This is one of our favorite holiday cookie recipes. The cinnamon, cloves and ginger flavors make a delicious spiced sugar cookie. We think these Molasses Sugar Cookies are just the right combination of crunchy on the outside, chewy in the middle.
Molasses Sugar Cookies
Makes about 5 dozen cookies
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cups butter flavored shortening
2 cups white sugar (plus more for rolling the dough)
1/2 cup molasses
2 eggs
4 cups all purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon salt
Directions:
1. Melt the shortening in a large pan on the stove and allow to cool (about 5-10 minutes). I do not let mine cool all the way (because it solidifies). You just don’t want it to be so hot that it cooks the eggs when you combine them in Step 2.
2. Use a mixer to beat together the sugar, eggs, molasses and cooled shortening.
3. Mix dry ingredients together in a separate bowl and add it to the wet ingredients. Mix everything together well. Cover and and chill in the refrigerator 3 hours or overnight.
4. When you are ready to bake cookies, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Pinch off pieces of chilled dough and roll it into walnut sized balls. Roll balls in white sugar until covered with a thin layer of sugar. Place balls on greased cookie sheet (or a silicone baking mat) about 2 inches apart.
5. Bake at 375 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until done. Allow to cool 1-2 minutes on baking sheet then transfer to a cooling rack. Store in an airtight container.
TIPS: Cookies will flatten out and crackle on top, and harden as they cool. If you prefer very crispy cookies, allow them to bake an additional 1-2 minutes. If you prefer a softer cookie in the center, you can experiment with less baking time. I have done it both ways – and it works. These cookies freeze well.
Tie a ribbon around a set of cookies, and they are ready to gift to family, friends and neighbors.
Do you bake holiday and/or Christmas cookies? What are your favorite holiday cookies?
This blog post is linked up at this week’s Thrifty Thursday link party.
Scarlet says
I have never tried molasses sugar cookies before but these sound delish!
Julie Wood says
Your cookies look gorgeous. My mom and I always made Molasses cookies when I was growing up during the Holidays. I forgot all about these cookies. I love the taste and need to make some again. I make my Soft Christmas Sugar cookies every year at the Holidays. I am looking forward to making them again. Also, thanks for this recipe.
Nicole says
Thanks, Julie, for the compliments! We have a Christmas tradition of soft sugar cookies, too. The kids love to decorate them with icing and sprinkles. I hope you have a happy holiday (and baking!) season. —Nicole
Erin says
I have never tried molasses in my sugar cookies, this looks really yummy! Pinned it. Found your blog on Thrifty Thursday and started following on Google +.
Erin
http://theeveryday-mom.blogspot.com/
Nicole says
Hi Erin, Thank you so much for stopping by and for the pin and the follow. 🙂 I love the Thrifty Thursday link, I end up finding so many neat ideas from other bloggers. I’m so glad you picked mine to stop in on. Thanks! –Nicole
Terri S says
These cookies look so good! I love molasses cookies. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Nicole says
Thank YOU for the compliments. Hope you enjoy them too! —Nicole
Nicole Dz says
Five dozen cookies, that is enough for the whole family and more! I love that I can have so much left over for giving. Awesome recipe!
Tim says
These looks great. Sugar cookies and different style of them are one of my favorites.
Heather says
These cookies caught my eye on your page! Delicious! I love that they are so much more than a sugar cookie with the spices and molasses! Perfect for this time of year!
Anne says
Thanks for posting this recipe on your sidebar. I need to make some cookies ASAP to get in the mail, and this recipe looks like a winner. The fact that it makes a big batch is a plus, not to mention that molasses cookies are a favorite of mine. Pinned it, so I’ll remember to make them eventually even if I don’t make them for Christmas.