These are the Best Chewy Molasses Cookies ever, and a must make Christmas cookie tradition! The perfectly crackled tops and chewy insides are irresistible!
Prep time: PT10M
Cook time: PT10M
Rating
5 stars (15 reviews)
Keywords
christmas cookies, crackle cookies, ginger molasses cookies
Ingredients
3/4 cups unsalted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Categories
Dessert
Cuisine
American
Steps
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Mix in molasses and the egg until well incorporated.
Add in the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, and baking soda and mix well.
Gradually mix in the flour on low speed, just until combined.
Cover and chill at least 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350.
Roll dough into 1 1/2" balls and roll them in the granulated sugar until coated.
Place dough balls 2" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 9-11 minutes.
Let cool a few minutes on cookie sheet before transferring wire racks to cool completely.
Store in an air tight container.
Reviews
Kelly on 2026-01-10 (5 stars): This is a go-to recipe for me all year around. As with all butter-based cookies I make, I refrigerate the dough for a few hours before rolling into balls, and they don't spread as thin while baking. Delicious!
Thanks for the keeper, Stephanie!
Terri on 2025-10-23 (5 stars): I am sure they can be frozen.
DiAnne on 2025-08-17 (5 stars): These were chewy and moist and tasted fresh baked even after sitting in a Ziploc bag for 5 days. How they managed to last that long is a complete mystery because every time I walked by them, I wanted to devour them.
The recipe was made exactly as directed. We tried one tray of cookies by rolling them in regular granulated sugar and the rest of the cookies were rolled in coarse sanding sugar (which is how I usually like my cookies). Surprisingly, there was almost zero difference between the two. The coarse stuff makes a huge difference on top of muffins, but on these cookies, it was hard to tell which cookies had the regular and which didn't. So, next time, I'll just use the cheap stuff.
5 enthusiastic stars. I'm so glad to have a molasses cookie that will stay soft. My bathroom scale might not be so happy about it, though. Willpower is yet another exercise I don't participate in.
Sherry Wood on 2025-08-14 (5 stars): This recipe is the best molasses cookie recipe I have ever tried. They are still soft and chewy the next day. Don't change a thing. Thanks!!!
K.S. on 2025-06-12 (5 stars): Very good. Could lessen by 3 or so T butter to make them a bit less flat.
Patti Ansel on 2024-12-15 (5 stars): I’d give 10 stars if it was an option!! I accidentally made the wrong recipe and once I realized it-I was too far into it to switch. Did not like them as much and next day made these! You know they’re good when you can’t stop eating the dough!! So good and delicious the perfect amount of ginger! I am deleting all others and only using this one!
Donna Hamilton on 2024-11-05 (5 stars): Everyone that tried these cookies loved them, including myself!
Tammy Thomas on 2023-02-19 (5 stars): Perfectly delicious! These remind me of my grandma's. Possible tips and tricks, for those who said theirs turned out flat- be sure to use fresh baking soda, and if you are using salted butter, omit the salt. Happy baking!
Marian on 2022-12-30 (5 stars): Great recipe and easy to follow. I enjoyed them and I’m waiting to hear how my grandsons like them.
WB on 2022-12-11 (5 stars): I love the recipe.
I have a Gluten free child, and find it difficult to find good gluten free cookie recipes that are chewy and flavorful. I adapted your recipe to use King Arthur measure for measure gluten free flour. I reduced the baking soda to 1 1/2 t and the flour to 2 1/4 cup. The cookies came out great, chewy in the middle, crisp on the edges, no gritty texture, perfect flavor
Chelsea on 2022-11-26 (5 stars): So delicious! I just made these and my family absolutely adores them!
CJ on 2022-01-01 (5 stars): Made these tonight and they were easy and awesome! Definitely keeping this recipe. I made 2 batches - one with light brown sugar and one with dark. Didn’t notice a big difference. Both were great. I got 5 dozen cookies from each batch.
Jeni on 2021-12-20 (5 stars): This are soft and delicious.
Stephanie Shambo on 2021-12-16 (5 stars): Just made these and they are delicious, so chewy and packed full of flavor. My family (Even the kids) loved these and couldn't stop eating them. I had to put them where they couldn't be seen. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
Kris on 2021-12-15 (5 stars): WOW - love these cookies!! Just as described!
