Molasses spice cookies – doesn’t sound too appealing, does it? I’m not a huge molasses fan, and if this recipe hadn’t been recommended to me, I never would have tried it. I’m glad I did though because boy are these cookies delicious! My niece Christina sent me the recipe as part of a recipe exchange. I was supposed to receive 36 recipes, but only received 2. Even if I don’t receive another recipe, I’m so pleased with this one that it was worth participating. For me, this is one of those cookies that I can eat a million of without thinking twice about it.
This recipe doesn’t involve any type of blender or stand mixer. The dough is made by stirring the ingredients together in a pot. It’s old-fashioned that way.
I wondered what the boys would think of these, because they’re not your typical chocolate chip or sugar cookie, but much to my surprise, they all liked them. The cookies have a sugary crust and are crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. They really have a great texture. And did I tell you that they’re delicious too? They’re a perfect fall cookie. Your home will smell amazing as they bake.
Joanna Pruess’s Molasses Spice Cookies
From Great Cookies: Secrets to Sensational Sweets by Carole Walter
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned in and leveled
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cloves
2 cups sugar, divided
1/4 cup dark molasses
1 large eggMake the dough: Melt the butter in a 3-quart, heavy saucepan over low heat. (This cookie is mixed by hand in the pot.) Cool to tepid.
Strain together three times the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt and cloves. Set aside.
Using a wooden spoon, stir 1 1/2 cups of the sugar, the molasses and egg into butter, mixing until smooth. Add the dry ingredients, one-half at a time and blend well. Cover with wax paper and chill of 30 to 45 minutes, until firm.
Bake the cookies: Position the shelves in the upper and lower third of the oven. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Moderately butter the cookie sheets.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls between the palms of your hands. Place the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar in a shallow dish and roll the balls of dough in the sugar. Place the balls 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet.
Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes or until the tops begin to crack. Toward the end of the baking time, rotate the pans from top to bottom and front to back. Remove from the oven and let stand 2 to 3 minutes. Loosen with a spatula and transfer to a cooling rack.
Yield: ~40 cookies
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I love that it spreads out really nicely!
OMG!!! I am still in the middle of making these and had to write after eating one from the first batch – they are SO good! and easy to make!
I just made these cookies yesterday and they are amazing. By far the best spice cookie recipe I’ve used. Everyone here loved them!
These cookies were a major feature of my childhood and still bring such pleasure to me and my friends (especially around the holidays). It’s nice to see others enjoying them!
PS – Diane, I was the WORST ever eater growing up, much to my mother’s (Joanna) dismay. I have gotten much better as an adult. Hope your boys learn to love your cooking, like I do my mom’s.
We cook from Joanna’s books all the time. Last Saturday we made a dish from her Cast Iron Cookbook. It was absolutely YUMMY! We can’t wait to make the Mac and Cheese. And for dessert Molasses Spice cookies.
We echo all the raves above. The cookies really spread out when baking and let off a homey scent. They have just the right consistency and flavor.
I love making these every Christmas since GREAT COOKIES was published! I include a teaspoon of orange peel and a 1/4cup of crystallized ginger nuggets (the really small pre-chopped type from Ginger People is my current fave). So delicious! Also, I’d suggest rolling the dough balls in demera or raw sugar instead of white sugar, if available in your pantry.
Maura,
Here it the Molasses cookie recipe for the Cookie Exchange.
Regards,
Joanne Bowes
This is one of my favorite Christmas cookies to make. They taste fantastic and everyone always asks me for the recipe. I am using this one for the cookie exchange at my office next week.
I tried this recipe twice. Both times the cookies puffed up in the oven and then deflated as soon as the came out of the oven. Literally went completely flat. Any ideas why? I followed the recipe exactly. The taste was still great.
When I make the cookies, they do the same thing. The cookies end up being fairly flat, but delicious. They’re not cakey at all.