There’s nothing that captures the cozy warmth of the holidays quite like Ginger Molasses Christmas Cookies. These soft, chewy cookies are infused with rich molasses, warm spices, and a hint of sweetness — a festive classic that fills your kitchen with the scent of Christmas cheer.

Perfect for cookie exchanges, gift boxes, or enjoying by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa, these cookies strike the perfect balance of spice and sweetness. Their sugar-coated, crinkly tops give them that old-fashioned homemade charm that never goes out of style.

🎄 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

✅ Soft & chewy texture – never dry or cakey
✅ Perfectly spiced – with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg
✅ Classic holiday flavor – sweet molasses and brown sugar richness
✅ Simple to make – no chilling required
✅ Stays fresh for days – perfect for gifting or cookie tins

✨ Ingredients

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar

¼ cup unsulfured molasses
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

½ cup granulated sugar (for rolling)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Step 1: Preheat & Prepare

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt.
Set aside.

Step 3: Cream Butter & Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).

Step 4: Add Molasses, Egg & Vanilla

Beat in the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract until fully combined. The mixture should be creamy and slightly sticky.

Step 5: Combine Wet & Dry

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
Mix until just combined — don’t overmix.

Step 6: Shape & Roll

Scoop dough into 1-inch balls (about 1 tablespoon each).
Roll each ball in granulated sugar to coat, then place on the baking sheet about 2 inches apart.

Step 7: Bake

Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers are still soft.

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

🎁 Optional Add-Ins

🎄 Candied ginger – for extra zing and texture.
🍫 White chocolate chips – for a sweet, creamy contrast.
🌰 Chopped pecans or walnuts – adds crunch and depth.
✨ Sprinkle with coarse sugar or cinnamon sugar before baking for sparkle.

🧊 Storage

Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Freezer: Freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months.

Freeze Dough: Roll into balls and freeze; bake straight from frozen, adding 1–2 extra minutes to bake time.

These cookies actually taste even better the next day as the spices continue to blend beautifully.

🎅 Pro Tips for Perfect Ginger Molasses Cookies

💡 Use room temperature butter – for even creaming and smooth dough.
💡 Don’t overbake – the cookies should look slightly underdone in the center; they’ll firm up as they cool.
💡 Adjust spice levels – love a stronger flavor? Add extra ginger or a dash of black pepper for a warm kick.
💡 For extra chewiness, use dark brown sugar instead of light.

🍪 Flavor Variations

✨ Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies: Spread cream cheese frosting or vanilla buttercream between two cookies.
🍯 Honey-Molasses Cookies: Replace part of the molasses with honey for a lighter sweetness.
🍫 Chocolate Dipped: Dip half of each cookie in melted dark or white chocolate and sprinkle with crushed peppermint or sea salt.

🍽 Perfect Pairings

☕ Hot coffee or spiced chai for a cozy afternoon treat.
🍫 Hot cocoa for a kid-friendly snack.
🥛 A cold glass of milk to balance the rich molasses flavor.

🎄 Final Thoughts

These Ginger Molasses Christmas Cookies are everything a holiday cookie should be — soft, chewy, warmly spiced, and deeply flavorful. They’re the kind of cookies that bring back memories of cozy kitchens, twinkling lights, and laughter around the table.

Whether you bake them for Santa, share them with neighbors, or keep a stash just for yourself, these cookies are guaranteed to spread holiday joy with every bite. ❤️🎅✨

🍪 Ginger Molasses Christmas Cookies – Soft, Spiced, and Perfectly Chewy

Author: WAFA LI

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened (or vegan butter)
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ⅓ cup molasses (not blackstrap)
• 1 egg
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free 1:1 blend)
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp cloves
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• Powdered sugar (for rolling)

Instructions

In a large bowl, beat butter and both sugars until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes). Mix in molasses and egg until smooth.
In another bowl, whisk flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Cover dough and chill 1 hour (essential for thickness and spice melding).

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough. Roll in powdered sugar to coat.
Place on trays and flatten slightly with your palm or the bottom of a glass.

Bake 8–10 minutes, until edges are set and centers are soft.
Let cool on the tray 5 minutes—they’ll firm up as they cool. Then transfer to a wire rack.

✨ Store in an airtight container at room temp for up to 2 weeks—the flavors deepen over time!

💡 Make ahead: Dough freezes well—bake from frozen (+1–2 mins).

PREP TIME & NUTRITION :
Prep Time : 15 mins + 1 hr chill , Cook Time : 9 mins , Total Time : 1 hr 34 mins , Servings : 24 cookies , Calories : 110 per cookie , Net Carbs: 18g , Fats: 4g , Protein: 1g