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You are here: Home / Dessert / Best Chewy Molasses Cookies

Best Chewy Molasses Cookies

December 13, 2020 by Stephanie Brubaker 40 Comments

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These are the Best Chewy Molasses Cookies ever, and a must make Christmas cookie tradition! The perfectly crackled tops and chewy insides are irresistible!

Best Chewy Molasses Crinkle Cookies stacked on a baking sheet with ornaments

These amazing cookies have earned their place on our Christmas cookie trays every year. I have been making them for a long time, tweaking the recipe a little each time until they were just right.

No more tweaking necessary – these are truly the best!

Chewy Molasses Crinkle Cookies scattered on a baking sheet with green ornaments

My husband and kids all LOVE these cookies. They have the perfect amount of warm, comforting spices – they basically taste like a Christmas hug.

What are some of your favorite cookies to make each Christmas? Our list has become quite extensive, as we’ve had more kids. I think we made 20 varieties last year!

How to make the best chewy molasses cookies:

  • The cookie dough starts with room temperature, softened butter, mixed with brown sugar until it lightens in color and is very fluffy.
  • You can use light or dark brown sugar in this recipe. Dark brown sugar will add the most flavor!
  • Using cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg along with the molasses gives these cookies the most delicious warm, spicy flavor we all love in a great molasses cookie!
  • Roll the dough balls in granulated sugar before baking to give them a little festive sparkle and crunch!
  • Thanks to the baking soda in this recipe, these cookies puff up nice in the oven and as they cool, they settle down a bit giving those classic crackled tops to the cookies!

(Complete recipe below in recipe card.)

If you make these molasses crinkle cookies, I would love for you to comment here on the blog!

If you take pictures, I’d love to see them!! Tag your recipe pictures with #backforsecondsrecipes on Instagram and tag me @BackforSeconds!

Best Chewy Molasses Cookies stacked up with top cookie broken in half

The flavors of gingerbread are a newly, much requested favorite around here. These Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Bars with Eggnog Frosting were a huge hit last year, and my kids have been asking me to make this Gingerbread Fudge all year long!

The mix of ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg is just such a cozy combination. There’s not much better than watching snow fall outside your window with a nice hot latte, and a plate of these Chewy Molasses Cookies! Comfort and joy!

More Molasses and Gingerbread holiday Desserts:

  • Easy Gingerbread Biscotti Recipe
  • 19 Festive and Delicious Gingerbread Desserts
  • Easy No Fail Gingerbread Twix Fudge
  • All Things Gingerbread – Cookies, Cakes, Drinks, and More!

Chewy Crinkle Molasses Cookies stacked on top of each other

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Best Chewy Crinkle Molasses Cookies collage photo for Christmas

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If you make these Chewy Molasses Cookies, I would love for you to leave a star rating and comment here on the blog! It’s helps me to know what you are making and loving and it’s helpful to other readers as well!

If you take pictures, I’d love to see them!! Tag your recipe pictures with #backforsecondsrecipes on Instagram and tag me @BackforSeconds!

Best Chewy Molasses Cookies

Stephanie Brubaker
These are the Best Chewy Molasses Cookies ever, and a must make Christmas cookie tradition! The perfectly crackled tops and chewy insides are irresistible!
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Chill Time 2 hrs
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 36

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 cups unsalted butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda
  • 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Instructions
 

  • In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Mix in molasses and the egg until well incorporated.
  • Add in the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, and baking soda and mix well.
  • Gradually mix in the flour on low speed, just until combined.
  • Cover and chill at least 2 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Roll dough into 1 1/2" balls and roll them in the granulated sugar until coated.
  • Place dough balls 2" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
  • Bake for 9-11 minutes.
  • Let cool a few minutes on cookie sheet before transferring wire racks to cool completely.
  • Store in an air tight container.
Keyword christmas cookies, crackle cookies, ginger molasses cookies

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Originally published on Nov 14, 2018.

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Filed Under: Christmas, Cookies, Dessert, Fall, Holiday, Thanksgiving Tagged With: best chewy molasses cookies, best christmas cookie recipe, easy gingerbread cookies, freezer friendly christmas cookies

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Comments

  1. CJ says

    January 1, 2022 at 10:24 pm

    Made these tonight and they were easy and awesome! Definitely keeping this recipe. I made 2 batches – one with light brown sugar and one with dark. Didn’t notice a big difference. Both were great. I got 5 dozen cookies from each batch.

    Reply
  2. Jeni says

    December 20, 2021 at 6:02 pm

    This are soft and delicious.

    Reply
  3. Stephanie Shambo says

    December 16, 2021 at 3:12 pm

    Just made these and they are delicious, so chewy and packed full of flavor. My family (Even the kids) loved these and couldn’t stop eating them. I had to put them where they couldn’t be seen. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!

    Reply
  4. Kris says

    December 15, 2021 at 12:43 am

    WOW – love these cookies!! Just as described!

    Reply
  5. Melanie says

    December 23, 2020 at 10:48 am

    Making these this morning while listening to Christmas jazz and sipping my freshly brewed coffee, dancing around the kitchen with my Santa hat, robe, and fuzzy slippers. 😁🎶 Looking forward to these, I’ll share how they turn out! Thank you for sharing the recipe! Merry Christmas! ❤️😊🤶🎄

    Reply
    • Stephanie Brubaker says

      December 23, 2020 at 12:38 pm

      That sounds just perfect! Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

      Reply
    • Darold says

      February 28, 2021 at 2:05 am

      Tried them and liked them very much. Thank you for the recipe.

      Reply
  6. Margaret says

    December 16, 2020 at 7:52 pm

    My father used to make these cookies for my daughter. She called them “broken cookies”.

    Reply
  7. Colleen says

    December 7, 2020 at 7:28 pm

    Is this a soft dough ?Or should u be able to roll them after mixing?mine is softer than usual I added more flour but I don’t want to add to much to dry the cookie out.?!Thsnks so much !Colleen b.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Brubaker says

      December 10, 2020 at 11:24 am

      You may need to add extra flour if it is too soft/sticky to roll. It is a soft dough, but shouldn’t be too soft to handle.

      Reply
  8. KarenMN says

    December 5, 2020 at 3:33 pm

    Hi Stephanie…I just made these awesome cookies! They turned out exactly as I had anticipated. A crispy edge with a chewy center…perfect!! I just want to make sure that the 1 tablespoon is correct for the baking soda. It seems like a lot for a recipe using 2 1/4 cups of flour. I actually didn’t use a whole tbsp because I thought it was a typo. Regardless, the cookies turned out delicious, and we are enjoying them to the degree of gluttony ;o)

    Happy Holidays to you and your family! Takes for the great recipe!

    Karen in Minnesota

    Reply
    • Stephanie Brubaker says

      December 10, 2020 at 11:26 am

      So glad you enjoyed the cookies! The 1 TBS of baking soda is not a mistake 🙂 Thanks for the note, and Merry Christmas!

      Reply
  9. Melissa says

    November 4, 2020 at 8:03 pm

    These are delicious. I was doubtful of the amount of baking soda, and mine were puffy in the oven, but they crinkled and cracked like they were supposed to, and flattened as they cooled.
    This is my new favorite cookie!,,

    Reply
  10. suzette says

    September 19, 2020 at 9:37 am

    do recommend using cloves also in the ingredients? i notice others use it..Was just curious.Thanks

    Reply
  11. Mandi says

    December 23, 2019 at 8:49 pm

    I made and sent these cookies across country to a friend, in transit for a week, and they were still amazingly soft, chewy and delicious!! Great recipe!!

    Reply
  12. Sharon says

    December 18, 2019 at 6:35 pm

    Delicious! Will definitely make them again. Chilled the dough overnight and they came out fine. Baked them only 7 min. Like them slightly underdone. Perfect. Crispy and chewy.s

    Reply
  13. Zora Adams says

    December 15, 2019 at 7:17 pm

    Just made these over the weekend and I don’t think I’ve ever made a more perfect cookie! My cookies never look like the picture in the recipe and so I am so impressed that they not only look perfect but the are chewy and so yummy…. seriously, these are gonna be made every year from now on! I wish I could post a picture!😁

    Reply
  14. Susan says

    December 12, 2019 at 5:49 pm

    Very good cookie and taste amazing warm Love it!

    Reply
  15. Bev Witmer says

    December 11, 2019 at 2:25 pm

    One of my favorite cookies, growing up, was Archway,s molasses cookies. This recipe is the closest I’ve ever eaten. Absolutely delicious!

    Reply
  16. Devon Joy says

    December 10, 2019 at 12:30 am

    What type of molasses do you use for the recipe

    Reply
  17. Michelle says

    December 3, 2019 at 2:49 pm

    The granulated sugar at end of recipe, does that go into the cookie dough as well it was that for costing afterwards?

    Reply
    • Stephanie Brubaker says

      December 12, 2019 at 3:22 pm

      Sorry for the confusion, the granulated sugar at the end is just for rolling the cookie dough balls in. Enjoy!

      Reply
  18. Jennifer says

    November 11, 2019 at 12:31 pm

    Can I freeze the dough? I’m thinking of making & gifting some different cookie doughs for coworkers, and I would love to include this one. If it makes a difference, I am freezing it in paper pint containers.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Brubaker says

      November 12, 2019 at 10:52 am

      You sure can! What a great gift idea 🙂

      Reply
  19. Joe says

    October 22, 2019 at 11:57 am

    Is the granulated sugar added to the brown sugar or is it to just for rolling and coating of the cookies before baking?

    Reply
    • Stephanie Brubaker says

      November 9, 2019 at 2:34 pm

      The granulated sugar is used just for rolling the dough balls in. These are a huge favorite in our house, hoe you enjoy them too!

      Reply
  20. Raquel says

    December 24, 2018 at 12:59 am

    Do you have to chill these in the refrigerator for 2 hours?

    Reply
    • Stephanie Brubaker says

      January 15, 2019 at 10:49 am

      Yes. Chilling helps keep the cookies from spreading too much!

      Reply
  21. Dana says

    December 22, 2018 at 6:04 pm

    Mine came out flat and thin. They tasted great but didn’t look like yours. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Stephanie Brubaker says

      January 15, 2019 at 10:46 am

      Sounds like they needed longer chill time, or even a little more flour. Hope you make them again – these are our favorite cookies!

      Reply
  22. Allie says

    December 17, 2018 at 8:05 pm

    Can you chill for longer than 2 hours??

    Reply
    • Stephanie Brubaker says

      January 15, 2019 at 10:49 am

      Yes 🙂

      Reply
  23. Lydia says

    December 12, 2018 at 9:19 pm

    These are amazing. My husband even said better than chocolate chip! Thanks for a superb recipe!

    Reply
  24. Mrs. H.G. Clark says

    December 6, 2018 at 6:38 am

    Good morning! You mention these are freezable. Is that before or after being baked? I am in need of freezable dough to make it easy for when the grandchildren come to make cookies for Santa.

    Looking forward to your reply. Wishing you and yours a happy Christmas season filled with great health, loved ones, laughter, and tons of fabulous memories.

    Reply
  25. Sherri says

    December 5, 2018 at 10:30 am

    I make these and dip half in white chocolate. 😋

    Reply
  26. Shari Johnson says

    November 19, 2018 at 12:24 pm

    Is a tablespoon of Baking Soda correct in your recipe? Seems like a lot.(?)

    Reply
    • Stephanie Brubaker says

      November 19, 2018 at 1:03 pm

      One tablespoon is correct. More than most cookies, but these need it 🙂 Enjoy!

      Reply
  27. Cindy says

    November 14, 2018 at 11:04 am

    What temperature did you cook these on?

    Reply
    • Stephanie Brubaker says

      November 14, 2018 at 11:13 am

      350. Hope you enjoy!

      Reply

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