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Can I interest you in a chewy ginger molasses cookie straight from the oven? With a melt-in-your-mouth texture and holiday spice, these are exactly what you want to enjoy with hot cocoa or cold milk!
It’s the type of dough you scoop and bake, which perfectly suits our level of busyness since all you have to do is mix it in a bowl, bake, and enjoy.
Chewy Gingerbread Cookies with Molasses
Every bite of these gingerbread cookies offers the perfect blend of spice with richness and soft texture from molasses. You can dust them with sugar before baking or leave them plain; the incredible flavor is all the same!
If you’re in a cookie contest or want a sweet treat to celebrate the holidays, this is THE recipe to make!
What’s the Difference Between Molasses Cookies and Ginger Cookies
While these two cookies contain the same ingredients, molasses cookies are chewier and contain less ginger than your standard gingersnap. After making a batch, you can decide which one is superior.
Ingredients
Let’s look at what we need to make the best holiday cookies!
- Butter: creates a chewy cookie.
- Brown sugar: has a higher moisture content than regular sugar, and makes the cookies softer.
- Egg: binds the dough.
- Molasses: needs to be unsulphured like Grandma’s Original.
- All-purpose flour: make sure you measure the flour correctly!
- Baking soda: helps the dough rise.
- Spices: ground cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.
- Salt: enhances the flavor of every other ingredient.
Grab the ingredient measurements from the recipe card at the very end of this post!
How to Make Gingerbread Molasses Cookies
This is the part where we turn up the holiday music and make the kitchen the coziest place in the house!
- Cream the butter and sugar
In a stand mixer or large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add the egg and molasses and mix until smooth. - Mix the dry ingredients
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, spices, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir into a dough. - Chill out
Refrigerate the dough until firm, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 325F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. - Roll it out
Scoop a tablespoon of the dough into the palm of your hand and roll it into a ball. Transfer the cookie to a baking sheet and flatten it with the back of a spoon. - Bake and enjoy
Place the cookies in the oven and bake for 8 minutes or until just set. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool for 5 minutes before taking a bite!
Baking Tips
Before you head to the kitchen, read over these simple tips, so your batch turns out superb!
Refrigerate the dough
This step makes shaping the cookies easy and prevents them from spreading on the baking sheet.
Make them uniform in size
So all the cookies bake at the same rate.
Dust with sugar
Optional, but rolling the cookie dough balls in regular white sugar before baking gives them a decorative look.
Don’t overcook
Remove them from the oven when they look a little doughy- as they sit on the baking sheet they will finish cooking to perfection.
Can You Freeze Gingerbread Molasses Cookies
Good for us- these cookies freeze beautifully! You can either freeze the baked cookies or unbaked dough. Just follow the step below:
If you want to freeze cookie dough
Once the dough is prepared, roll it into balls and freeze it on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 30 minutes. Transfer the solid cookies to a freezer bag and store them for up to 3 months. When ready, bake as directed, adding 2 minutes to the initial time.
If you want to freeze baked cookies
Let the cookies cool completely, then place them in the freezer bag. Freeze them for up to 3 months. To enjoy, remove the desired amount of cookies and allow them to defrost at room temperature.
More Holiday Dessert Favorites
There’s no shortage of holiday treats to enjoy, and here are a few more recipes to try after you’ve made these molasses cookies!
- Gingerbread Cake
- Fudgy Red Velvet Brownies
- Frozen Pumpkin Pie
- Peppermint Ice Cream Brownies
- Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ginger Molasses Cookies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup butter, softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup unsulphured molasses
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or large bowl with a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and molasses and mix until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flour with the baking soda, spices, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir to combine into a soft dough.
- Refrigerate for half an hour.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 325F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to scoop the dough and roll it into a ball. Place the cookie dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet and flatten them slightly with the back of a spoon.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the cookies are just set. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the cookies to rest for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
Sheri says
Feeling festive today and made a batch of these molasses cookies, perfection!
Stacy Fellows says
Your cookies look yummy! Can’t wait to try them, And they are soft and chewy, that is a bonus!
Stacy Fellows says
Looks so yummy! Can’t wait to try them.
Kristy says
Our favorite cookie! For Christmas, we pull out more sweetness and make double the batch. So yummy!
Patricia says
My favorite cookie is oatmeal chocolate chip. Oatmeal cookies are good by themselves, but adding dark chocolate in place of the raisins is soo yummy. Can’t wait to try out your recipe here!
Laura Fuentes says
They are so much better when you add chocolate chips…
Stephanie says
I have always loved gingerbread boy cut-out cookies. I love frosting them with homemade frosting, sprinkles, and of course, red hots.
eve says
I have always loved pfeffernuese, I will have to work on a gluten-free proccessed sugar-free version 🙂 Thanks for sharing these, can’t wait to try them, since my kids love chai these should go over well!
Denise says
Snicker doodles are definitely my favorite holiday, any day cookie 🙂
Tracie M says
Looks yummy! We usually make gingerbread cookies using whole wheat flour.
Tay Johnson says
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I cannot wait to purchase the ingredients to make these for my family. My husband’s favorite cookie is ginger.
Happy Holidays
Laura Fuentes says
I hope your entire family enjoys them!
Tay Johnson says
I will keep you posted 🙂
Thank you again for sharing your recipe.
Happy Holidays
Regula says
Spitzbuben, bringing back memories and I just love the taste of my favorite Swiss cookie, but I am excited to try this recipe to get some “American flavor”
Amy Rowson says
These sound amazing! We like White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal cookies and a tweaked version of Mom’s Mexican Wedding Cakes with maple extract and cinnamon.
Laura Fuentes says
white chocolate + cranberries = YUMMMMM
Sheri Lyn Mix says
I have two. I can’t pick a favorite! Just a yummy, buttery, not too sweet shortbread or a gooey chocolate chip with tiny crushed peppermints. Mmmmm
Laura Fuentes says
my daughter loves these cookies too!
Kari S. says
Sugar cookies rolled out and decorated with my kids! It gets us all in Christmas Spirit!
Shannon says
I love a traditional recipe for Italian Nutballs filled with my mother’s homemade jam. They have a subtle almond flavor and are rolled in walnuts. We have been able to adapt the recipe to make them gluten free too. This looks like a good recipe for us to try too.
Laura Fuentes says
Family recipes are the best! 😉
Melissa Adams says
Chocolate Chip and Gingerbread! Definitely going to try your recipe!
Angela says
My mom and I used to make cookies shaped like candy canes. I haven’t made them in many years but still remember the taste! I think I’ll dig that recipe out this year.
Laura Fuentes says
You will be glad you did 🙂
theresa krier says
My all time favorite is and always has been frosted sugar cookies, thanks
Amy W. says
My favorite cookie for the holidays is a family recipe for homemade sugar cookies with only butter, flour, egg yolks and lemon juice.
Yvonne says
During the holidays we always enjoy baking as a family and making different cookies. Our favorite is gingerbread and sugar cookies as they are always fun to decorate and give as gifts 🙂
Patti says
gf pumpkin snickerdoodles is one of our favorite holiday cookies! when our daughter was still at home her girlfriend would call and ask if I would bake her some pumpkin snickerdoodles!
Stacie W says
Decorated sugar cookies with the thin almost drizzle frosting.
Faith says
We love plain sugar cookies with all the decorations~!
Erin says
We love pepparkakor cookies this time of year. They are a Swedish holiday cookie that my dad always made growing up, and now that he’s not with us anymore, I delight in carrying on the tradition with my kids.
I made your gingerbread cookies yesterday, and they were a hit! My 5-year-old ate three of them, and wanted to go back for more! I did have to make a couple of substitutions based on ingredients I had on hand: used 1 cup oat flour and 1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour, and used chocolate protein powder. Thanks for the recipe!
Karin says
Rum balls and coconut date nut logs!!
Marriotte says
Definitely have to try these cookies! Our favorite is still Chocolate Chip but we love Gingerbread for the holidays!
Patti says
Favorite Holiday Cookie……easy to make and easier to eat…..peanut butter and jelly cookies…..
Basic sugar cookie dough rolled into balls (walnut sized)…..roll into chopped peanuts…….baked 8-12 min @ 350…..while still warm create a slight indent in cookie (I use a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon) so you have a cute little place to put your jelly! I personally like seedless raspberry…..but whatever tickles your fancy. Enjoy!
Laura Fuentes says
sound delicious!
Amy Johnson says
GF peanutbutter blossoms.
PreK Teacher says
Chocolate peppermint
Susanne says
Our family favorite….SNICKERDOODLES!
Christina says
My favorite is Mexican wedding cookies.
Laura Fuentes says
I>LOVE>THOSE!!!!
Kim says
These are delicious! My celiac kids love them.
Erica says
There are so many to choose from! I think my all time fav is homemade shortbread cookies. I’m excited to try this recipe!
Melanie says
I’ve always loved the traditional sugar cookie we make for Santa.
Marion Millan says
Our favorite cookies are kolaczki. My sister and little ones actually made them yesterday.
Jennifer says
My favorite is oatmeal raisin, but the rest of the family loves chocolate chip.
Rachael says
We love a good old thumbprint filled with jam a d covered in crushed walnuts! Took me months to find a comparable gluten free recipe!
Carin says
These may very well become my new favorite holiday cookie. Yum! Thanks for the chance to win! Happy holidays!
Karen says
My favorite is peanut butter kiss cookies (PB cookies with a Hershey kiss on top)…or wedding cakes…or molasses…or…too many to list! Gingerbread are a big favorite too!
Charlene says
My favorite cookie is the classic sugar cookie cut outs with colored sugar sprinkled on top.
Evelyn says
My favorite holiday cookies is a simple shortbread cookie. So delicious! Not too sweet & goes great with a cup of coffee.
Teresa says
My fave cookies are a good butter shortbread cookie and the thin waffle sandwiches with a good caramel filling.
I love love love chai. Am not much of a baker but will try this. Question — I don’t stock coconut oil. Will butter do or will that change the taste a lot ? Also, is molasses (also don’t stock) essential or can i sub with something else ? Sorry i’m changing so much ! Thanks !
Laura Fuentes says
You can definitely use butter (melted) instead of the coconut oil Teresa. The molasses is essential for the dark-colored cookies and the rich earthy flavor of every gingerbread cookie. If you substitute it with honey, they’ll be golden yellow. Enjoy!
kirsten lawson says
I am simple, butter cookies. Not healthy, but they melt in your mouth.
Debbie Hausher says
Our family is divided between 2 favorites cookies – Swedish Heirlooms and Tollhouse Chocolate Chip. This cookie recipe sounds intriguing; I never made gingerbread cookies as I thought it was so difficult but as usual, Laura makes it easy & healthy.
Erica says
My favorite holiday cookie is indeed Gingerbread . However i like them very gingery with a hint of pepper similar to speculaas cookies. However our resident “Santa “prefers either Chocolate chip or Sugar Cookies
Marla says
Our favorite is gingerbread cookies. These will be great to try.
Abigail Oses says
So hard to choose what my favorite holiday cookie it….peanut butter thumb prints with my kids…..can’t wait for holiday break and tune away from work to make more memories
Melissa says
For Christmas cookies I really enjoy a snowball/wedding cookie or a pistachio crescent. I make a healthy cookie (no, really) for breakfasts and snacks that someone in my family eats at least one of everyday.
Stacy L says
My mom always made sour cream cutout cookies with a simple milk/powdered sugar frosting for us to decorate. They remind me of her when I make them and are still my favorite cookies around the holidays. 🙂
LaTanya says
I love making Christmas shaped sugar cookies with sprinkles on top.
JeannieinDallas says
Everything gingerbread……can hardly wait to try these…gluten free they will be!
Brandi says
Love ginger cookies, so this recipe is great!
yvonne says
Ginger cookies! can’t wait to try this recipe
Yvonne Koo says
Ginger cookies- of course. Always on the outlook for a great ginger recipe- can’t wait to try this one
David & Daphne Close says
Honestly, it’s the classic Christmas sugar cookie. I wish there was a thing as a low cholesterol version. I remember looking for one and found a recipe, but you know what? All it did was cut it in half! Totally useless.
Laura Fuentes says
🙂
Valerie says
My favorite holiday cookie is sourdough oatmeal chocolate chip . Actually, I enjoy having these year round.
Christy says
I love good old “Buckeyes” from Ohio. Peanut Butter, Powdered Sugar, Butter rolled into a ball and dunked into melted chocolate chips. It makes my insulin surge just writing this out! Needless to say, I don’t make these any more, but I’ll enjoy making your gingerbread cookies. They look scrumptious and will lead to much better behaved children I’m sure.
Maggie Y says
Gingerbread cookies
Heather says
Mexican cinnamon and sugar cookies!
Sylvia Baker says
Yummy! But my personal favorite are shortbread. Wish those could be a little healthier…;)
Jessica says
We love pretty much any spice cookie, as well as flavored shortbreads this time of year (especially shortbread dusted in candy cane bits!)!
Laura Fuentes says
yum! I love candy canes.
Wendy Fuller says
Sugar (rolled) are my favorite!
Marie says
That protein powder looks great! I love chai. And it’s dairy, soy, and nut free which is great for my son.
As for my favorite holiday cookie, I don’t really have one. But I suppose I tend to gravitate to gingerbread ones… Oh, wait, I do love those ones that have fruit and the edges folder over. They have a very eastern European name…
Jessica Rust says
My favorite are molasses spice cookies. My mom’s recipe is delicious, but it uses white flour and shortening. I’m hoping to find a healthy alternative and I’m excited to try this recipe!
Crystal says
Sugar Cookies!
Mandy says
My all time favorite Christmas cookie is a candy cane cookie made from mint flavored dough (similar to sugar cookie dough). You die half of the dough pink and then twist two pieces together, forming a cane-shape. These are so fun to make with kids!!
Can’t wait to try your healthified gingerbread cookie recipe… My little boy is really into gingerbread this year!
Cristina says
Mince meat cookies were my absolute favorite, but we haven’t made any since cutting out wheat. Gotta work on that!
Abby says
My favorite is a snowball cookie that my grandmother used to make! My kids love gingerbread and I can not wait to try these!
Stacy says
I love simple sugar cookies to frost and decorate with my son!
Laura Lichtenstwin says
Our favorite Holiday cookie is almond crescents. So light and yummy!
Janna Abell says
Is it wrong if I love all cookies:-) I just made maple oatmeal cookies tonight. I think my current true love is a snickerdoodle cookie wrapped around a soft caramel. Yum! Love Bob’s Red Mill!!!
Amelia says
I LOVE the snowball cookies, also called Mexican wedding cookies. Not safe to have them around me–I just keep popping them in my mouth as if they were Skittles! Can’t wait to try these. Hope my daughter likes them as she was just put on GF diet, so there aren’t many cookies she can have.
Teresa M. says
My favorite holiday cookie is gingerbread cookies. I fondly remember my dad and brother trying to make them by substituting and omitting the ingredients they didn’t have. The end result was cookies that would bounce!
Jennifer L says
My favorite is my grandmothers annosett cookies (I know I butchered the spelling lol) with frosting.
Viviannette says
White chocolate and macadamia nut cookies!
Amy B. says
My favorite Christmas cookie is the chocolate crinkle. I love chai tea, going to have to check out the chai protein.
Megan says
Our favorite cookie is a gingersnap cookie. My kids love the taste of ginger and cinnamon!!
Cathy Thelen says
My favorite cookie is a ranger cookie that my husband’s grandma makes.
Erica says
Mexican wedding cookies or crunchy gingerbread… but I’ll be sure to try these – probably more acceptable to the kids!
Tami says
Anything chocolate!
Cristin says
We love to make peanut butter cookies and dip one side in white chocolate mixed with some ground cinnamon. Can’t wait to try this recipe for Santa.
Jamiesdoll says
My favorite holiday cookies aren’t cookies, they are bars. It’s an old fashion recipe passed down from my great grandmother called”prayer bars”… They have a chocolate Coconut base, a peppermint frosting type layer, and a fudgy dark chocolate spread on top! … I think I NEED Bob’s Red Mill products ASAP! — my mouth is watering!
Susan V says
My favorite Christmas cookies are Just-Like -Starbucks Molasses cookies, the butter and sugar cut-out cookies I make every year with my grown daughters, and Strawberry Strippers, a variation on the old Cooking Light recipe for Raspberry Strippers. We make them using our homemade strawberry freezer jam.
Candace says
I can’t wait to try these. My favorite holiday cookie is peanut butter with Hershey kisses
Cathy says
My family’s favorite is a chewy brownie cookie, but I’m partial to oatmeal chocolate chip myself. Thank you for the giveaway!
Donna says
Our favorites are thumbprints filled with either red or green homemade gf frosting
Tracie says
My absolute favorite are chocolate crinkles.
Jenn says
Hi! These look great. Can you make cut outs with this recipe? My five year old wants to make gingerbread pirates like the one in his story book 😉
Laura Fuentes says
Jenn, these are soft and chewy and do not “cut out”. I did test the dough into a roll-out dough by refrigerating it, rolling it between 2 pcs of parchment paper, refrigerating for 10 minutes, and then cutting them out. The only issue is that these cookies expand (as seen in the video) which is why I left them where I liked them best: as soft chewy circles that simply taste amazing.
Elizabeth says
I love all kinds of holiday cookies! I made a recipe that had bits of Andes mints in them…. they were relish! I am also super excited to try this recipe!! Thx for sharing 🙂
Pamela Travis says
One of my favorite cookies is a pecan log- it’s basically a shortbread cookie with lots of finely chopped pecans.
Kym says
My goodness, these look delicious! My favorite holiday cookie is rugelach. I’ll be making a batch for our neighborhood holiday party.
Christina W. says
My favorite is Magic Cookie Bars! They are so bad for you, but it’s the only time of year I’ll eat them. I try not to go overboard eating them. LOL! I definitely want to try this one! Thanks for the recipe!
Sarah Ramos says
Yum! My favorite Christmas cookie is my mom’s decorated sugar cookies. So good!
Gail Fredericks says
We love shortbread dipped in chocolate. Sometimes I use espresso powder in the dough….yum!
Michelle Bingham says
I love the decorated sugar cookies. Actually I don’t think there is a cookie that exists that I don’t like. Lol
Andi says
Gingerbread cookies are my absolute holiday favorite, but I haven’t had them since I went gluten free. I can’t WAIT to try this recipe!! 🙂
Caterina Bacarella says
Our favorite is shortbread and peppermint meringues!
Wendy says
My favorite cookie to make and eat is the famous frosted sugar coookie with sprinkles!!!!
Heidi says
Gingerbread cookies, cut into shapes and decorated with raisins.
Rebecca says
My favorite holiday cookie would be a classic sugar cookie. Being gluten free, I do enjoy testing different recipes! But I’ll have to admit, I’m quite partial to gingerbread. Once I give this recipe a go, it may take the top spot!
Laura Fuentes says
Let me know how it turns out! I am hoping you enjoy!
Rebecca says
Our first snow = time to bake! Just pulled them out of the oven and tested one….They are amazing!! Will be making these again =)
Tina says
My family’s favorite cookie is my mother in law’s M and M cookies. However, my favorite cookie is my grandmother’s anise seed cookies. The holidays are such a wonderful time of family traditions! I make passing on the traditions to my sons a top priority
Jennifer says
I love simple chewy molasses cookies 🙂 I can’t wait to try these cookies!!
Lubelia Hill says
My favorite holiday cookie is probably homemade shortbread with homemade icing! Gingerbread runs a very close second, these look amazing and I will definitely be making them asap!
Audrey says
I have to say my favorite cookie is the Mexican Wedding cake cookies !
Bonnie says
Yummy!
Sue Anna says
Never seen the Chia protein powder. Can you buy it in the store of just online? Thanks, anxious to make these.
Laura Fuentes says
You can buy them at many grocery stores that carry Bob’s Red Mill products, on their website here, and also on Amazon. Enjoy!
Dana says
Laura, great recipe! In the above blog you say to check the recipe notes in case Chai flavored protein Powder isn’t used to make these. However, I can’t find the notes. What needs to be changed when Whey Protein is used instead of Chai flavored protein? Thanks.
Laura Fuentes says
Dana, my bad!! I forgot to hit “refresh” after I published the notes. They are there now!
amy says
These taste even better than my grandma’s gingersnap recipe! I think we have a new winner.
Rachel says
We love these gingery cookies! And using the cookie press for cute shapes.
Molly says
My favorite holiday cookie! Its a simple light cutout sprinkled on top. Mmmmmmm.
I’m excited to try this recipe in a gluten free version.
Linda says
We love cookies! Our favorite is my Scottish shortbread recipe. I make it with Bobs oats and whole wheat flour. Bobs red mill has been a favorite place to visit while we lived in Portland, Oregon. Now we have to order online to get our favorites mailed to hermosa beach, california .