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I dedicated a few days in my kitchen to perfecting the balance of molasses and spices in these ginger molasses cookies. I also experimented with bake times, so you can now tailor these to your liking. I’ll teach you how to adjust your bake time to create a soft-baked or more chewy & crispy cookie.
These cookies were so easy to make and came out looking exactly like the picture and were so delicious!!
-Jen
Depending on how you prefer your cookies, they can be soft baked or more chewy & crispy. Simply increase the bake time for crispier cookies – think ginger snap texture!
I love the way these cookies “crackle” while cooling – they look like molasses crinkle cookies!
Ginger Molasses Cookie Recipe Ingredients
- all purpose flour: flour is necessary to build structure in cookies
- baking soda: helps to leaven and lift the dough, affects browning and flavor
- cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground ginger: adds those classic gingerbread flavors
- salt: enhances the other flavors in the cookies
- unsalted butter: adds flavor and and tender texture
- granulated sugar: adds sweetness, flavor and encourages browning
- egg: binds the ingredients together
- molasses: adds a sweet, warm flavor
How to Properly Measure Flour for Cookies
- Fluff the flour with a fork
- Use a spoon to scoop the flour into your measuring cup
- Use a butter knife to level the measuring cup
Sticking the measuring cup straight into the bag of flour will result in too much flour to be packed into the cup, which can result in dry cookies.
Total Time Required
- 10 minutes to make the cookie dough
- 20 minutes to refrigerate the dough
- 13-15 minutes to bake
- 15 minutes to cool
Baking Time Suggestions
For the ginger molasses cookies in the photos, the dough balls were about 2 tablespoons. I baked those for 13-15 minutes.
If you make smaller dough balls, you should reduce the baking time otherwise the cookies will be over done.
Gluten Free Variation to these Molasses Ginger Cookies
I have made these cookies multiple times with King Arthur’s Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour with great success.
Tips for the Best Ginger Molasses Cookies
- Properly measure the all purpose flour using the spoon and sweep method.
- Use room temperature butter for easier creaming of the butter and sugar.
- Use a cookie scoop to form cookie dough balls.
- Bake cookies on a silicone baking mat.
How to Store Ginger Molasses Cookies
To store ginger molasses cookies, allow them to cool completely on a wire rack before placing them in an airtight container. Keep the container at room temperature for up to a week, layering the cookies with parchment paper if stacking to prevent sticking. For longer storage, freeze the cookies in a freezer-safe container or bag, separating layers with parchment paper, and they will stay fresh for up to three months.
How to Freeze Ginger Molasses Cookie Dough
- Form the dough balls. Place them on a baking sheet lined with silicone mat. You can place the dough balls close together since you won’t be baking them.
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer until the cookies are frozen solid, about 1 hour.
- Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and transfer the frozen cookie dough balls to a ziplock freezer bag. Label the bag with baking directions.
- Freeze the cookie dough for up to 3 months.
- To bake: remove the dough from the freezer. Pre-heat the oven to 350ºF. Roll the balls in sugar and bake for 13-15 minutes. Frozen cookies may need to bake for 1-2 minutes longer than non frozen cookies.
More Cookie Recipes
- Christmas Sugar Cookies
- Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Cut Out Sugar Cookies
- Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
Ginger Molasses Cookie FAQs
If your ginger molasses cookies aren’t cracking, it could be due to several factors. Make sure your baking soda is fresh, as it’s essential for proper leavening; old baking soda can lead to denser cookies. Also, accurately measuring your flour and ensuring your oven temperature is correct can help achieve that desired cracked appearance.
If your ginger molasses cookies are flat, it could be due to using too little flour, which causes them to spread too much during baking. Additionally, if the butter is too warm or melted, it can lead to a similar issue, so make sure to use softened butter instead. Fresh baking soda is crucial for proper leavening, so check that it’s not expired, and avoid overmixing the dough, as this can make it too soft. Finally, if your oven temperature is too low, it may prevent the cookies from setting properly, resulting in flat cookies.
Adding too much molasses to cookies can result in a sticky dough that spreads excessively during baking, leading to flatter cookies. The flavor may become overpowering, masking the other ingredients and potentially making the cookies taste overly sweet or even bitter. Additionally, the increased moisture can cause the cookies to be too soft or gooey instead of achieving the desired chewy or crisp texture.
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Ginger Molasses Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups (240g) all purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, 1 stick, room temperature
- 1 cup (198g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup (85g) unsulfured molasses
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ground cloves, ground ginger and salt.2 cups (240g) all purpose flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground cloves, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1/2 tsp salt
- In a separate mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer for 1 minute. Add in the egg and molasses, beat again to combine, 60 seconds.1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, 1 cup (198g) granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 1/4 cup (85g) unsulfured molasses
- Gradually add in the dry ingredients, mixing on low or by hand with a spatula.
- Use a cookie scoop to form balls. My dough balls were about 2 tablespoons large. Place the dough balls close together on a silicone lined baking sheet and place in the fridge for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, pre-heat the oven to 350ºF. Place 1/4 cup sugar in a bowl for rolling the cookies. Roll each ball in the sugar.
- Place about 8 cookies about 2 inches apart on a silicone lined baking sheet. Bake in batches as needed. Bake for 13-15 minutes.
Delicious!!!
Hi Beth! Made this dough tonight with my son. I made it to freeze to bake next week and I rolled them into balls first. Do you recommend that I defrost completely or bake from frozen? There’s lots of conflicting info online and wanted to get your take. Thanks so much for always baking such deliciousness!
I would let them defrost in the fridge – baking them from fridge temp is okay though! I will say if you’re in a pinch, you can bake them from frozen. You’ll probably need to bake them for a few minutes longer if going into the oven frozen.
Used fresh ginger, otherwise stuck with recipe. Cookies came out perfectly and are delicious. Baked 14 minutes for crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside perfection.
Also did a batch with 2/3 cup of chocolate chips. These were also delicious. With chocolate chips the cookies did not spread as evenly so they did not have that picture perfect flat and round shape. But sacrifices have to be made.
Also tried the bang method, upon removing the cookies from the oven I bang the cookie sheet on the rack, this causes them to deflate and produce a more uniform thickness. I like it this way, try it yourself.
I made these for the December challenge they were so delicious I’ll be making them again for my Christmas dessert table
Love this cookie. This is the same exact recipe my Grandma gave me. Made them for a cookie swap. Sadly I could not attend. My husband brought the cookies to the hospital where the nurses gave them rave reviews.
These cookies are incredible. Didn’t change a thing except I added 1tsp of vanilla extract and rolled them in cinnamon sugar instead of plain sugar. They turned out so chewy but crisp on the edges and the cracks that form on the top are lovely. Highly recommend.
These cookies were so easy to make and came out looking exactly like the picture and were so delicious!!
Do you know how to get the cookies to be 3/4″ thick ? I managed it once but not other times.
These are definitely thinner cookies. But you could try adding a little bit more flour to make puffier cookies.
Made these ginger molasses cookies today for my Christmas giveaway and they are delicious and look stunning. I’m so pleased thank you for another great recipe. Definitely a keeper.
Great recipe for an absolutely delicious cookie! I ended up adding a bit more ginger and some black pepper for extra spiciness but the rest I followed exactly.