If you have a soft spot for cozy spices and chewy, melt-in-your-mouth textures, then this Molasses Crinkle Cookies Recipe is guaranteed to become one of your favorites. These cookies are a delightful blend of warm ginger and cinnamon with rich molasses that creates a perfect balance of sweet and slightly tangy flavors. Each bite offers a delightful crinkle-top appearance dusted in sugar that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. They bake up beautifully chewy on the inside with a slight crisp on the edges, making them absolutely irresistible for cookie lovers of all ages.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The ingredients for this recipe are refreshingly simple but pack a big punch when combined. Every item plays a crucial role in building those classic chewy textures and gingerbread-like flavors that make these cookies so memorable and inviting.
- 2 cups all-purpose flour: The sturdy base that gives structure to the cookies.
- 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses: The star ingredient, providing deep, rich sweetness and moisture.
- 1 tsp baking soda: Helps the cookies rise just enough and develop their tender texture.
- 1 tsp ground ginger: Adds a warm, spicy kick essential to classic molasses cookies.
- 1 tsp cinnamon: A fragrant layering spice that complements the ginger beautifully.
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar: Used for rolling, it creates the signature crackled, sugary crust.
- 1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar: Gives a subtle molasses undertone and keeps cookies soft.
- 1 large egg: Binds everything together while adding richness.
- 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter: Adds creaminess and helps with that tender crumb texture.
How to Make Molasses Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Your Oven
Start by setting your oven temperature to 350°F (175°C). This ensures the perfect baking environment, allowing the cookies to cook evenly and develop that classic crinkly surface without burning the sugary coating.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground ginger, and cinnamon. This step ensures the spices are evenly distributed, which helps every bite have that consistent warmth and flavor.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugars
In a separate bowl, cream the softened butter with both granulated and brown sugars until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This process incorporates air, which contributes to a lighter texture in the finished cookies.
Step 4: Add Egg and Molasses to the Butter Mixture
Beat in the egg and molasses thoroughly into the creamed butter and sugars. The molasses lends that deep, rich flavor and also keeps the dough moist for chewy cookies.
Step 5: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies instead of soft, tender ones.
Step 6: Form and Coat Cookie Dough Balls
Using a tablespoon measure, scoop the dough and roll each portion into a ball. Then, roll the balls in granulated sugar generously—this creates those delightful crackled tops once baked.
Step 7: Bake and Cool
Place the dough balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat, spacing them sufficiently apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes until you see the tops crack slightly. Once out of the oven, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely, letting them firm up just right.
How to Serve Molasses Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
While these cookies are perfect on their own, dusting them lightly with powdered sugar or adding a sprinkle of finely chopped crystallized ginger on top can elevate their presentation and add an extra zing of flavor. You can even drizzle a little melted white chocolate for a festive touch during holidays.
Side Dishes
Molasses Crinkle Cookies go wonderfully with a cozy cup of chai tea, hot cocoa, or even a classic glass of cold milk. Their spicy-sweet notes are amplified by warm beverages, making for a comforting snack or dessert pairing.
Creative Ways to Present
Try stacking a few of these cookies and tying them with a rustic ribbon for a charming gift. Alternatively, sandwich them with cream cheese frosting or vanilla buttercream to create delightfully unique cookie sandwiches that wow guests at any gathering.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Your leftover Molasses Crinkle Cookies Recipe treats stay fresh for up to a week when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. This keeps their chewy texture intact and prevents them from drying out or becoming stale.
Freezing
If you want to enjoy these flavorful cookies later, freeze the baked and cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet first, then transfer them to a resealable freezer bag or airtight container. They will maintain their taste and texture for up to three months in the freezer.
Reheating
To enjoy your cookies warm, simply reheat them in a microwave for about 10 seconds or pop them in a preheated oven at 300°F for 5 minutes. This restores their soft, chewy goodness as if they were just freshly baked.
FAQs
Can I substitute the molasses with another sweetener?
Molasses has a unique flavor and moisture content that is key to this recipe, so substitutions can change the taste and texture drastically. However, you can try using honey or maple syrup in smaller quantities, keeping in mind the final cookie will be different in flavor and might spread more.
Why do my molasses cookies sometimes turn out too hard?
Overbaking is often the culprit for hard molasses cookies. Make sure to watch the bake time closely and remove the cookies from the oven as soon as the tops start to crack. Using the correct amount of molasses and butter also keeps the cookies soft and chewy.
How do I get that perfect crinkle effect on top?
Rolling the cookie dough balls generously in granulated sugar before baking is essential. The sugar dries out the surface, causing cracks to form beautifully as the cookie bakes and spreads.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Yes! Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend that includes xanthan gum. Be aware the texture might be slightly different but still deliciously satisfying.
Is it possible to make these cookies vegan?
You can create a vegan version by using plant-based butter, a flax or chia egg substitute, and checking that your sugars and molasses are vegan-friendly. The flavor will remain rich and spiced, just like the original.
Final Thoughts
This Molasses Crinkle Cookies Recipe is truly a cozy classic that deserves a spot in your baking repertoire. With its simple ingredients and easy steps, you’ll have a batch of deeply satisfying cookies that fill your home with warm spices and sweet aromas. I encourage you to give this recipe a try—you might just find your new favorite comfort cookie that everyone will ask for again and again.
Print
Molasses Crinkle Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Molasses Crinkle Cookies are soft, chewy treats bursting with warm spices like ginger and cinnamon, perfectly balanced by the rich sweetness of molasses. These classic cookies are coated in granulated sugar to create a delightful crinkled top and are quick to make, perfect for holiday baking or whenever you crave a comforting spiced cookie.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
Sugars
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for rolling)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it is hot enough to bake the cookies evenly and develop their characteristic texture.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground ginger, and cinnamon until well combined to evenly distribute the spices and leavening agent.
- Cream butter and sugars: In a separate bowl, cream the softened unsalted butter with the granulated sugar and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This helps incorporate air for a tender cookie.
- Add egg and molasses: Beat the large egg and unsulfured molasses into the butter and sugar mixture until fully combined, creating a smooth and sticky wet batter.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring gently just until combined, to avoid overmixing which can toughen the cookies.
- Shape and coat dough balls: Roll tablespoons of dough into balls and coat each generously with the granulated sugar. This coating creates the signature crinkled effect on top of the cookies.
- Bake the cookies: Place the sugar-coated dough balls on a lined baking sheet, spacing them evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until the tops crack slightly but the cookies remain soft inside.
- Cool: Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on a wire rack completely before serving to set their texture.
Notes
- For softer cookies, do not overbake; remove them once the edges are set and the tops crack.
- Ensure the butter is softened, not melted, for proper creaming with sugars.
- You can substitute light or dark brown sugar depending on the intensity of molasses flavor you prefer.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Optionally, chill the dough for 30 minutes before rolling to make dough easier to handle and to prevent spreading.
