Description
These Old-Fashioned Soft Molasses Cookies are a delightful treat featuring a perfect balance of warm spices, rich molasses sweetness, and a soft, chewy texture. Classic and comforting, they are ideal for holiday gatherings or any time you crave a nostalgic homemade cookie.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Rolling
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt to evenly distribute the spices and leavening agent.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes, creating an aerated base for the cookies.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract to the creamed butter and sugar mixture until thoroughly combined and smooth.
- Combine Dough: Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing gently until a soft dough forms, avoiding overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
- Shape Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll each into a ball. Then roll each ball in granulated sugar to add a slight crunch and sparkle to the cookie tops.
- Arrange on Sheet: Place the sugar-coated dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets to allow room for spreading.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 9–11 minutes, or until the edges are just set and the tops develop a crackly appearance, indicating softness inside.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up slightly before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, finishing their texture development.
Notes
- For extra softness, slightly underbake the cookies and store them in an airtight container with a slice of bread to maintain chewiness.
- The dough balls can be frozen for up to 2 months and baked directly from frozen, allowing convenient make-ahead options.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
