Traditional Christmas Spiced Molasses Cookies
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar (plus extra for rolling)
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1/4 cup unsulphured molasses
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent the cookies from sticking and to ensure even browning.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and 1 cup of granulated sugar together using an electric mixer on medium-high speed. Continue mixing for about 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color.
- Add the egg and the molasses to the butter mixture. Beat well until fully combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to ensure everything is incorporated evenly.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, salt, and baking soda. Whisking helps break up any clumps and distributes the leavening agent throughout the flour.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed just until the flour disappears. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tougher cookie texture.
- Place about 1/3 cup of granulated sugar in a small bowl. Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough and roll them between your palms to form 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in the sugar until evenly coated.
- Place the balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. The edges should be set, and the tops should have developed beautiful cracks, but they should still look slightly soft in the center.
- Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up. Transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. This helps maintain the chewy texture without making the bottoms soggy.