Ginger Molasses Cookies

Molasses Cookies – Soft and chewy on the inside and crisp around the edges. Full of delicious ginger flavor and taste just like Christmas! Drizzle or dip in white chocolate for the ultimate holiday cookie!

If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas cookie for your next cookie exchange or holiday party, these molasses cookies are it! They come together in just 30 minutes and taste incredible. I also love to make sugar cookie truffles, oreo balls and snickerdoodles.

Molasses Cookies

Christmas is such a fun time of year, and I absolutely love baking treats for family and friends. These soft molasses cookies (also known as gingerdoodles, gingersnaps or ginger cookies) are a perfect treat to share with someone you love this season. They pair wonderfully with hot chocolate and are sturdy enough to mail to friends and family far away!

MY OTHER RECIPES

As much as I love gingerbread, I kind of like that these cookies are a little more mild and less spicy than gingerbread. They’re soft and chewy on the inside, crisp around the edges, and overall they just taste homey, sweet and comforting. They remind me of a snickerdoodle with all the delicious Christmas flavors mixed in. Yum!

Another thing that’s great about these molasses cookies is that they are really quick to make. They don’t need to chill in the fridge, so they’re ready in under an hour, which is great during the busy holiday season. They would be perfect for a cookie exchange or on a platter of treats at a party!

What’s in molasses cookies?

• Butter (salted)
• Brown sugar
• Egg
• Molasses
• Flour
• Baking soda
• Spices: Cinnamon, ginger, cloves (ground)
• Salt
• Optional: Granulated sugar for rolling, white chocolate melting wafers for dipping

How do you make ginger molasses cookies?

Scroll down for the printable molasses cookie recipe.

1. Preheat oven and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine butter and sugar, then cream for one minute.
3. Add in egg and beat until smooth. Then add in molasses and mix until combined.
4. Place remaining dry ingredients into a sifter (or whisk in a bowl), then add to wet mixture. Mix until combined.
5. Using a medium cookie scoop, roll cookie dough into balls. Add granulated sugar to a shallow bowl then roll the balls into the sugar until coated. Place cookie dough balls on baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let cool on the pan 5 minutes before moving to cooling rack.

TIP: If making these molasses cookies plain (without rolling them in sugar), you can put the dough in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before baking to make them bake a little fluffier.

Variations for molasses cookies

There are lots of fun ways to decorate these ginger molasses cookies. I personally love the chocolate-dipped version and my kids loved the dipped version with sprinkles (of course!). No matter which variation you choose, your guests will be raving over these soft molasses cookies. They are seriously SO good!

Molasses cookies rolled in sugar

Before baking the molasses cookies, you can roll the dough balls in granulated sugar. They taste like a mix between a snickerdoodle and gingerbread. Seriously the best combination!

Chocolate-drizzled molasses cookies

Drizzling the gingerdoodles with white chocolate over the top really takes these cookies up a notch! The white chocolate adds the perfect touch of sweetness and looks amazing.

Chocolate-dipped molasses cookies

I also love to dip the gingerdoodles in white chocolate (and maybe drizzle on even more chocolate). It makes them look a little fancier! It would also be fun to use red or green chocolate candy melts to drizzle over the white dipped portion.

Chocolate-dipped molasses cookies with holly berries

I absolutely love adding holly berries to the white chocolate. They make the gingerdoodles SO fun and festive…don’t they look like they came from a local bakery?! Your guests will go crazy over these!

Chocolate-dipped molasses cookies with sprinkles

And of course, how could you forget sprinkles! Feel free to top the chocolate dipped portion with confetti sprinkles. This variation is a big hit with my kids and is so cute!

5 from 6 votes

PRINT

Molasses Cookie Recipe

Molasses Cookies - Soft and chewy on the inside and crisp around the edges. Full of delicious ginger flavor and taste just like Christmas! Drizzle or dip in white chocolate for the ultimate holiday cookie!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Molasses Cookies

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes

Let Cool 5 minutes

Total Time 28 minutes

Servings 24

Calories 116 kcal

Author I Heart Naptime Contributor

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup salted butter (softened)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for rolling the cookies)
• 1 to 2 cups white chocolate melting wafers (for dipping the cookies)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2. Combine the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Cream for one minute, or until fluffy.  

3. Add in the egg and beat until smooth. Next add in the molasses and beat until well combined.

4. Place the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt into a sifter (if you don’t have a sifter, whisk in a bowl), and then add to the butter mixture. Mix until combined.

5. Using a medium cookie scoop (or about 1.5 Tablespoons), roll the cookie dough into a ball. Place the granulated sugar into a shallow bowl and then roll the dough into the sugar. Place on the baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.

6. Bake 8-10 minutes and let cool on the pan 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack. Enjoy!

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Feel free to double this molasses cookie recipe if making for a large crowd. 

 

If making these molasses cookies plain (without rolling them in sugar), you can put the dough in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before baking to make them bake a little fluffier.

 

Nutrition Facts

Molasses Cookie Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 116 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 5g 8%

Saturated Fat 3g 15%

Cholesterol 22mg 7%

Sodium 168mg 7%

Potassium 70mg 2%

Total Carbohydrates 15g 5%

Sugars 13g

Vitamin A 3.7%

Calcium 1.9%

Iron 2.3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Wrap these gingerdoodles up in a clear bag with ribbon and pass out to friends and coworkers. They will all love you!

They are seriously the best ginger cookies I’ve ever had. If there is one cookie you make this week, make these! Happy baking!