Scoop out dough, form into a ball, and roll in sugar. This is the part that makes that beautiful, sweet exterior.
- Bake for 9 to 11 minutes being careful not to over bake. Once you see the cookies, cracking, they’re done.
- Let the cookies cool for several minutes on the cookie sheet before moving to a cooling rack.
The cookies can be store in an airtight container for up to a week or frozen, for up to 3 months.
Ginger Molasses Cookie Recipe Ingredients
These cookies are made with all butter – no shortening – so you get that awesome buttery flavor in every bite. I use Challenge butter. The quality is exceptional and I am able to see and taste the difference. It’s flat-out delicious 🙂
Here’s what you’re going to need for these ginger molasses cookies:
- all purpose flour
- baking soda
- corn starch
- salt
- ground ginger
- cinnamon
- ground cloves
- butter
- brown sugar (dark or light)
- granulated sugar
- egg
- vanilla extract
- molasses
Tips For The Best Ginger Cookies
- How do you know your ginger snap cookies are done? Just look for the cracking on the top of the cookie. As soon as you spot that, pull them out because you do not want to over bake these cookies. Let them cool for awhile on the cookie sheet before moving to a cooling rack.
- When you roll the cookie dough balls in sugar, you want to make sure you completely coat the ball. Be generous with that sugar! I think it adds a delightful crunchy sweetness to these cookies AND it’s super sparkly and pretty.
- Do not skip the chilling step! It’s super important for both flavor and presentation.
These really are the perfect soft ginger cookies!
More Cookies To Try
- Butterscotch Shortbread Cookies
- Mint Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies
- Peppermint Shortbread Cookies
- Almond Joy Cookies
- Maple Cinnamon Glazed Peanut Butter Cookies
How To Make Molasses Cookies
Perfect Soft Ginger Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp corn starch
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- 3/4 cup Challenge butter softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar dark or light
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup molasses
Coating
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Combine flour, baking soda, corn starch, salt, and spices in a large bowl. Whisk together.
- In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugars.
- Beat in egg until thoroughly combined.
- Mix in vanilla and molasses.
- Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, stirring just until combined.
- Place in refrigerator for at least 2 hours. I like to leave it in there for a solid 24 hours if I have the time.
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Use cookie scoop to scoop out dough, form into a ball, and roll in sugar. Place on cookies sheet.
- Bake for 9 to 11 minutes being careful not to over bake.
- Let cool for several minutes on the cookie sheet before moving to a cooling rack.
- Store in an airtight container for up to a week or freeze for up to 3 months.
Video
Notes
Tools Needed
Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer | Mixing Bowls | Baking Sheet | Cookie Scoop | Silicone Baking MatÂ
Nutrition
Originally published December 9, 2014.
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Have a great day!
Disclaimer: As an Ambassador for Challenge, I was provided product and compensation for this post by Challenge Butter, but all opinions are, as always 100% my own. I LOVE Challenge Butter!
Robert D. says
These cookies are delicious. Everyone liked them, toddlers, teenagers and adults alike. Will definitely make these again.
Linda says
Mine taste fine but they didn’t crack. I don’t remember if they did when I made them before!
Cynthia Wiza says
I made these amazing cookies and they came out perfect and so delicious. I rate these Beauties five stars!!!
deborah shehane says
I am not a cookie baker, nor much of a cookie eater, really. But your FB post contained three of my favorite kinds of cookies. Oh my goodness. Now I’ve got to go to the store for ingredients. Merry Christmas to you!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Happy baking Deborah!
Bev says
Help I did something wrong with the ginger cookies, they taste great but they are like a pancake, I don’t think I left out any ingredients, what is your thought?
Thanks, because I do want to try again
Al says
Did you soften the butter in the microwave?
Megan says
Ok I oops I added 1/4 C of molasses and not 1/3C. It’s currently in the fridge for over night, should I kneed it in tomorrow or should I take a gamble and maybe they will be snaps? Thanks mom brain!
Megan Hays says
Hi, should I use salted or unsalted butter for this?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Unsalted Megan – thank you!
Sara Graham says
These are ridiculously yummy!
Joyce says
What kind of molasses do you use fancy, blackstrap, or cookin?