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    Home » Cookies » Best Molasses Cookies

    Best Molasses Cookies

    Published: Nov 26, 2018 · Modified: Feb 28, 2020 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Best Molasses Cookies! These soft and chewy ginger molasses cookies don't need to be chilled before baking. Perfect Christmas cookie recipe!

    Molasses cookies in a silver metal tin

    Out of all of the seasonal winter flavors, gingerbread is my favorite. I love the combination of the molasses and the warm spices in gingerbread.

    My mom made gingerbread and molasses cookies around Christmas each year, and the smell of the gingerbread always takes me back.

    And these really are the best molasses cookies! I make this recipe every year.

    The cookies are soft in the middle with just a little chew at the edges. And the dough doesn't need to be chilled before baking.

    They are perfect to whip up any time the craving strikes!
    Stack of molasses cookies in a silver tin

    Tips 

    Molasses cookie dough in a silver mixing bowl

    You'll need the butter to be at the correct temperature. Cool room temperature means that the butter is soft enough to dent when you press on it, but the stick of butter should still keep its shape.

    Molasses cookie dough on a silicone baking mat

    If it smooshes when you press on it, the butter is too warm. Using butter that's too warm will cause the cookies to bake out and give you flat, greasy cookies.

    What type of molasses should I use?

    I recommend using either mild or robust molasses. Blackstrap molasses will give the cookies a bitter flavor.

    Soft Ginger Molasses Cookies

    Do I need to chill the dough?

    This dough doesn't need to be chilled, which makes it a great choice for whipping up a quick batch of cookies.

    However, if your butter (or kitchen) is too warm, you may find that a quick chill in the fridge gives you a thicker cookie.

    Soft Ginger Molasses Cookies

    How to store molasses cookies

    I store the cookies in a resealable bag or container. They stay good for about 3-4 days.

    Molasses cookies on a silicone baking mat

    More recipes that use molasses!

    • Gingerbread Pudding Cake
    • Gingerbread
    • Gingerbread Muffins

    If you’ve tried this molasses cookie recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes! You can SUBSCRIBE to receive my latest recipe newsletters or FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for even more delicious food.

    Molasses cookies in a silver metal tin

    Best Molasses Cookies

    Easy recipe that makes soft ginger molasses cookies.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 28 cookies
    Calories: 131kcal
    Author: Kate @ I Heart Eating

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup packed brown sugar
    • ½ cup shortening
    • ¼ cup butter at cool room temperature¹
    • ¼ cup molasses²
    • 1 large egg
    • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
    • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt³
    • ¼ cup granulated sugar
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 325F.
    • In large bowl, beat brown sugar, shortening, butter, molasses, and egg until well-combined.
    • Stir in remaining ingredients except granulated sugar.
    • Shape dough by rounded tablespoonfuls into 1 ½-inch balls. Dip tops into granulated sugar.
    • On ungreased cookie sheet, place balls, sugared sides up, about 2 inches apart.
    • Bake 10-15 minutes or just until set. The cookies will still look a little wet in the cracks, but the tops and edges should be set. The cookies will also be a little puffed up but will deflate as they cool.
    • Let cookies cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes, and then remove cookies to cooling rack.

    Video

    Notes

    1. The butter should dent when you press on it but shouldn't lose its shape. If the butter smooshes when you press on it, it's too warm. 
    2. Mild or robust molasses will work. I don't recommend blackstrap molasses as it has a bitter flavor.
    3. Or ¼ teaspoon table salt. 
    4. Nutrition values are estimates. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 131kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 140mg | Potassium: 67mg | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 0.7mg
    Tried this recipe? Rate it below. Mention @i_heart_eating on Instagram & tag #ihearteating!

    Originally published 12/5/16. Updated with new photos and tips 11/26/18.

    Adapted from Betty Crocker.

    « Crock Pot French Toast
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    About Kate

    Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kinzey

      November 24, 2021 at 12:28 pm

      5 stars
      It was unanimous, we all loved these molasses cookies.

      Reply
      • Kate

        November 25, 2021 at 12:28 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
    2. Sara

      March 05, 2021 at 6:14 pm

      5 stars
      This is my favorite molasses cookie recipe. It turns out perfect every time.

      Reply
      • Kate

        March 05, 2021 at 7:15 pm

        Thank you so much!!

        Reply
    3. Lana

      December 15, 2020 at 9:33 pm

      5 stars
      My fav !

      Reply
      • Kate

        December 16, 2020 at 9:33 am

        Thank you!!

        Reply
      • Denise Noble

        September 28, 2021 at 1:39 pm

        Can you use all butter in place of the shortening?

        Reply
        • Kate

          October 04, 2021 at 10:43 pm

          Hi! Using all butter will cause the cookies to bake out more.

          Reply
    4. Laura

      December 13, 2019 at 9:16 am

      5 stars
      These are great Christmas cookies. We loved them.

      Reply
      • Kate

        December 13, 2019 at 11:20 am

        Yay!! I'm so glad to hear that. Thank you for commenting!

        Reply
    5. Allison

      December 10, 2018 at 11:53 am

      5 stars
      Absolutely perfect!! We’ve been on the quest for a favorite molasses cookie & this one wins hands down. The combo of butter & shortening is brilliant. Thank you so much for posting!

      Reply
      • Kate

        December 10, 2018 at 12:26 pm

        Thank you so much! This is my favorite molasses cookie, and I love to hear that other people are enjoying it too. =) Thank you for coming back to comment!

        Reply
    6. Gen

      November 29, 2018 at 8:45 am

      5 stars
      These are my new fave cookies! This is the easiest recipe and the cookies are so soft.

      Reply
      • Kate

        November 29, 2018 at 11:53 am

        Thanks! My family loves these cookies, and it's great to hear that other people are enjoying them, too. =)

        Reply
    7. Kelly Lynn's Sweets and Treats

      December 05, 2016 at 10:02 pm

      I love that these are soft!! I definitely need to make these ??

      Reply

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    I’m Kate Dean- mom to five young kids, recipe developer, and photographer. Here at I Heart Eating®, I share my family’s favorite tried-and-true recipes.

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