Ingredients
Here’s everything you’ll need to make a batch of these classic Christmas cookies:
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Calories: 120 per cookie
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease them with butter or nonstick spray.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This step helps create that soft, chewy texture that makes these cookies irresistible.
Step 3: Add Egg and Molasses
Beat in the egg until combined, then pour in the molasses. Mix well until the batter turns smooth and glossy. The molasses adds moisture, a rich dark color, and that unmistakable holiday flavor.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves. This aromatic blend is what gives your cookies their signature spiced flavor.
Step 5: Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients. Stir until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms. Be careful not to overmix — you just want everything evenly combined.
Step 6: Shape the Dough
Roll the dough into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter, and place them about 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheet. For extra sparkle, you can roll each dough ball in granulated sugar before baking.
Step 7: Bake to Perfection
Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes. The cookies should look puffed up and slightly cracked on top. They’ll firm up as they cool, so avoid overbaking.
Step 8: Cool and Serve
Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, they’ll be perfectly chewy and ready to enjoy.
Baking Tips for the Best Ginger Molasses Cookies
Use room-temperature butter – Softened butter creams better, creating light, airy dough.
Don’t skip the molasses – It’s the key to the rich flavor and soft texture.
Chill the dough (optional) – For thicker cookies, chill for 30 minutes before baking.
Watch the bake time – Overbaking leads to dry cookies; remove when edges are just set.
Add sugar coating – Rolling in sugar gives the cookies a lovely sparkle and slight crunch.
Let them cool – They’ll finish setting as they cool, becoming perfectly chewy.
Flavor Variations
These cookies are delicious as-is, but a few small tweaks can make them even more special:
Sugar-rolled version – Roll in coarse sugar for a sparkling finish.
Chocolate-dipped – Dip half of each cookie in melted white or dark chocolate for an elegant twist.
Orange zest – Add 1 teaspoon of orange zest to the dough for a citrusy holiday touch.
Maple glaze – Drizzle with a maple glaze made from powdered sugar and maple syrup.
Extra spice – Add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice for deeper warmth.
Serving Ideas
These Ginger Molasses Christmas Cookies are perfect for any holiday occasion. Serve them:
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