How to Make Molasses Cookies

Many people are not familiar with molasses, largely because this sweet treat is mainly popular in the Southern part of the United States.

Just in case it’s new to you, it’s a thick syrup made from refined raw sugar. It is sticky and gooey, and while many people do like it, it’s not for everyone, especially not when served plain or on toast.

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However, most people do like molasses when it’s baked in things, especially cookies. If you’d like to give molasses a try in this easily palatable form, then you should consider making molasses cookies.

Below, we’ll provide a simple molasses cookies recipe that is virtually foolproof.

What You’ll Need to Make the Cookies

Before you can begin making your molasses cookies, you’ll need to gather all of your supplies.

For this very basic (and very delicious) recipe, you’ll need the following:

• 3/4 cup of shortening
• A teaspoon of nutmeg
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of allspice
• 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
• One teaspoon cinnamon
• One teaspoon ginger
• One egg
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 2.5 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda

Once you have all of your ingredients, you’re ready to get baking.

How to Prepare Your Cookies

To get started, mix your shortening and your brown sugar together carefully. It should take on a creamy consistency.

When the desired consistency is reached, crack and add your egg, as well as the molasses. Stir the mixture together as thoroughly as possible. Finally, add in your flour, baking soda, and seasonings, mixing as you go.

Once you’ve done this, you’ll need to cover the mixture and allow it to chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. It should be firm when you take it out.

While you’re waiting for the ingredients to chill, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Once chilled and firm, roll your dough into small balls, place on a greased baking sheet, and sprinkle each ball with powdered sugar.

Now, you’re ready to slide your baking sheet into the oven. The cookies only need to cook for about 10 minutes, but you can increase the time to 12 minutes if you prefer firmer cookies.

Be sure to let the cookies sit for at least one minute before eating. Also, once firm, you may sprinkle more powdered sugar on top if desired.

Give Your Cookies a Peanut Butter Twist

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It must be mentioned that some people absolutely love peanut butter with their molasses cookies. Others find the mixture too sweet. However, if you’d like to try the peanut butter version of these cookies, you have one of two options.

One option is to spread peanut butter on top of each cookie, about a half tablespoon per cookie, before baking. Or, if you’d like your peanut butter to be more of a topping and less of a “baked on” ingredient, you can simply spread the peanut butter on after the cookies are done and have cooled.

Some people will even make peanut butter sandwiches by placing a layer of peanut butter in between two cookies.

You should try your molasses cookies in each of these ways if you’re a true peanut butter fan. That way, you can see which version works the best for you and your sweets-loving taste buds.

Get Crispier Cookies by Using Butter  

Some people love soft cookies, and if you follow this recipe perfectly, that is exactly what you’ll get.

If, though, you’d like your cookies to be a bit more crisp and thin, then the secret is to use butter instead of shortening.

This is an easy switch to make. Just substitute 3/4 cup of real, unsalted butter for the shortening mentioned above.

Don’t be Afraid to Double the Cinnamon

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While many people love this recipe just as it is, some people like it with more cinnamon. In fact, some people even double the cinnamon that this recipe calls for.

If you’d like more of a spicy-sweet punch to your cookies, try adding a bit more cinnamon, up to double the suggested amount if you’re feeling brave. You may just find that you like the cookies even better this way, and the smell, while they are baking, is truly heavenly.

As you can see, molasses cookies are very delicious, and they can be varied to make them delicious for you specifically.

Don’t be afraid to try new things and experiment with this recipe, and with molasses in general. You’ll find that you can often whip up some very tasty treats that everyone is sure to love.