The Best Chewy Molasses Spice Cookies

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I've made this foolproof spice cookie recipe for more years than I can count. I love making these old-fashioned chewy molasses cookies as the weather starts to cool off and the leaves start to turn. Of course, you don’t have to wait for fall! They taste great any time of the year. These cookies are soft, chewy, packed with flavor, and have a lovely sugar crust. This spice cookie is sure to become a family favorite just like it is for my family!

Why you'll love these Molasses Spice Cookies.

They’re a crowd-pleaser!
These old fashioned chewy molasses cookies taste incredible while still warm from the oven. Next time you go to a friend’s house for dinner or have people over, make the cookie dough ahead and bake the cookies once dinner is over. Who doesn’t love freshly baked, still-warm cookies?!? Plus, this a fun activity for baking and cooking with kids.
These chewy molasses spice cookies are delicious on their own or served alongside vanilla or pumpkin ice cream. If you can find Graeter's Pumpkin Ice Cream in your area, that's my favorite store-bought version.
They're great holiday cookies for gifts, a cookie exchange, or a Christmas cookie plate. And they freeze well, so you can make them ahead of the holidays and thaw them when needed. You'll love Carmelitas and Oatmeal Craisin Cookies for the same reasons.

Unsalted butter is typically recommended in baking recipes because you can add as much or as little salt as needed. You have no control over how salty or not salted butter is.
Molasses—You want to use regular molasses in this recipe. It lends a deep, rich flavor to these molasses spice cookies. Be sure to use regular molasses and not blackstrap. They're very different in flavor, sweetness, and water content.
Dark brown sugar adds more complexity to the flavor of recipes. It will also give the cookies a deeper color.
Ground cloves, cinnamon, and ginger—If any of your spices are more than six months old, consider replacing them because their flavor begins to diminish after about six months.

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1. Measure flour, spices, salt, and baking soda into a medium mixing bowl and gently whisk to combine.
2. Place the butter and dark brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the paddle attachment, cream the butter and brown sugar on medium-high for approx 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.
3. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the molasses to the butter-sugar mixture and mix on medium speed to combine.
4. Add the egg and mix to combine. Then, scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl again.
5. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed to combine.
6. Put the ¼ cup of granulated sugar in a bowl. Scoop the cookie dough using a 1 ½ tablespoon cookie dough scoop. Place the dough balls on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
7. Roll each ball of dough in the granulated sugar and transfer back to the sheet pan. Gently press each ball of cookie dough with the palm of your hand to flatten out the roundness just a bit.
8. Bake cookies for approximately 8-10 minutes.

Dough for old fashioned chewy molasses cookies being put on a parchment lined half sheet pan

Ball of dough for old fashioned chewy molasses cookies being rolled in granulated sugar in an East Fork everyday bowl.

What’s wrong with sweets? Nothing, according to a Registered Dietitian.

Do you worry about offering sweets to your kids? What is it about allowing sweets that worries you? So often, the messages we hear vilify sweets. But sweets aren’t the problem! Fear-based messaging is the problem!

We've all had someone tell us that foods like cookies don’t have any nutrients. That's FALSE! Cookies (and other sweets) do contain nutrients. These molasses spice cookies contain carbohydrates (flour and sugar), protein (egg), and fat (butter). Sweets also taste good; they're part of family traditions and fun to eat!

If you’d like practical tips on offering sweets, read Anna’s post What About Dessert? I also highly recommend the post Let’s Talk About Sugar by Le’Vena Tan, Nutrition Masters Student & Guest Post Writer.

Cooking and baking with kids

I’ve been baking versions of spice cookie recipes since I was a kid - so for a long time! A wonderful babysitter knew I loved to bake and gave me my very first cookbook when I was maybe 9 or 10—Betty Crocker’s Cookies. The recipe below is adapted from that cookbook.

I’ve always loved to cook and bake. One of my earliest and fondest memories was cooking lunch for our parents at preschool (open-faced toasted cheese sandwiches and tomato soup). Who would I be if my preschool teacher, Harriett Andrews, hadn’t had us cook lunch for our parents?

Here at Sunny Side Up Nutrition, we’re big fans of cooking with kids. Baking cookies offers lots of ways for kids of all ages to help! If you’d like more information and simple ways to cook with kids, read my posts, Simple Tips for Cooking with Kids and Homemade Soft Pretzels—Cooking with Kids Part 2.

Frequently asked questions about baking old-fashioned chewy molasses cookies

Can I use light brown sugar instead of dark brown in this spice cookie recipe?

Sure, just know that the cookies will be lighter in color and won't have quite as much depth of flavor. Dark brown sugar contains more molasses than light brown sugar, so it has a more complex flavor and is darker in color.

Is there any way to easily get the molasses out of the measuring cup?

Very lightly spray the inside of the measuring cup with Pam cooking spray.

What if I don't have a scoop to make the cookie dough balls?

No worries! You can scoop out a heaping tablespoon of dough using a tablespoon measure or a regular spoon. Then, roll the dough into a ball with your hand. If you want to purchase cookie dough scoops, click here for the ones I have. Any brand will do, though.

Can you freeze molasses spice cookies?

Definitely! Allow them to cool completely. Then, place them in a zip-top freezer bag. Label them with the name and date, and lay the bag flat in your freezer. To thaw the cookies, remove some or all of the cookies and allow them to thaw at room temperature.