Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies with a crunchy sugar coating and an optional white chocolate topping. These cookies are perfectly spiced and they stay chewy for days. They freeze beautifully, too!
And just like that, we move on from Stuffing and Pecan Bars to Molasses Cookies and Christmas Bark! December is on the horizon, and it really is the most wonderful time of the year – HOLIDAY BAKING SEASON! My “must-make” baking list is out of control, my fridge is overflowing with butter and I just bought a 10-pound bag of sugar. I train all year for this. Let’s do it!
You might also like: Frosted Brown Sugar Molasses Cookies
Nothing says holidays like a Ginger Molasses Cookie, and this here is the BEST Ginger Molasses Cookie recipe. BONUS: These freeze beautifully. Make them in advance of the holidays and pull them out of the freezer as needed. More on freezing below.
How To Make Ginger Molasses Cookies:
- Cream butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar.
- Add molasses and eggs.
- Add flour, baking soda, salt and spices.
- Scoop the dough into balls and roll them in sparkling sugar (this makes them pretty and adds a little crunch).
- Bake!
- Optional: Drizzle or dunk the baked cookies in melted white chocolate.
These cookies are perfectly spiced, super chewy, and they get a slight crunch from the coating of sparkling sugar. You can drizzle or dunk them in melted white chocolate, or you can leave them plain – they are great either way!
Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies
A combination of brown sugar, molasses and an extra egg yolk make these cookies SUPER CHEWY! Be sure not to overbake them, that will help maintain the chewiness, and give the cookies a soft center. Pull the cookies from the oven when they are still slightly underdone right in the very center. They will continue to bake as they sit on the baking sheet.
Cookies That Freeze Well
These cookies taste just as good after weeks in the freezer as they do when they are freshly baked. To freeze these cookies: bake and cool, then package (tightly wrapped) in freezer safe storage containers. I typically double bag them in freezer bags, then place those bags in large storage containers. I have kept these cookies in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Tip: If you want to decorate with white chocolate I recommend adding the chocolate and sprinkles after freezing and thawing.
MORE CHRISTMAS RECIPES:
- M&M Cookies – Soft and chewy cookies filled with red and green M&M’s.
- Gingerbread Cookie Bars with White Chocolate Chips – Chewy, spiced cookie bars perfect for serving a crowd.
- Sugar Cookie Bars – Soft and chewy sugar cookie bars topped with festive frosting and sprinkles. Way easier than making individual sugar cookies.
- Cranberry White Chocolate Bars – Blondie bars filled with dried cranberries and white chocolate. Everyone goes crazy for these!
- Christmas Bark – Easy, festive and ADDICTING! Great for gift giving.
- Snickerdoodle Cookies – Soft and chewy with two special ingredients that make them the best!
- Frosted Sugar Cookies – Soft-baked sugar cookies topped with creamy frosting and sprinkles.
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Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup coarse sparkling sugar or turbinado sugar
- 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2-3 teaspoons ground ginger, depending on how strong of a flavor you want
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened, but still cool to the touch
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- ¼ cup unsulphured molasses
- 2 cups white chocolate chips , melted, optional
- sprinkles, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners. Pour the sparkling sugar onto a plate.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar for 2 minutes, until smooth and creamy. Add egg, egg yolk, and molasses and beat until thoroughly combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the flour mixture and beat until combined.
- Scoop the dough into balls (see note) and roll the balls of dough in the sparkling sugar (be generous!). Place the dough balls on prepared baking sheets at least 2 inches apart, they will spread quite a bit. Bake for 8-12 minutes (see note). Be careful not to overbake. The center of the cookie should still look slightly underdone when you pull them from the oven. Place the baking sheets on wire racks to cool completely.
- After cooling, the cookies can be dunked or drizzled in melted white chocolate. If you'd like you can also add sprinkles to the cookies while the chocolate is still wet. After adding the white chocolate I transfer the cookies to the refrigerator just until the white chocolate firms up. Store at room temperature.
Notes
- If the dough is too soft to roll into balls, refrigerate it for 30 minutes or so to chill it slightly. Note: The longer you leave the dough in the fridge the less the cookies will spread.
- For large cookies scoop the dough into golf ball sized balls (approximately 2 generous tablespoons of dough). Bake for 10-12 minutes.
- For slightly smaller cookies scoop the dough into 1 ½ tablespoon portions (I use a cookie scoop). Bake for 8-10 minutes.
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Michelle | The Secret Ingredient Is
I’ve been all about the ginger cookies this holiday season – and these look so good! Chewy cookies is a must, and the addition of the melted white chocolate takes them to the next level!
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks, Michelle! I totally agree – chewy cookies are the best!
Kelly
I am excited to try!
Did you use fancy or blackstrap molasses?
Celebrating Sweets
Hi, Kelly. I use unsulphured molasses (either Brer Rabbit or Grandma’s brand). I’ll edit the recipe to include that. Enjoy!
Laura
I would love to try out this recipe. My daughter has been asking me to make ginger snap cookies. I just wanted to know what the extra yolk does for the cookies. Why not just add 2 eggs? Hoping to hear back real soon.
Celebrating Sweets
Hi, Laura. The yolk adds richness and chewiness. Extra egg whites can be drying so I only use one full egg. I was going for a soft and chewy texture for these cookies. Enjoy! Happy holidays!
Meghan
These are such a fun cookie for this time of year! I LOVE molasses so I’m totally making these asap.
Stephanie
These sound like the perfect addition to the Holidays. I love chewy ginger cookies and these look delicious. Also a bonus that you can make ahead and freeze.
Amy
Haha, “I’ve been training for this all year.” I totally understand this mindset. What gorgeous cookies these are. That sparkling sugar just shines on the tops!
Jamielyn
Such a great Christmas cookie! Love the sugar coating!
Jessica Formicola
These cookies would be perfect for a Christmas cookie tray! Especially dipped in chocolate!
Luci
You had me a chewy. These cookies are to die for, I will have to whip up a batch soon.
Chrissie Baker
These cookies are ama ZING!! My Mother gave me this recipe years ago,, always a hit. Perfect for a cold winter day, the house smells like Shristmas.