Craving a cozy, comforting treat that’s both easy to make and utterly delicious?
These Ginger Molasses Cookies are a family favorite, delivering that irresistible crinkly exterior and soft, chewy center every time. Packed with warm spices, they’re perfect for holiday baking or simply a sweet moment with your afternoon coffee.
Get ready for a simple recipe that tastes like pure joy! For more spiced cookie ideas, check out soft ginger cookies.

Why You’ll Love These Ginger Molasses Cookies
-
Perfect Texture: Achieve the ideal balance of crinkly edges and a soft, chewy interior with every bite.
-
Warm Spices: A delightful blend of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves creates a comforting aroma and flavor that’s hard to resist.
-
Simple Ingredients: Made with common pantry staples, these homemade cookies are accessible for any home baker.
-
Quick Prep: With only 20 minutes of active prep time, you’ll have fresh-baked cookies in no time.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Primary components: You’ll need all-purpose flour, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, a large egg, and unsulphured molasses to form the base of these delicious cookies.
Liquids & Seasoning: Ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and a pinch of salt provide the signature warm, spiced flavor and help with the perfect chewy texture.
Optional add-ins: For an extra kick, consider adding a pinch of black pepper or finely chopped candied ginger. You can also roll them in turbinado sugar for extra sparkle and crunch.
For another soft and spiced treat, check out my brown butter snickerdoodles. The nutty richness from the browned butter and the hint of cinnamon make them a delicious companion to these chewy ginger molasses cookies.
Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Exact quantities appear in the printable recipe card below.

How to Make Ginger Molasses Cookies
Making these Ginger Molasses Cookies is straightforward! You’ll combine dry ingredients, cream wet ingredients, mix them together, chill the dough, and then bake to perfection. For more baking tips, visit The Kitchn’s baking guides.
Step 1: Whisk Together Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt. Set this mixture aside.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars
In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
Step 3: Beat in Egg and Molasses
Beat in the egg until just combined. Then, add the molasses and mix until it’s fully incorporated into the butter mixture.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
Gradually add the whisked dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
Step 5: Chill the Dough
Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Chilling prevents spreading.
Step 6: Prepare for Baking (Preheat & Sugar Roll)
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Place about 1/2 cup of granulated sugar in a shallow bowl.
Step 7: Bake Your Crinkly Ginger Molasses Cookies
Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough, roll into balls, and coat generously in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on prepared sheets and bake for 9-11 minutes.
Step 8: Cool and Enjoy
Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
Pro Tips for Making Ginger Molasses Cookies
-
Don’t Overmix: Overmixing develops gluten, leading to tougher cookies instead of that desired chewy texture.
-
Chill Thoroughly: Chilling the dough is crucial for preventing spread and helping those beautiful crinkles form.
-
Sugar Coating: Roll dough balls generously in granulated sugar for that signature sparkly, crinkly finish.
-
Underbake Slightly: For the chewiest cookies, remove them from the oven when the edges are set but the centers still look slightly soft.
-
Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure butter and egg are at room temperature for a smooth, well-emulsified batter.
-
Warm Molasses: If your molasses is very thick, microwave it for a few seconds to make it easier to measure and mix in smoothly.
Final Thoughts
These Ginger Molasses Cookies truly are a delightful experience, bringing warmth and comfort with every chewy, crinkly bite. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or just a cozy evening at home, this recipe is sure to become a cherished favorite.
Don’t hesitate to experiment with an extra pinch of spice for those who love a bolder flavor. Happy baking!

FAQs
How do I get the perfect crinkly top on my Ginger Molasses Cookies?
The key to those beautiful crinkles is a combination of chilling the dough and rolling it generously in granulated sugar before baking. The sugar melts and then recrystallizes, creating that signature texture.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can chill the dough for up to 2 days in the refrigerator. Just let it sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes before rolling and baking if it’s too firm.
What kind of molasses should I use?
Unsulphured molasses is recommended as it has a milder, sweeter flavor than sulphured varieties, which can sometimes taste a bit chemical. Light or regular molasses works best for these chewy cookies.
Can I freeze these Ginger Molasses Cookies?
Yes, you can! Once completely cooled, store the baked cookies in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. You can also freeze the raw dough balls (unrolled in sugar) for up to 3 months, then thaw slightly, roll in sugar, and bake.
Ginger Molasses Cookies (Crinkly & Chewy) easy, delicious, satisfying family favorite
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Ginger Molasses Cookies are a family favorite thanks to their irresistible crinkly texture and chewy interior.
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus more for rolling
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup unsulphured molasses
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Beat in the egg until just combined, then beat in the molasses until fully incorporated.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined and no streaks of flour remain. Do not overmix.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours. Chilling helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Place about 1/2 cup of granulated sugar in a small shallow bowl.
- Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough and roll them into balls. Roll each dough ball generously in the granulated sugar to coat completely.
- Place the sugar-coated dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are set and lightly golden, and the centers still look slightly soft. The cookies will crinkle as they cool.
- Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For extra chewiness, underbake the cookies slightly. They will continue to set as they cool.
- These cookies store well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of black pepper to the dry ingredients.
- If your molasses is very thick, you can warm it slightly in the microwave for a few seconds to make it easier to measure and mix.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg







