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    Home - Cookies

    Published: Oct 4, 2017 · Modified: Oct 5, 2021 by Amanda Powell · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Chewy Molasses Cookies

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These flavorful chewy molasses cookies are nothing like what you've had in the past. Perfectly balanced flavors meet in an irresistibly chewy cookie that is perfect for dunking! 

    You've never had molasses cookies like these before. These chewy molasses cookies have the perfect balance of flavor and are perfect for dunking

    So I don't know what's up with me, but I've been wanting all the holiday things. Not just Halloween things, but all things holiday. It's like fall came and a flip switched in my brain and I'm singing some weird mash-up of "This is Halloween" and "Here Comes Santa Clause." It's not pretty, but it is what it is. And that's why today, I am sharing with you one of my favorite Christmas cookies. A soft, chewy, molasses cookie that is totally irresistible, especially when there is a glass of milk within dunking reach.

    the perfect cookie review

    I've always loved molasses cookies, but never had my own go-to recipe. I mean, there was one recipe, but it was so inconsistent and they'd come out completely differently every time. I am proud to say that I finally have a go-to recipe that I will use forever, and yes, they come out perfectly every single time. You know why? Because it's from The Perfect Cookie cookbook by America's Test Kitchen and you know you can't go wrong with a recipe from them.

    Soft, chewy molasses cookies with just the right balance of flavors

    We learn to keep the flavor balanced with real butter, brown sugar, and light or dark molasses. That blackstrap molasses should never be used because the flavor is over powering and can be off-putting. And like with a perfectly chewy chocolate chip cookie, your molasses cookies should be slightly under baked when you remove them so they edges will stay crispy and the middles become irresistibly chewy. I have to confess that I've never has a molasses cookie this good before. thew chewiness alone made me grab two or three cookies at a time for me to snack on. I am probably responsible for an entire batch of these chewy molasses cookies disappearing.

    There is no way anyone will turn down these soft, chewy molasses cookies

    This cookie is so good, I can easily see myself baking them almost year-round (you know, provided it's not too hot to turn on the oven for any reason). Once you've had one, I know you will end up agreeing!

    There is no way anyone will turn down these soft, chewy molasses cookies

    Chewy Molasses Cookies

    Amanda Powell
    These soft, chewy molasses cookies will be your new holiday cookie favorite to bake! 
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 11 mins
    Total Time 31 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 22 cookies
    Calories 152 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • 1 ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
    • ¼ teaspoon allspice
    • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 12 tablespoons 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, [softened], but still slightly cool
    • ⅓ cup granulated sugar plus ½ cup for rolling
    • ⅓ cup brown sugar
    • 1 large egg yolk room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ cup dark or light molasses

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment papers or baking mats.
    • In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice, pepper, and salt together. Set aside.
    • In a mixer, add the butter, ⅓ cup of granulated sugar, and brown sugar together. Beat until light and fluffy, about three to four minutes.
    • Add in the egg yolk and vanilla and beat for an additional minute before adding the molasses and beating for another two minutes, or until everything is one single color. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
    • Pour in the flour mixture and mix until everything is just incorporated and there are no streaks of flour.
    • Add the remaining granulated sugar in a small bowl.
    • Dampen your hands and portion out two tablespoons of dough. Roll the dough between your damp hands to form a ball, then roll the ball in the sugar until completely coated. Repeat with all of the dough.
    • Place the balls of cookie dough two inches apart on your baking sheets.
    • Bake the cookies one baking sheet at a time for about 11 minutes, or until the cookies have begun to set at the edges, but are still puffy in the centers and still look underdone in the middles.
    • Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for five minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
    • Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookieCalories: 152kcal
    Keyword chewy molasses, cookies
    Tried this recipe?Tag me on Instagram! @acookienameddesire #acookienameddesire

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    About Amanda Powell

    Baker, photographer, and sometimes world traveler behind A Cookie Named Desire. Obsessed with helping people live life sweetly with delicious food to share with the special people in your life and creating lasting memories.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Linda says

      November 23, 2022 at 11:03 am

      These are fabulous and the comment about baking until puffy and the middle looks underdone is spot on. I made 20 cookies with this recipe and one little half cookie that I baked on the tray alongside the others just to see what would happen, and it was super overbaked and flat. So stick to the recipe description and you'll have some really wonderful molasses cookies!5 stars

      Reply
    2. Bess says

      December 11, 2021 at 6:46 pm

      I'm partway through baking these. I doubled this recipe but it looks like I'm still going to get around 22. I am making 2 tbls balls and they seem like they are the same size as your photo. It would be helpful if you included a weight for the dough balls.4 stars

      Reply
    3. Megan @ Meg is Well says

      October 18, 2017 at 11:36 pm

      I just made these cookies tonight, they were so amazing! They come out looking perfect too.

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        October 19, 2017 at 8:23 am

        Aren't they just the best? I want to play with them a bit... maybe add in crystalized ginger bits or stuff them...

        Reply
    4. Annette says

      October 14, 2017 at 11:15 am

      How much pepper and all spice?

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        October 14, 2017 at 4:03 pm

        1/4 teaspoon each

        Reply
    5. Vinnie says

      October 08, 2017 at 7:21 am

      I think I have bit of different cup than US .. Can you point me please in Metric Unit? Just about these ingredients.. Granulated Sugar, Flour and Butter?

      I have found something but simply I could not rely on.

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        October 08, 2017 at 9:38 am

        Hi Vinny, Would grams work? 319 grams flour, 66 grams brown sugar, 66 grams granulated sugar, 170.4 grams butter

        Reply
        • Katherine says

          July 21, 2019 at 1:43 pm

          I got my new toy(flour sifter thingy) for kitchenaid stand mixer, I am glad to find this information!

    6. Louise says

      October 05, 2017 at 1:28 am

      Am I missing something because I can’t see the ingredients anywhere? The recipe looks so good as well

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        October 05, 2017 at 7:18 am

        Hi Louise, something must have happened during publishing. I am using a new program to insert the recipes, and there are still some kinks that need to be worked out. I'll get that fixed asap!!

        Reply
        • Abi says

          October 05, 2017 at 7:52 am

          Can't wait to get the ingredient list! Suspense is building!

        • Amanda says

          October 08, 2017 at 9:39 am

          It's since been updated. There was an issue with the formatting!

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    Hi, I'm Amanda! I am the baker and photographer behind A Cookie Named Desire. I'm a world traveler (sometimes) with a major weakness for cookies and cheese. While I'm mostly self-taught, I recently received a degree in Food Science!

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