Soft and chewy ginger molasses cookies are made with plenty of ground ginger, cinnamon and molasses then rolled in sugar! These cookies are a holiday favorite.
If you love cookie recipes with ginger flavor, other favorites include gingerbread man cookies, gingerbread whoopie pies and my gingersnap cookie recipe!
Table of Contents
Soft and Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies
If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas cookies for your next cookie exchange or holiday party, these soft and chewy ginger molasses cookies are it! They come together in 30 minutes and taste incredible. They’re everything you want in a holiday dessert!
This ginger molasses cookie recipe might remind you of a snickerdoodle with it’s soft and chewy inside and crisp edges. They are perfect to include on your next Christmas dessert board or to enjoy with a cup of hot chocolate.
Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Butter: Unsalted softened butter at room temperature creams best with the sugar.
- Brown sugar: Packed light brown sugar adds softness and sweetness.
- Baking staples: All-purpose flour, baking soda and one large egg.
- Molasses: Unsulphured molasses, found this ‘original’ molasses in the baking aisle.
- Warm spices: Ground cinnamon, ginger, and cloves add warm spice.
- Sugar: Before baking, roll the dough balls in granulated sugar. They taste like a mix between a snickerdoodle and gingerbread. Seriously the best combination!
How to Make Ginger Molasses Cookies
Combine all the dry ingredients into a glass bowl. Whisk together and set aside. In a large bowl, using a stand mixer or hand mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add in molasses, mix then add dry ingredients.
Using a medium cookie scoop, roll cookie dough into balls. Add granulated sugar to a shallow bowl then roll the balls into the sugar until coated. Place cookie dough balls on a lined baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.
Bake at 375°F for 8-10 minutes. Let cool on the pan 5 minutes before moving to cooling wire racks.
Molasses Cookies Tips and Variations
- Thicker cookies: If making these plain (without rolling them in sugar), put the dough in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before baking to make them bake a little fluffier.
- Extra ginger: For more ginger taste add some chopped crystallized ginger. It also adds a nice crunch!
- White chocolate drizzled: Drizzling melted white chocolate over the top really takes these cookies up a notch!
- White chocolate dipped: Dip them in white chocolate then add holly berries to the white chocolate or festive holiday sprinkles.
- Frosted: Add some cream cheese frosting on top, yum!
Recipe FAQs
If you are wanting something richer in flavor without the preservatives you will want to purchase unsulphured molasses, this is different than sulphured molasses and you will want to avoid using blackstrap molasses.
If you did not roll the cookies in sugar, they won’t crack. Sugar dries out the surface and allows the cracks to develop.
Store cookies in an airtight container for up to a week. They will get more flavorful and stay nice and soft! You can also freeze baked cookies (that have not been dipped in chocolate) by placing them in a freezer bag or container and freezing for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter for a few hours until no longer frozen.
Yes, prepare dough as directed, then scoop into balls (and roll in sugar if preferred). Place on a baking sheet and freeze for about 30 minutes, or until they have hardened. Then transfer to a freezer bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, let thaw on baking sheet while warming up the oven. Then bake as directed.
Wrap these ginger molasses cookies up in a clear bag with ribbon and pass out to friends and coworkers. To gift, bake as directed and cool completely. Dip in white chocolate, let harden then stack cookies in a clear plastic bag. Add a festive Christmas gift tag and gift to neighbors, friends and family.
More cookies and bar recipes with molasses include these cute snowman cookies, homemade gingerbread houses, or these gingerbread bars.
More Christmas Cookie Recipes
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Ginger Molasses Cookies
Video
Equipment
- Cookie Sheet
Ingredients
- ¾ cup butter , softened (I use unsalted)
- 1 cup light brown sugar , packed
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup molasses
- 2.25 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (for rolling the cookies)
Optional: dash of vanilla, white chocolate melting wafers (for dipping), sprinkles
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar. Combine 3/4 cup butter and 1 cup light brown sugar in a large bowl. Cream for one minute, or until fluffy. Add in one large egg and beat until smooth. Next add in 1/4 cup molasses and a dash of vanilla if desired. Mix until combined.
- Add dry ingredients. Place 2 1/4 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ginger, 1/2 teaspoon cloves and 1/4 teaspoon salt into a sifter (if you don’t have a sifter, whisk in a bowl), and then add to the butter mixture. Mix with a spoon, just until combined. Be careful not to over mix.
- Chill dough. Refrigerate dough 10-15 minutes.
- Roll into balls. Using a medium cookie scoop (or about 1.5 Tablespoons), roll the cookie dough into a ball. Place 1/4 cup granulated sugar into a shallow bowl and then roll the dough into the sugar. Place on the baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Lightly flatten the tops with the palm of your hand.
- Bake. Bake 8-10 minutes and let cool on the pan 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack. Tip: If your cookies aren't cracking as much as you'd like, bang the pan on the stove right after they come out of the oven to crack the cookies. They will settle as they cool.
- Once the cookies have cooled, dip half the cookies in melted white chocolate half way if desired and place on wax paper or parchment paper if desired. Allow to harden.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Christmas, Cookies, Desserts, Freezer-Friendly, Holiday Cookies, Kid-Friendly, Nut-Free, Vegetarian, White Chocolate Cookies
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Could this be made with gluten free flour?
I haven’t tried it before so I’m not positive. Definitely let us know how it goes if you give it a try!!
These look great. Can you freeze them? I have to make a lot for a cookie exchange.
Yes, definitely! They freeze great!
These are amazing!!!! I made these so many times!!! Perfect each time.
I’m so glad to hear you love them! Thank you for your comment!
These were awesome! The cookies are delicious even without the chocolate. I tried dipping them in wilton candy melts but the candy melts were too thick and didn’t exactly give me the consistency I wanted (too thick of a coating on the cookies and not drizzleable). I will probably try again and add a little coconut oil to the candy melts and see if that helps.
I’m glad you enjoyed them! Sorry the candy melts didn’t work for you. Adding some kind of oil should work great!
Made these today for Christmas……..my husband and mom loves them :)
My all time favorite Christmas cookie are these chocolate dipped ginger cookies with the berries. So so cute and so so delicious.
Gonna do them tonite where does one find the holly candies.?
Target or Amazon!
Do they freeze ok? I make large cookie platters for christmas gifts for friends and I like to make some ahead and freeze since I make about 9-10 different kinds of cookies before I put the gifts together.
Yes, you can definitely freeze them! I would probably just recommend leaving the chocolate off or dipping in chocolate the day you plate. :)
Perfect Ginger Snap Cookie! Moist yet a little crunchy! Super big hit! This is definitely a saver!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
These are delicious! They’ve become a holiday favorite at our house!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for your comment!
How far in advance can these be baked and still be soft for Christmas?
I’m sorry this comment is too late for Christmas! I think these cookies are best eaten within a few days but can be frozen for much longer.
I made this but they were fluffy. More like cake. Not chewy.
Hi, these are so beautiful! What are the Holly leaves and red berries made from? Are they candy or made out of marzipan or something? Thank you.
They are Wilton holly sprinkles! :)
is the white chocolate just melted alone?
Yep! :)
Could you freeze these? Would you freeze the dough balls and thaw before baking, or freeze the already baked cookies?
Yes you can definitely freeze these! Either way would work. :)
Can you freeze these cookies
Definitely!
I made these at Christmas time complete with the decorations.Everyone loved them even the non cookie lovers. I am making the, again this week because they are too delicious not to
I’m so glad you loved them! Thanks for leaving a comment and review Maggie! :)
Fantastic cookie. They are not only delicious but they remain moist and chewy for days! I even got a thumbs up from my Mom, a professed molasses hater. They are really a gingerbread cookie. I highly recommend this recipe. Thanks, iheartnaptime!
So happy to hear this! Glad you enjoyed them :)