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These soft and chewy ginger molasses cookies are guaranteed going to be the softest cookies you’ll make this holiday season!

Close-up of round, golden-brown ginger molasses cookies cooling on a black wire rack over a colorful cloth.
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The most perfect cookies to ever exist during the holidays are definitely these pillowy soft ginger molasses cookies. I am one to always gravitate towards ginger molasses cookies over any other holiday cookie purely because I just love the complex flavors of this cookie. It’s full of spice and warmth and it really exudes the scents you think of during the holiday season. It’s the perfect balance of molasses and spice, along with the crackly sugar top and the bite and chew of these cookies.

Of course there is no denying that I still love the classic frosted holiday sugar cookie and a peanut butter blossom! Adding these ginger molasses cookies to the table is not only a great way to add variety but allows friends and family to enjoy a holiday classic! You’ll be lucky if they last more than a few hours.

✨ Click to see the recipe card below for exact measurements & instructions ✨
A close-up of several golden brown, soft-baked ginger molasses cookies with cracked surfaces arranged in a pile on a wire rack.

Unsulphured vs. Blackstrap Molasses

Molasses has varying intensities (flavor) and it can be confusing when you’re staring at the shelf in the store. Typically, for baking cookies, you want to use unsulphured or dark molasses. Avoid blackstrap molasses as it’s very strong in flavor and it will be too overpowering for this cookie.

Dessert Table Ideas

Ginger molasses cookies are the perfect cookie to include in a cookie swap or holiday cookie box! In addition to cookies, display these cookies with a large bowl of chex mix and maple cinnamon spiced nuts. A plate of saltine toffees would give the sweets a great balance for that salty edge.

Storage Instructions

Store molasses ginger cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. To warm it up a bit (if desired), pop it into a toaster oven for 30 seconds or the microwave for 10 seconds.

Close-up of round, golden-brown ginger molasses cookies cooling on a black wire rack over a colorful cloth.
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4.80 from 5 votes

Soft and Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

By: Julie Chiou
These soft and chewy ginger molasses cookies are guaranteed going to be the softest and chewiest cookies you'll ever make!
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 36 cookies

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 1 ½ cups (341 g) butter, softened
  • 2 cups (400 g) sugar, plus more for rolling
  • ½ cup (169 g) molasses
  • 2 eggs
  • 4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour
  • 4 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375 °F (191 °C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until combined.
    1 1/2 cups (341 g) butter, 2 cups (400 g) sugar, 1/2 cup (169 g) molasses, 2 eggs
    A white mixing bowl filled with creamed butter and sugar, with an egg and a small bowl of vanilla extract nearby on the countertop.
  • Add in the molasses and eggs and mix until incorporated.
    A mixing bowl with creamed butter and sugar, two raw eggs, and molasses on top, ready to be mixed.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and salt.
    4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour, 4 teaspoons baking soda, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cloves, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    A bowl with flour and spices, surrounded by eggs in a bowl, a stick of butter, and a dish of dark liquid on a light surface.
  • Slowly add in the flour mixture to the bowl of the stand mixer and mix until all is combined.
    A white bowl containing light brown cookie dough being mixed, viewed from above on a light surface.
  • Fill a small bowl with about 3/4 cup granulated sugar.
  • Using a medium-sized cookie scoop (or 1 1/2 tbsp.), form dough into balls then gently roll them in the granulated sugar. Place onto baking sheets, about 2-inches apart. Repeat until all the cookie dough has been used up.
    A cookie dough ball is coated in white granulated sugar in a small bowl, with more dough balls on a baking sheet and a scoop of brown sugar nearby.
  • Bake for 10 minutes (they will still look soft and undercooked but they cook while they cool and you want them to stay soft and chewy so remove them!) then let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
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Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 179kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 29mg, Sodium: 253mg, Potassium: 91mg, Fiber: 0.5g, Sugar: 15g
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103 Comments

  1. Christine @ Cooking with Cakes says:

    you just can’t go wrong with a classic cookie – love these!

  2. Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain says:

    These are one of fav cookies!! So glad you had a blast in Austin! Love that city!

  3. Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says:

    I loved all the pictures you posted on Insta of your trip to Austin. Looked so fun! And I for sure ate so much food on a Napa trip once that it couldn’t fit in my belly anymore so it came out my mouth (that’s my polite way of saying I totally puked it up!) Haha! Whoops. These cookies look amazing : )

  4. marla says:

    Oh my! Must try these cookies pronto!

  5. Heatherchristo says:

    I love that you want to move to Austin- it is a great city! These cookies look wonderful any time of year- they are one of my very favorites!

  6. Erin | The Law Student's Wife says:

    Cookies know no season, especially ridiculously soft, chewy cookies like these. Love ginger and molasses!

  7. Tieghan Gerard says:

    So happy you had a great time in Austin!!
    These cookies sound so good! I love ginger and molasses!

  8. Maria says:

    They look perfect!

  9. Kevin @ Closet Cooking says:

    Love the ginger and molasses combo!

  10. Pam says:

    These are definitely the softest ginger molasses cookies I have ever had. Dangerously good!