Old fashioned molasses cookies feature a nice spice from cinnamon and sugar with rich molasses. The result is a soft and chewy cookie that no one can resist.
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What Goes Into Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies?
Molasses cookies are made with spices that make them similar to gingersnaps but not quite. You’ll first combine an egg with a cup of sugar, melted margarine, and molasses. In another bowl, you’ll add all the dry ingredients from the spices to the flour. Combine both bowls together and then chill your dough.
After chilling, you’ll roll the dough into balls, dip them in sugar, and bake until they crack on top. They’ll be irresistible as you pull them out of the oven, but do allow them to cool enough before enjoying. Molasses cookies are a treat that goes quickly on your dessert table so make sure you snag one for yourself before they’re all gone!
Common Questions
Molasses is a bit like honey. When used in cookies, it lends a distinctive brown hue and renders them soft and chewy in texture.
The biggest difference between these 2 cookies is the texture. Molasses cookies come out soft and chewy thanks to the molasses while gingersnaps have a crispier texture.
When prepping your kitchen for baking these molasses cookies, choose a light, unsulfured molasses. It is very sweet and features the least refining so you get a mild yet sweet flavor.
Technically, you can use it in a 1:1 ratio. While maple syrup is great, you won’t get that distinctive flavor molasses is known for. However, you will get a similarity in sweetness and moisture that can be an apt replacement should you be unable to find molasses.
Molasses cookies can be traced back to the late 1800s. As molasses was very inexpensive at the time, it was a very popular ingredient in all cookies even into the early 1900s.
Chopnotch Tips
- Watch your sugar! You’ll need to keep the sugar measurements separate because some goes into the dough while the rest will be used to dip the ball of dough prior to baking.
- Take the time to let the dough chill. Chilled dough always yields better cookies.
- Unlike other recipes, you want the tops of these cookies to crack. This gives it the signature look of molasses cookies.
This is one cookie you’ll be sweet on for life!
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Recipe
How to Make
Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup margarine, melted
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup molasses
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Combine together egg, a cup of sugar, and ¾ cup melted margarine in a bowl until smooth. Stir in ¼ cup molasses.
- In a separate bowl, mix together ½ teaspoon ground cloves, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 2 cups all-purpose flour, and 2 teaspoons baking soda. Blend into the mixture of molasses, and chill for an hour, covered.
- After an hour, roll dough into walnut-sized balls, then dip balls into the leftover white sugar.
- Place cookies on ungreased baking sheets.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees F until tops are cracked, for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Once done, allow them to cool, then enjoy!
Notes
- Watch your sugar! You’ll need to keep the sugar measurements separate because some goes into the dough while the rest will be used to dip the ball of dough prior to baking.
- Take the time to let the dough chill. Chilled dough always yields better cookies.
- Unlike other recipes, you want the tops of these cookies to crack. This gives it the signature look of molasses cookies.
