This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.
These Best Ever Molasses Cookies have a slightly crisp sugar coated edge and a soft, tender, chewy center. With a rich deep ginger and molasses flavor, they are the perfect holiday cookie! Serve these up at your next holiday party, family gathering or just because.
Molasses has such a dark rich vibrant flavor it goes perfectly with sweet and savory. From Warm Gingerbread Cake with Caramel Sauce to Melt in Your Mouth Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken to Baked Beans, molasses is such a fun ingredient to cook with and eat!
Best Ever Molasses Cookies
I came upon this recipe in a cookie contest a few years ago and it was a winner then and it still is! It originates from the 1970’s and is still as good now as it was then. The sharp taste of the molasses is perfectly balanced with cinnamon, ginger and cloves then rolled in sugar to give it that tiny bit of crunch. If you love a good rich dense, not too sweet cookie, this is it! It screams Christmas.
This is the handwritten recipe from Millie Dunn submitted by her daughter, Megan from San Diego, from the 1970’s for Molasses Cookies. These are the perfect cookie and the holiday wouldn’t be complete without them.
Molasses Ingredients
Feel free to double the batch for extras
- Shortening: I like to use butter flavored shortening.
- Sugar: This is for the cookies, you’ll need more for rolling.
- Molasses: dark, thick, rich and full bodied flavor
- Egg: Make sure it’s large
- Flour: All purpose or unbleached will both work.
- Baking soda: This is your raising agent.
- Cinnamon, Ginger and Cloves: these spices are perfect paired with molasses
- Salt: Creates balance in the flavor.
- White Chocolate Chips: Optional
Let’s Make Cookies
Cookies are always welcomed at the table, especially around the holidays.
- Prepare: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use cooking spray.
- Melt: In a small saucepan or in the microwave melt the shortening. Add the sugar molasses and egg and mix until incorporated.
- Mix: In a separate bowl mix the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt. Add to the wet mixture and stir till a dough forms.
- Scoop: Scoop into 1 inch balls and roll in sugar.
- Bake:Place 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 min.
- Dip: This is optional. Once cooled melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave and dip cookies. These cookies are perfect as they are but I decided to make them more festive. We dipped them in white chocolate and added Christmas sprinkles. They turned out so amazing!
The Ins and Outs of Wonderful Molasses!
Either the light or dark will work in this recipe.
- What is it: In a nutshell molasses is a byproduct of the sugar-making process, resulting in the brown syrupy liquid left over after boiling once the sugar crystals have been removed.
- Molasses: There are several varieties on store shelves and it can be confusing to know which one to use.
- Light: This is produced after the first boiling of the sugar cane or beet and is light and mild in flavor. It also has a light color. This is commonly used in baking marinades, rubs and sauces. You can even use it like honey as a topping for toast or oatmeal. It can make cookies softer and breads crustier.
- Dark: This is darker thicker syrup comes from the second boiling. It’s also known as a full bodied molasses, it’s not as sweet, and commonly used in gingerbread cookies.
- Blackstrap: This is created from the third boiling and is very thick, very dark and a bit bitter in taste. Only use if specifically called for in a recipe.
-
Unsulphured vs. Sulphured Molasses: Sulphured molasses is molasses that has been treated with sulphur dioxide as a preservative. However, since the sulphuring process can leave the molasses with a strong pronounced chemical flavor and is less sweet, most commercial molasses is unsulphured.
Tips and Variations:
These cookies are such a classic. They make the perfect Christmas cookie and are the perfect addition to that Christmas cookie plate!
- Chill: To help the cookies keep their shape and be easy to roll you can chill the dough before rolling, although it’s not necessary.
- Spice: If you’d like a stronger ginger flavor, you definitely add more or for a whole new level of flavor use fresh ginger.
- Dip it: Try melting milk, semi sweet chocolate chips or even butterscotch chips for different toppings.
- Roll it: Roll in colored sugar for a festive look
- Store: These will keep at room temperature in an airtight container up to a week. Or freeze for up to 4 months. YUMMY!!
More Cookies to Love!
Because cookies are just so fun to make and eat!
- Gooey S’mores Cookies
- Cowboy Cookies
- White Chocolate Oreo Cookies
- The Best Sugar Cookie
- Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Watch a video on how to make Molasses Cookies HERE:
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Best Ever Molasses Cookies
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use cooking spray.
- Melt the shortening in a small saucepan or in the microwave and let cool. Add the sugar, molasses, and egg and mix until incorporated.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. Add this to the wet mixture and mix until it forms a dough and is incorporated.
- Scoop into one inch balls and roll in sugar and place 2 inches apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack and dip in white chocolate if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Instead of shortening can you use an oil like vegetable oil or canola oil?
I used margarine and brown sugar instead of white sugar in the batter. I also added a dash of pepper and finely chopped walnuts. They were amazing! Also bake at 350 not 375 that is too hot. My friends can’t get enough of them. I am retired and refuse to open a bakery for them as I worked for 54 years and need a break! Lol
These look so delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I’m really excited about trying this recipe. I made this yesterday and the cookies reminded of the ones my mom made when I was little. Thank you for this recipe, Alyssa, and Merry Christmas! I wish you and your family all the best!
That is great to hear! I am excited for you! They won’t last long;)!! XOXO
These cookies are amazing! The whole family loved them.
I was planning on making the dough balls a day or two in advance and freezing them… do I roll the balls in sugar right after making the dough, and then freeze? Or should I keep the dough balls naked upon freezing and roll in sugar right before baking? Thank you so much!!
You will wait to add the sugar until before they are going in the oven.
Did anyone try butter instead of shortening
Hi, a question on those “best ever molasses cookies”…would they work with butter rather than shortning? I know my mom always used crisco, but most of my recipes today ise butter. Any thoughts?
THANK YOU!
The molasses is usually the best ingredient but you are welcome to try another substitute. Let me know which way you prefer! XOXO
Did you ever try them with butter? I’d like to make them but I don’t like using shortening. Thanks!
What kind of molasses do you use
I usually use grandmas molasses brand that is at our local grocery store. Hope that helps! XOXO
The cookies are perfect for Christmas! Thank you for sharing the recipe!
I’ve been making this recipe for more than 50 years. It’s from the back of the Brer Rabbit molassess bottle. I prefer to use butter though.
No, you do not need to flatten the balls.
You can add 1 teaspoon of white pepper to add a little zing.
very nice dish i found here. me and my family love to have cookies in breakfast. you mentioned wonderfully the steps of preparing these cookies. thank you so much to guide us
Best cookies ever!!! I have made these 3 times in 2 weeks, they have become my husbands favorites.
You were not kidding! Your “Best Ever Molasses Cookie” are so delicious. Truley the best I’ve ever made. They are light, crunchy & full of flavor with the perfect amount of molasses flavor. I’m so happy I tried this recipe it’s a keeper & that I found your wonderful site.
I agree, these are “best ever,” and they are super easy to put together. I chilled my dough for an hour and baked the cookies at 350 degrees because 375 caused the bottoms to darken. I didn’t flatten my dough balls at all, and they spend out perfectly. Thanks for an excellent recipe.
After rolling in to one inch balls you do not flatten them out?
I’m wondering this as well…