These Soft Molasses Cookies are a holiday classic! They are soft, chewy, and full of cozy spices like ginger and cinnamon, making them the perfect Christmas treat.

For more holiday cookie recipes, be sure to check out my Cranberry Bliss Bar Cookies, Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies.

molasses cookies on a white background

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is eating all.the.cookies.

And having some delicious, easy cookie recipes up your sleeve for gift giving or holiday get-togethers is always a good idea. These Soft Molasses Cookies are perfectly spiced, super soft and chewy, and always a hit at Christmas time. 

a stack of cookies

The smell of molasses cookies baking is one of those super nostalgic scents that takes me all the way back to my early childhood years. I used to spend a lot of time with my grandma when I was little, and she loved baking for pretty much everyone she knew at Christmas time.

a cookie on a wire rack

Molasses cookies were one of her favorites and when I make them now, it brings back so many great memories of her. Because of that, these cookies will always hold an extra special place in my heart.

Ingredients for Soft Molasses Cookies

  • unsalted butter
  • light brown sugar
  • vanilla extract
  • egg
  • molasses
  • all-purpose flour
  • baking soda
  • baking powder
  • salt
  • cinnamon
  • ground ginger
  • white granulated sugar

ingredients laid out to make cookies

How to Make Soft Molasses Cookies – Step by Step

Step 1: Prepare baking sheet

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set aside.

Step 2: Mix dry ingredients 

In a medium sized bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and ground ginger. Mix until combined.

flour, cinnamon and baking soda in a bowl

Step 3: Mix wet ingredients

In a separate large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract with an electric mixer. Mix until nice and fluffy. Add in the eggs and molasses and mix well.

an egg in a bowl of batter

Step 4: Add the dry ingredients 

Slowly add the dry mixture into the wet mixture and continue mixing until just combined. Don’t overmix!

cookie batter in a glass bowl

Step 5: Chill dough

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill for 1 hour. After 1 hour, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

a scoop picking up cookie dough

Step 6: Roll dough in sugar

Using a medium size cookie scoop, roll dough into balls and then roll in the white sugar to coat. Place the coated cookie balls on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart.

a dough ball in a bowl of sugar

Step 7: Bake

Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are golden. Allow to cool on a wire rack before enjoying.

soft molasses cookies on a wire rack

Tips and Notes

  • Line the sheet pan with parchment paper. This will help prevent the cookies from burning on the bottom and make clean up a breeze. 
  • Use a cookie scoop to help scoop out the dough. When you use a cookie scoop, all the cookies will be the same size, so they will cook evenly.
  • Don’t skip the chill time for the dough. If you don’t let the cookies chill, they will spread out too much, and your soft molasses cookies will be too thin and will lose the fluffy/soft texture we are going for.

soft molasses cookies with pine in the background

How to Store the Cookie Dough

If you don’t want to bake all of your soft molasses cookies at once, you can keep the chilled dough in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to one week. 

molasses cookies on a white background

How to Freeze the Dough

Simply place the rolled and sugared soft molasses cookie dough balls into a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the dough in the fridge before baking as directed.

How to Freeze Soft Molasses Cookies

Freeze any leftover, fully cooled cookies in a freezer safe container or zipper freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter before enjoying.

molasses cookies on a white background

More Holiday Dessert Recipes You Might Enjoy!

 

molasses cookies on a white background
5 from 8 ratings

Soft Molasses Cookies

Yield: 26
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
These Soft Molasses Cookies are a holiday classic! They are soft, chewy, and full of cozy spices like ginger and cinnamon, making them the perfect Christmas treat.

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 cup molasses
  • 1/2 cup white granulated sugar , for rolling

Instructions
 

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set aside.
  • In a medium sized bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and ground ginger. Mix until combined.
  • In a separate large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer. Mix until nice and fluffy. Add in the egg and molasses and mix well.
  • Slowly add the dry mixture into the wet mixture and continue mixing until just combined. Don't overmix!
  • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill for 1 hour. After 1 hour, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Using a medium size cookie scoop, roll the dough into balls and then roll in the white sugar to coat. Place the coated cookie balls on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
  • Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are golden. Allow to cool on a wire rack before enjoying.

Notes

  • Line the sheet pan with parchment paper. This will help prevent the cookies from burning on the bottom and make clean up a breeze. 
  • Use a cookie scoop to help scoop out the dough. When you use a cookie scoop, all the cookies will be the same size, so they will cook evenly.
  • Don’t skip the chill time for the dough. If you don’t let the cookies chill, they will spread out too much, and your soft molasses cookies will be too thin and will lose the fluffy/soft texture we are going for.
  • Storing the dough: If you don’t want to bake all of your soft molasses cookies at once, you can keep the chilled dough in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to one week.
  • How to Freeze the Dough: Simply place the rolled and sugared cookie dough balls into a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the dough in the fridge before baking as directed.
  • How to Freeze the Cookies: Freeze any leftover, fully cooled cookies in a freezer safe container or zipper freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter before enjoying.
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Calories: 141kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 20mg, Sodium: 136mg, Potassium: 90mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 13g, Vitamin A: 173IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 20mg, Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Let me know! Mention @TheBelleoftheKitchen on Instagram or tag #BelleoftheKitchen.