Soft and chewy Molasses Cookies just like grandma used to make! These are sweet and spicy with a light sugar coating and plenty of molasses in the dough.
The best molasses cookies are soft and chewy with a crackly top, a light dusting of sugar, and plenty of warm spices and love baked right in the dough.
My grandma made old-fashion molasses cookies every Christmas without fail because they are my grandpa’s favorite.
And when they’re done right, Molasses cookies could wind up being everyone’s favorite.
While I recommend a standing mixer or hand-held electric mixer in the recipe, Molasses cookie dough comes together easily by hand, too.
Once you’ve creamed the butter, shortening, and sugar together, add the eggs and molasses. Then, add the rest of the dry ingredients.
Chill the dough for at least 2 hours, or up to 3 days in advance. This will make it really easy to handle when you roll out cookie dough balls.
Roll the cookie dough balls in sugar and flatten with a glass. Sometimes I sprinkle a little extra sugar on top once the cookies are flattened. Bake until warm, fragrant, and crackly on top.
Save these Molasses Cookies to your “Cookies” Pinterest board!
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
In a standing mixer fit with the paddle attachment on medium speed, or with an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and shortening until smooth. Add molasses and egg and beat until combined.
Reduce speed to low and gradually add flour mixture. Cover and chill at least 2 hours or up to 3 days in advance.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. Place sugar in a shallow dish for rolling.
Roll dough into 1 1/2-inch balls, toss in sugar, and arrange at least 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Flatten with a glass.
Bake until the edges are set, about 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer to wire racks and cool completely.
That’s sound great. My son will love these! I will try this molasses cookies for him!
I have not seen these in ages. Another recipe for my ever growing bucket list.
What is best shortening…crisco? butter? Something healthy preferred.
Hey there Tig! In my experience there is no healthy shortening. If that’s what you’re looking for, you would probably want to seek out some kind of “healthy” molasses cookie that has been tested with something like vegan butter or coconut oil or whatever your preferred fat is. Doing a blind substitution like that using my recipe would almost certainly end in disaster. I wish I could be of more help but unfortunately alternative baking isn’t my specialty… yet! Thanks again.
Sorry Meggan…I didn’t want you to think I am an uber heathy cookie maker…that would take all the fun out of cookies in general. I am always puzzled about what shortening really is in various recipes. What do you prefer to use when “shortening” is listed in any ingredients? Is there a general rule that tells you what would be best to use and when? Which did you use in your molasses cookies? Is there a difference in what kind of molasses to use, too? I LOVE YOUR HUMOR AND OF COURSE YOUR RECIPES!
note: cannot substitute shorting with more butter. oops! my bad! : | I started the recipe and realized i didn’t have any shortening, so I used more butter. they still taste amazing but are just more dense than I wanted, but that is my bad!
good flavor and we still ate them up!