Description
These super soft molasses cookies are warm, chewy, deeply spiced, and irresistibly cozy. Made with dark molasses, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, they bake into perfectly cracked, sugar-coated tops with tender centers. A nostalgic holiday favorite — but delicious all year long.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200g) packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup (60ml) unsulfured molasses (avoid blackstrap)
- 2 1/4 cups (270g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Granulated sugar, for rolling
Optional add-ins:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Orange zest
- Pinch of nutmeg
- Chocolate chips or dried fruit
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Cream Butter & Sugar: Beat softened butter and brown sugar for 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the egg and molasses until smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt.
- Mix Dough: Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until no flour streaks remain.
- Shape: Scoop dough into balls and roll each one in granulated sugar.
- Bake: Place on baking sheet and bake 9–11 minutes. Edges should be set while centers remain soft.
- Cool: Allow cookies to rest 5 minutes on the tray before transferring to a wire rack. Enjoy!
Notes
- Do not overbake — cookies should look slightly underdone in the center.
- Chill dough 30 minutes if too soft or sticky.
- Use dark brown sugar for richer flavor.
- Roll generously in sugar for classic crinkle tops.
- Try variations like white-chocolate drizzle, molasses snickerdoodles, or peanut butter molasses cookies.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 115
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Molasses Cookies, Super Soft Molasses Cookies, Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies, Christmas Cookies, Holiday Baking