Spiced Molasses Cookies

Perfectly spiced and so deliciously good, these  Spiced Molasses Cookies will blow your tastebuds away! These are my favorite holiday cookies and they always get good reviews wherever I bring them!

I used to be not a fan at all of spiced cookies. It’s not because I think they have a funny taste or anything like that but because of sheer unfamiliarity.

I guess Filipino cuisine, though it has its sweet side, does not have many cookies perfumed or flavored with sweet spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, etc. But since this is a quintessential winter and/or holiday cookie, I thought I ought to give it another try.

I don’t like a cookie though that’s super heavy on ginger taste (though I love ginger and often use it in cooking – for savory food mostly though!).

Just not my cup of tea. But when I saw that this cookie has pretty much an even distribution of spices, I thought why not?

Spiced Molasses Cookies

If it’s too gingery then I won’t do it again….but guess what…love at first bite is what I experienced when I took a bite of this moist and chewy – truly perfectly spiced cookie!

That explains the photo above – one bite is enough to get you hooked on this. I love that the cookie is kinda crunchy on the edges but so soft in the middle! Proof that this is a great recipe – my son William just couldn’t get enough of this!

It’s also a wonderful recipe in that you need not hurry to cook it right away (how wonderful is that!). It can be prepared up to 8 hours ahead. Love that you can prep these hours before and then just quickly roll them into balls and then bake them!

I am just happy I found another lovely cookie to have during the holidays and for my hot cup of tea!

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Spiced Molasses Cookies

Manila Spoon
Perfectly spiced and so deliciously good. These are my favorite holiday cookies – Spiced Molasses Cookies
4.46 from 33 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 20
Calories 167 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground clove
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup butter, unsalted, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, dark, firmly packed
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 3 tablespoons sugar, white and granulated

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Set aside.
  • Using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, roughly 3 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and molasses and continue to beat just until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture, mixing until blended. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or for up to 8 hours.
  • After the desired hour of sitting or refrigerating is finished, preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare 2 baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or use non-stick cookie sheets.
  • Place a large sheet of waxed paper on a work surface and sprinkle it with the granulated sugar. Using your palms, shape the dough into balls 1 1/4 inches in diameter. Then roll the balls in the granulated sugar, coating them evenly. Arrange the balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Using the tines of a fork, press the fork into each cookie, pushing down to create a decorative top.
  • Bake until just set and lightly browned, 9-11 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on the sheets for about 5 minutes. Gently transfer cookies to racks and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Notes

Note:  Do not overcook. The middle/center part of the cookies should just be somewhat soft and spongy when you take them out of the oven. If you do otherwise they will end up crunchy and hard, unless that’s how you want them!

Nutrition

Calories: 167kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 236mgPotassium: 96mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 225IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Adapted from Spiced Molasses Cookies from Williams-Sonoma.

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Last updated on December 4th, 2023 at 09:07 pm

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13 Comments

  1. December 27, 2012 / 12:07 am

    These sound delicious… going to pin them so that I will have the recipe at my fingertip.

    • December 27, 2012 / 4:04 am

      Hope you like them Marlys! Thanks for stopping by!

  2. Anonymous
    August 20, 2013 / 12:23 pm

    Things look great! I'm going to make them for potluck on Saturday!

  3. December 1, 2013 / 1:33 am

    G'day Abby…one word? YUM!
    Wish I could try one now and great photo too!
    Cheers! Joanne

    • December 5, 2013 / 10:51 pm

      Thanks, Joanne! My son loves this a lot and I do, too. Please enjoy!

  4. Victoria Regina Marsh
    December 20, 2020 / 2:12 am

    5 stars
    This was the BEST molasses recipe out there. Hubs’s favorite cookie is molasses, tried several and none of them were “it.” This is the only one I’ll make from now on. The spices shine through; not to strong but enough to enjoy. Perfectly spiced. Added a white royal frosting. So darn good. Will be on my cookie trays for years to come. Thank you so much!!

    • abigail
      Author
      December 20, 2020 / 9:03 pm

      Yay! I am so glad to know this so thank you for your feedback! Glad you enjoyed the cookies. Thanks for stopping by.

  5. Donna
    December 14, 2021 / 9:26 pm

    Could you please provide the calories count?

    • abigail
      Author
      January 8, 2022 / 5:53 pm

      Sorry for the delay. We got sick over the holiday season so everything got crazy. Just added the estimated nutritional content. Thanks!

  6. September 8, 2023 / 8:49 am

    5 stars
    Love these and on a clear Fall morning with a lovely cup of coffee or tea…yes! The recipe is clear and even though I don’t make cookies very much, as it’s just my husband and me, this is a keeper! Thanks!

    • abigail
      Author
      September 9, 2023 / 8:16 pm

      So happy you enjoyed these cookies! My son and I absolutely love these and tend to eat too much when these are around!!! Thank you for stopping by!

  7. Bates Linda
    September 10, 2023 / 1:13 pm

    Want to make these soon and was wondering what brand and strength of molasses you recommend using.

    • abigail
      Author
      September 12, 2023 / 2:54 pm

      I don’t have any particular brand, sorry. I just make sure to use a pure one without any additives.

4.46 from 33 votes (31 ratings without comment)

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