I just really love this soft chewy molasses cookies recipe. This is one of my sister’s favorite cookies to make especially during the holidays.
If you are not familiar with these kinds of cookies, molasses cookies are kind of a cross between a gingerbread cookie, ginger snap, and a sugar cookie.
I love how chewy they are and the hint of ginger and sweetness. These cookies just melt into the mouth. Add a cup of milk with them and you are in flavor heaven. They are so easy to make, if I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get baking!
Step 1: Gather the ingredients
In order to make these delicious cookies you will need the following ingredients:
- Flour
- Baking soda
- Cinnamon
- Ground cloves
- Ginger
- Salt
- Egg
- Shortening, butter, or margarine
- Granulated sugar
- Molasses – The star of this cookie recipe.
Step 2: How to make soft chewy molasses cookies
Begin by adding all of the dry ingredients, the flour, baking soda, salt, ground cloves, cinnamon, and ground ginger to a sifter. Sift the ingredients together. If you don’t have a sifter you can use a fork or whisk.
Step 3: Cream the wet ingredients
Now in a large bowl cream together the molasses, shortening, and sugar. You can use softened butter, or softened margarine as well. Growing up we used shortening mostly because it was cheaper.
Then once those ingredients are well mixed, add in the egg and blend it in. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
Step 4: Completing the chewy molasses cookies dough
Time to add in the flour mixture a little bit at a time while mixing it in until it is all incorporated. Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.
Once combined, remove and clean the beaters. I know you want to eat some of that dough off those beaters. Now your homemade soft chewy molasses cookie dough is complete.
I usually bring the dough together into a large ball on the bottom of the bowl. Now cover it with plastic wrap or a lid and chill it in the fridge for at least 2 hours or even overnight.
This dough really works well when made ahead of time.
Step 5: Baking the molasses cookies
Next when you are ready to bake the cookies. Preheat the oven to 375 F/190 C. Take a spoonful of cookie dough, I usually scoop out a large tablespoon worth, and roll it in your clean hands, forming a ball.
Roll the ball around in a small bowl of white granulated sugar and place it on a sheet pan lined with a silicone baking mat, parchment paper, or just used an un-greased cookie sheet.
Make sure the cookie balls are about 2 inches apart. Bake them in the oven, middle rack position, for 8 to 9 minutes. They should crack on top. Pull them out of the oven and allow them to rest on the pan/cookie sheet for about 5 minutes.
Then remove them from the pan and place them on a wire rack to cool completely. Time to dig into one of those yummy cookies. Can you eat just one? Enjoy!
How long will these molasses cookies last?
If you store them in an airtight container or in a ziplock bag they will stay fresh for about a week. Over time they will loose their soft chewiness because of moisture loss. You may also freeze these cookies for longer storage.
Soft Chewy Molasses Cookies
Equipment
- Bowls
- Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer
- sifter or whisk
- Spatula
- Cookie sheet or sheet pan
- Silicone Mat or parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1 cup of white granulated sugar 200g
- 3/4 cup of shortening 145g
- 1/4 cup of molasses 80g
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups of flour 240g
- 2 tsp. of baking soda 8g
- 1 tsp. of cinnamon 3g
- 1/2 tsp. of ground cloves 2g
- 1/2 tsp. of ginger 2g
- 1/2 tsp. of salt 2g
Instructions
- Begin by sifting the dry ingredients into a medium bowl (The flour, salt, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground ginger.)
- In a large bowl cream together the granulated sugar along with the shortening and molasses. Then add in the egg and cream that in. Use a hand mixer, stand mixer, whisk, or wooden spoon. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed throughout this cookie dough process.
- Add the flour mixture about 1/4th of it at a time mixing it in the cookie dough in between. Do this until it is all incorporated and your molasses cookie dough is complete. Scrape the dough together into a half ball. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 375 F/190 C. Scoop a heaping tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball with clean hands. Roll the dough into a small bowl of granulated sugar. Then place the cookie ball onto an un-greased cookie sheet, or parchment paper/silicone mat lined sheet pan.
- Bake the cookies in the oven, middle rack position, for 8 to 9 minutes. Take them out and allow them to cool on the pan for about 5 minutes, then remove them and place them onto a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Do you like this recipe? Please give it a rating and comment down below, I really appreciate it. If you make it tag me on Instagram @inthekitchenwithmatt. Also, sign up for the newsletter so you won’t miss out on any of my new posts and recipes.
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These sound delicious, but I wondered if I could use this recipe for cut-out cookies? If you could respond quickly since I would love to make the dough tonight and bake them tomorrow!
Thank you so much,
Michele
Hi Michele, I think they will work fine for cutout cookies. Although I haven’t used them for that. Just treat the dough like you would sugar cookies or gingerbread cookies.
I love molasses cookies, this recipe is amazing. Thank you for sharing.
You are welcome, Alexis! 🙂
I love molasses cookies. The recipe that I have, the cookies are more firm than soft and chewy. I prefer soft and chewy so will definitely give your recipe a try. Thanks!
Yeah, soft and chewy are the best!
Seriously, almost every recipe you post is a family favorite at our home! I usually make about 6 dozen of these during the holidays and they still get demolished very quickly!
hahaha that is awesome!! 🙂 And thank you!!
I have everything but the ground cloves, adding that to the grocery list for tonight. These are going to be delicious and perfect timing with the temps fading fast!
Awesome! Technically you could leave out the ground cloves. But if you have it, great!
Gosh cookies is a massive weakness and these look so delicious! Saving the recipe to try it out this weekend!
Thanks, yeah, cookies are one of my weaknesses as well!
these are my husbands favorite type of cookie. i will have to try your recipe and see what he thinks.
Awesome!! 🙂
I love trying new cookies around the holidays! I hope I can try these this year.
Yeah, it is so fun trying new cookies
These look so yummy and I love the texture on them. They really look like the perfect cookie for Fall
Thank you so much!
Yum! These look so good!
Thank you!!
I haven’t tried Molasses Cookies. I hope to make some soon. It looks so tasty!
Cool! Let me know how it goes, if you make them.
These cookies look so yummy! I’ve never had molasses cookies before but they sound really good and so perfect for fall weather!
Kileen
cute & little
Thank you, Kileen!
Finally, a recipe in which I already have all the ingredients at home! These will be well-loved by my family, thank you x
You are welcome, Alice! Good luck. 🙂
I would love to try these cookies. The use of natural sweetness is such a smart choice to make them guilt-free.
Awesome! Definitely try them sometime. 🙂
I love the flavor and the texture of these cookies. That natural sweetness is so good, and the texture is just melt in your mouth.
Thank so much, Brianne!
Those sound amazing. I love sweetening with maple. It has such a great flavor and it makes for such a mellow product.
Thank you, Colleen!
My kids loved these cookies so much, it’s so chewy and very yummy! It’s also easy to make. Thank you for sharing this!
Awesome, Natasha! 🙂 🙂 You are welcome. 🙂
My dads favorite cookie! I know what I’ll have to make him for Father’s Day! They look so soft!
So awesome, Kristyn! 🙂
I made these cookies for my family and they loved them! They were a big hit and were gone in a few days. I will definitely be making these again! Thanks!
So glad you made them and that your family loved them! 🙂 You are welcome!