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3-Step Chewy Molasses Cookie Recipe

Molasses might be one of the best old-fashioned ingredients that’s under appreciated today. It adds a great flavor to desserts and it’s cheap. This Chewy Molasses Cookie recipe is my Grandmother’s and it’s the absolute BEST I’ve ever tasted. It only takes 3 easy steps to make the cookies. They’re sugar encrusted with a crinkle topping and bake beautifully. My family loves them around the holiday season, but I’ll make them anytime I’m getting a craving.

Made in just three easy steps, these Chewy Molasses Cookies are rolled in sugar and baked until the crinkle.

Molasses cookies are popular, in the grocery store, at Christmastime. Whenever I buy them, I’m blown away at how different they taste than homemade. Adding preservatives into the cookie gives it a terrible aftertaste. Since this recipe is simple and foolproof, I stopped buying them. Lesson learned – always do what your Grandmother tells you to do in the first place!

What’s a crinkle cookie? The crinkle happens during the baking process to the top of the cookie. To make these Molasses Cookies crinkle, you add a few drops of water to the top. It causes the separation and “crinkle” look. You can read about the science behind the crinkle cookie OR just make them and watch it bake before your eyes.

Want More Great Cookie Recipes? These Are Other Family Favorites That Are Easy To Make:

How To Make This Chewy Molasses Cookie Recipe

For this recipe, you’ll need some cookie baking sheets and mixing bowls. Optional kitchen tools include a hand-mixer and silicone baking mats. I love using silicone baking sheets, but parchment paper will do the same job too. The hand mixer portion can be done with a spoon.

Chewy Molasses Cookie Recipe

What To Serve With A Molasses Cookie

My kids love these with an ice cold glass of milk. I enjoy my cookies with a fresh pot of coffee. They’re great for a dessert and sometimes we sneak them on the way out the door, in the mornings. My Husband has enjoyed them with a big bowl of French vanilla ice cream too.

How To Keep Your Cookies Fresh

After they’ve cooled, you want to place them in an air-tight storage container. Keep them out of the refrigerator and on the counter. Enjoy them for 3-4 days.

You can freeze the cookies and enjoy later, if you let them thaw. Freeze them for up to three months. You cannot freeze this cookie dough to make later – because of the shortening.

The Very Unscientific Method Of Making A Crinkle Cookie

Heres the secret to make your cookies crinkle – just add a few drops of water! That’s it. You don’t need anything fancy. I just roll the dough, dip in granulated sugar, and use my hands to sprinkle a few drops on top. There’s nothing too exact. Just add a little splash on top.

What You’ll Need From The Grocery Store:

  • Shortening 
  • Light Brown Sugar
  • Eggs
  • Molasses
  • Flour
  • Baking Soda
  • Salt
  • Ground Cloves
  • Cinnamon
  • Ground Ginger
  • Granulated Sugar

Step-By-Step Directions To Make This Chewy Molasses Cookie Recipe

In a large mixing bowl, mix shortening, egg, sugar and molasses. In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the molasses mixture and stir well. Note: I use my hands as it started to become a dough consistency.

Molasses Cookies Wet Ingredients

Cover dough in plastic wrap. Let the dough chill in the refrigerator for at least 3o minutes. Preheat the oven to 375º. Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Dip the balls into the granulated sugar and roll.

Molasses Cookie Dough

Place on a greased baking sheet (or use parchment paper). Sprinkle cookies with 2-3 drops of water to make the crackle.

Molasses Cookie Dough Drops

Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool for 2 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to a cooling rack. Enjoy!

Easy Molasses Cookies Recipe

Yield: 48 Cookies

3-Step Chewy Molasses Cookie Recipe

Chewy Molasses Cookie Recipe

These Chewy Molasses Cookies are the BEST and only take 3 steps to make. They've got a sugar encrusted crinkle top and great flavor.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Additional Time 30 minutes
Total Time 52 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3/4 Cup Shortening
  • 1 Cup Light Brown Sugar, Packed
  • 1 Egg
  • 1/3 Cup Molasses
  • 2 1/2 Cup All-Purpose Flour
  • 2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
  • 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
  • 1 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
  • 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar

Instructions

    1. In a large mixing bowl, mix shortening, egg, sugar and molasses. In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the molasses mixture and stir well. Note: I use my hands as it started to become a dough consistency.
    2. Cover dough in plastic wrap. Let the dough chill in the refrigerator for at least 3o minutes. Preheat the oven to 375º. Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Use a bowl to dip the balls into the granulated sugar and roll.
    3. Place on a greased baking sheet (or use parchment paper). Sprinkle cookies with 2-3 drops of water to make the crackle. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool for 2 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to a cooling rack. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

48

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 84Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 67mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 0gSugar: 8gProtein: 1g

**Nutrition is calculated by a third party. Actual values may vary.

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