• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Humbly Homemade
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Seasonal
  • About
  • Collaborate
  • Summer Baking
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Seasonal
  • About
  • Collaborate
  • Summer Baking
×
Home » Recipes » Autumn

Chewy Sugar-Coated Molasses Crinkle Cookies

Published: Jun 8, 2023 · Updated: Nov 7, 2024 by Carissa Erzen · This post may contain affiliate links · 7 Comments

Jump to Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
5 from 3 votes

These easy molasses crinkle cookies are packed full of flavor from ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves, and nutmeg. They are insanely soft and chewy, and the dough doesn't need to be chilled so they're ready in just 30 minutes. But I'll warn you now - it's hard to walk away from them after the first bite!

a stack of five Vegan Molasses Cookies on a plate.

The ground spices in these chewy molasses crinkle cookies are perfect for Fall and Winter. But honestly, I've made these in the middle of the summer and they're just as delicious!

These cookies are a little crispy on the outside, and decadently chewy on the inside. Plus they keep their soft texture for several days longer than other types of cookies!

A hand reaching for a Vegan Molasses Cookies next to a sifter.

Ginger molasses cookies are one of my favorite types of holiday cookies because they have such a unique and comforting flavor. And in this post, I'm sharing all my tips on which type of molasses to use, along with how to create the most scrumptious cookies each time. 

Hungry for more chewy holiday cookies? Try spiced Pfeffernüsse cookies, iced German gingerbread called Lebkuchen, and anise flavored Springerle cookies.

Flour and sugars in glass bowls.

Let's Bake Molasses Crinkle Cookies!

A glass bowl of flour next to a whisk.

Whisk the dry ingredients together

A metal bowl of beaten sugar and butter.

Beat the butter and sugars together.

A metal bowl of wet ingredients to make cookies.

Add the molasses and vanilla extract.

A glass bowl of Vegan Molasses Cookies dough.

Combine the wet and dry ingredients.

A hand rolling cookie dough into a small ball.

Shape the dough into balls and roll in sugar. Bake & enjoy!!

The Best Molasses to Use in Cookies

Ah, molasses. That pungent glass jar seems to just sit at the back of the cupboard until December, aka homemade gingerbread season. But December shouldn't hog molasses all to itself!

There are three main types of molasses. I recommend using dark molasses in your molasses crinkle cookies for the best flavor & color.

Light molasses is made from the first boiling of sugarcane, and it has a lighter color (although its still quite dark) and the mildest flavor.

Dark molasses is made from the second boiling of sugarcane, which gives it a darker color and stronger flavor.

Blackstrap molasses is made from the third boiling of sugarcane. It's the darkest in color and has the most bitter flavor. It's better in savory dishes like baked beans.

Also I recommend to use an unsulphured molasses. Sulphured molasses has been treated with sulphur dioxide which acts as a preservative. But while it extends its shelf life, it gives it an unpleasant chemical taste.

Three ginger molasses cookies on a grey plate.

Storing

  • Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
  • These cookies also freeze well. Store in an airtight container or freezer safe bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.
Chewy cookies on a plate next to more cookies on a cooling rack.

More Festive Holiday Cookie Recipes

Hungry for more easy Christmas cookies? Try these:

  • A hand holding a half-eaten small cookie next to evergreen sprigs.
    German Marzipan Cookies | Bethmännchen
  • Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies with Chocolate Puddles
  • A metal plate with half a dozen cookies topped with jam.
    Jam Thumbprint Cookies | Kulleraugen or Engelsaugen
  • A ribbon in the center of a ring of star shaped cookies.
    Easy Cinnamon Star Cookies | Zimtsterne
Vegan molasses cookies stacked on top of each other on a table.

Chewy Molasses Crinkle Cookies

Carissa Erzen
These molasses crinkle cookies are packed full of flavor from ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves, and nutmeg. Plus they are insanely soft and chewy. Best of all, they take just 30 minutes to make!
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save Saved Recipe!
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 cookies
Calories 229 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup granulated sugar, divided
  • ⅓ cup unsulphured dark molasses
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ground ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
  • In a separate mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and ¼ cup of granulated sugar until it is creamy and fluffy, after 2 to 5 minutes. You can either use an electric hand mixer or a wooden spoon.
  • Add the molasses and vanilla to the butter and sugar. Mix for 1 to 2 minutes, until it is smooth and creamy.
  • Add the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients. Mix by hand with a spoon just until you don't see any dry flour, after about 1 minute.
    The dough will be pretty dry at first. Just keep mixing gently until the dough is evenly mixed.
  • Roll the cookie dough into 12 even balls, each about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter.
  • Place the remaining ¼ cup granulated sugar in a small bowl.
    Roll each ball of cookie dough in the granulated sugar to coat it.
    Place the coated cookie dough balls evenly space out on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the cookies have begun to crack on top.
    Allow the cookies to cool for at least 10 minutes. They'll be really soft right out of the oven, but they'll firm up as they cool.

Notes

  • You can also roll your cookie dough balls in brown sugar for a more caramel flavor. Or skip the rolling step and bake them without the extra sugar.
  • Use unsulphured molasses to avoid a weird chemical taste from sulphured molasses.
  • Both light and dark molasses work great in this recipe, but avoid blackstrap molasses since it has a bitter taste.
  • Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 cookieCalories: 229kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.04gSodium: 256mgPotassium: 179mgFiber: 1gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 361IUVitamin C: 0.02mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 2mg
Keyword molasses cookies, molasses crinkle cookies, no chill cookies
Did you make this recipe?Leave a comment below - I love hearing from you!

More Festive Autumn Recipes

  • Close-up of a large cookie topped with crumbly streusel and a bite taken out of it.
    Applesauce Cookies with Cinnamon Streusel
  • Three slices of whole wheat bread standing upright on a wooden cutting board.
    Rustic No-Knead Whole Wheat Bread in the Dutch Oven
  • Pear Frangipane Tart (Fresh Pears with a No Chill Crust!)
  • Easy Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

About Carissa Erzen

Growing up in Germany, I fell head-over-heels in love with ALL the German baked goods, from Lebkuchen to pretzels. Now I'm the founder, recipe developer, and food photographer behind Humbly Homemade, where I test and share German sweets lovingly created from scratch. So pull up a chair, and stay a while!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Maria

    March 18, 2025 at 3:12 pm

    5 stars
    I added an egg and they were perfect!

    Reply
    • Carissa Erzen

      March 19, 2025 at 11:21 am

      Hi Maria! YUM! I'm so glad to hear that!

      Reply
  2. Eliza

    November 13, 2024 at 9:54 pm

    5 stars
    these chewy molasses cookies are the BEST! I've made them so many times now and they are always a winner!

    Reply
  3. ordinaryfabgirl

    June 12, 2021 at 2:31 pm

    This is such an original idea! I don't really like curries so this probably isn't for me but my family love curries so I'm definitely going to bake them tomorrow for my family. Love this post.😊

    Reply
    • strawberryandcream

      June 14, 2021 at 10:25 am

      Nice!! Let me know how they turn out for you!! ❤️

      Reply
  4. Jim

    June 12, 2021 at 12:50 pm

    They look so delicious 😋 I usually put curry in my Japanese curry but cookies sound yummy!

    Reply
    • strawberryandcream

      June 14, 2021 at 10:24 am

      Thank you!! If you have extra curry powder, sprinkle some into your cookies! Or maybe even scones, that might be nice! 🥰

      Reply
5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

I'm eggcited to hear from you :) Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

A girl in a pink apron sitting on a kitchen counter.

Hello, I'm Carissa!

I'm the founder, recipe developer, and food photographer behind Humbly Homemade. Inspired by my childhood growing up in Germany, I share recipes of delicious German bakes from scratch.

Learn More

Stay Connected

  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok

Sign Up + Never Miss a New Recipe!

Summer Baking

  • A loaf of dark orange bread next to two slices.
    Rustic Tomato Basil Bread (Dutch Oven)
  • Pink cookies in a pile with sliced freeze dried strawberries on top.
    Strawberry Sugar Cookies (Fresh & Freeze Dried Strawberries!)
  • A slice of cake filled with blackberries on a plate.
    Easy Lemon Blackberry Cake with Lemon Glaze
  • A purple cake topped with fresh lemon slices and dried lavender flowers.
    Moist Lemon Lavender Cake with Lemon Drizzle

Trending Recipes

  • German Butter Cookie Biscuits | Butterkekse
  • Authentic German Apple Strudel from Scratch
  • Blueberry Strudel with Phyllo Dough
  • Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles

Footer

Let's Get Baking!

No baking experience? No problem! I've spent the past six years developing fool-proof recipes that anyone can create.

About

  • About
  • Work with Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Shop

Recipes

  • Recipe Index
  • Cookies
  • Cake
  • Bread
  • Dessert
  • Breakfast

Connect

  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok

Copyright © 2025 Humbly Homemade. All rights reserved.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Rate This Recipe!

Your vote:




Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

This worked exactly as written, thanks!
My family loved this!
Thank you for sharing this recipe - it was absolutely delish!!

Or write in your own words:

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.