Grandma’s Molasses Crinkle Cookies
A family recipe, Grandma’s Molasses Crinkle Cookies have been enjoyed for decades! Easy to make, they’re crisp around the edges, soft and chewy in the center, and loaded with sweet, molasses flavor in every bite.
The BEST Molasses Crinkle Cookies Recipe
This molasses crinkle cookies recipe has been in my family for generations, and it’s still one of my most loved recipes! It was handed down by my grandma Rose who was also responsible for our famous pumpkin bread and double chocolate oatmeal cookies. So, you just know they’re going to be good!
Unfortunately, Grandma Rose is no longer with us, but we carry on her memory by making these cookies every Christmas. They’re the perfect addition to holiday parties and are always a hit with Santa.
Plus, they come together with simple ingredients and just two bowls – no fancy kitchen equipment required! The kids love getting to help mix. Or, maybe it’s just licking the spoon. Either way, these cookies are guaranteed to become a staple for your holidays!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions to make this recipe. Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!
- Unsalted Butter – The original recipe called for shortening, but we use butter or plant-based butter instead. You still get all the rich flavor and chewy texture!
- Brown Sugar – We use light brown sugar, but dark brown sugar will also work. This helps sweeten the dough, keeping it moist, and enhancing the molasses taste. If you want to keep the sugar content lower, you can use a brown sugar substitute instead.
- Large Egg – This acts as a binder, helping the cookies hold their shape. We haven’t tested this recipe with an egg substitute and can’t guarantee your results if you do!
- Molasses – This adds rich flavor and keeps the cookies chewy. For the best results, use regular molasses, not blackstrap molasses!
- Flour – All-purpose flour forms the base of the dough, but you can substitute a 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour if you need to keep your cookies gluten-free.
- Baking Soda – This helps keep the cookies soft and tender and allows them to rise as they bake. Just make sure they’re fresh!
- Spices – Ginger powder, cinnamon, cloves, and salt infuse the cookies with a warm, festive flavor.
- Granulated Sugar – Use this to coat the outside of the cookies, creating a beautiful sparkly exterior and making them extra sweet.
How to Make Grandma’s Molasses Cookies
Before you begin, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Or, grease it with non-stick cooking spray.
- Mix the wet ingredients. Add the butter, brown sugar, egg, and molasses to a large mixing bowl, and mix until smooth.
2. Add the dry ingredients. In a separate medium bowl, add the dry ingredients, and whisk until smooth.
3. Combine. Pour the dry ingredients into the bowl of wet ingredients, and stir just until smooth. Cover the dough with plastic wrap, and transfer it to the fridge for two hours.
4. Coat. Portion the dough into equal-sized balls, and roll the dough between your palms until round. Then, dip the tops of the balls in a bowl of white sugar, and place them sugar side up on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops of each cookie with a few drops of water.
5. Bake. Transfer the cookies to the oven, and bake just until they’re set but not hard to the touch.
6. Cool. Let your crinkle cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
Tips for Success
- Bring the ingredients to room temperature before you begin. This allows for easy mixing, helping prevent overmixed batter.
- Don’t overmix the dough. Stir just until the ingredients are well combined. Continuing to mix will overwork the dough resulting in dense, tough cookies.
- Measure carefully. Use a kitchen scale if possible to ensure your cookies come out perfectly!
- Avoid overbaking. Keep a close eye on your cookies, and remove them from the oven as soon as the edges are set. It’s okay if they look a little underdone! They’ll continue to bake and set as they cool.
- Don’t skip cooling. Be sure to let the cookies cool on the baking pan before transferring them to a wire rack. Otherwise, they’re likely to crumble and fall apart.
How to Store and Freeze
Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days, or freeze them for up to 3 months. We recommend placing a sheet of parchment paper between each cookie to prevent them from clumping together! Thaw in the fridge or at room temperature when you’re ready to eat.
Freeze the cookie dough for up to 2 months. To do so, shape the balls, and arrange them on a baking sheet. Freeze until solid, and transfer them to a sealable bag. To serve, bake from frozen, adding a few minutes as needed.
Common Questions
Your cookies won’t crackle if the dough is too wet. This is why chilling the dough and rolling it in sugar is important! It helps bind the dough and dries out excess moisture.
Most of the ingredients are similar, resulting in a similar flavor. However, there are a few key differences that set the two apart! For instance, gingerbread cookies are typically thinner and a little crunchier than molasses cookies. In addition, gingerbread cookies are typically rolled out, cut into shapes, and iced. However, molasses cookies are rolled in sugar and baked as balls.
Yes! Chilling the dough helps relax the gluten, keeping the cookies soft and chewy. It also allows the flavors to set in and makes the dough easier to shape.
More Delicious Cookie Recipes
Grandma’s Molasses Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed tightly
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ginger powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup white sugar to dip dough in
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F. Place parchment paper on a baking sheet or spray baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, mix together the butter, brown sugar, egg, and molasses.3/4 cup butter, softened, 1 cup brown sugar, packed tightly, 1 egg, 1/4 cup molasses
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the dry ingredients.2 1/4 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon ginger powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon cloves, 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Chill the dough for at least 2 hours in the fridge or up to 24 hours (see notes).
- Pour 1/4 cup white sugar into a small bowl. Using a 1 1/2" cookie dough scoop, roll the dough into balls. Roll them between your palms to get them perfectly round.1/4 cup white sugar
- Dip the tops of the dough balls in the white sugar. Place the balls, sugar side up, on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the sugared top of each dough ball with 1-2 drops of water with either your fingers or a baking eye dropper.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes (ours are perfect at 11 minutes) or just until the cookies are set and crinkled on top. They will seem under baked but the cookies will firm up while cooling.
- Remove the cookies from the baking sheet after 10 minutes and place on a cooking rack. Store in an airtight container on the countertop for up to 7 days.
Notes
Nutrition
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These molasses crinkle cookies look absolutely delicious! I can almost smell the warm spices just by looking at the photos. I can’t wait to try this recipe – it reminds me of my grandma’s kitchen during the holidays. Thank you for sharing!
These molasses crinkle cookies look absolutely delightful! I can’t wait to try this recipe for the holidays. The spice and sweetness combination sounds perfect. Thank you for sharing!
These cookies look absolutely delightful! I can almost smell the molasses just by looking at the pictures. Can’t wait to try this recipe and share it with my family – it sounds like the perfect treat for cozy evenings! Thank you for sharing!
These Molasses Crinkle Cookies look absolutely delicious! I love the warm spices and the chewy texture you described. Can’t wait to try this recipe and share it with my family for the holidays! Thank you for sharing!
These molasses crinkle cookies look absolutely delightful! I can almost smell the spices just by reading the recipe. I can’t wait to try making them this weekend! Thank you for sharing such a comforting recipe that brings back so many memories of my own grandma’s baking.
These molasses crinkle cookies look absolutely delightful! I love how you’ve captured that nostalgic, homemade feel. Can’t wait to try this recipe and share it with my family! Thank you for sharing!
I absolutely love the nostalgia these cookies bring! Grandma’s recipe sounds so warm and comforting. I can’t wait to try them this weekend—perfect for the chilly weather! Thank you for sharing such a delicious memory!
You’re welcome! Enjoy! 🙂
Christmas is not complete at our home unless we make these molasses cookies! They are chewy on the inside and a little crisp on the edges. SO SO yummy!