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    Home » Dessert Recipes

    Nanny's Ginger Molasses Cookies

    Published: Mar 1, 2010 Last updated: Apr 11, 2022 by Shelby Law Ruttan · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    A soft thick ginger molasses cookies with a vanilla flavored icing remind me of Nanny's kitchen with their good old-fashioned spiced cookie warmth.

    These thick Ginger Molasses Cookies with icing are a great recipe that was often in my Nanny's cookie cupboard. They are super soft cookies with the ginger flavor that so many people love and are the best ginger molasses cookies.

    Soft molasses cookies are my very favorite cookies. Unlike ginger snaps, these are not flat, chewy cookies but rather are thick cookies that are more cake like in texture These homemade molasses cookies are great any time of the year and are one of my favorite holiday cookies to share at Christmas time.

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🙋 Recipe FAQ's
    • 💭 Tips
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🍽 Equipment
    • 🏫 What I've Learned
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storage
    • Related Recipes 
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ❤️ Why I Love This Recipe

    ✔️ This is an old-fashioned ginger molasses cookie recipe that my grandmother made that is delicious with a little bit of nostalgia.

    ✔️ Spice is nice and I love the warmth of these spiced ginger cookies, especially topped with icing.

    ✔️ These large molasses cookies are satisfying and perfect for sharing with friends and family during the holiday season.

    🥘 Ingredients

    Granulated sugar

    Large egg

    Dark molasses

    Canola oil

    Buttermilk

    Baking powder

    Baking soda

    Ground ginger

    Ground Cinnamon

    All purpose flour

    Unsalted butter

    Confectioners sugar

    Vanilla extract

    Milk

    Frosted spiced molasses cookies on a paper plate

    🔪 Instructions

    1. In a large bowl using a hand mixer on medium speed, combine the sugar, egg, molasses, and canola oil.
    2. In medium bowl sift together 3 ½ cups flour, salt, baking powder, soda, ginger, and cinnamon.
    3. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients alternately with buttermilk, scraping the sides with a rubber spatula periodically. You may need to add more flour to stiffen the dough. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours
    4. Remove the cookie dough onto a floured surface and cut into thirds. Place the dough you are not rolling back in fridge to keep chilled. Lightly coat dough with flour and shape into a round ball. Roll cookie dough to about ½" thick. Cut with round cookie cutter. Repeat with remaining dough.
    5. Transfer cookie cut outs to a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until cookie looks dry on top and a slight dent remains when touching top of cookie with finger. Cool completely on a wire rack.
    6. In a large saucepan, melt the butter and mix in with the confectioners' sugar along with vanilla and 2 tablespoons milk. Add more milk as needed to make spreading consistency.

    🙋 Recipe FAQ's

    What is the difference between light, dark molasses and blackstrap molasses?

    Dark molasses is light molasses that has been boiled a second time. Dark molasses is not as sweet as light molasses but has a deeper richer flavor. Blackstrap molasses is thick, syrupy, dark, and more bitter than the former. It is high in iron but yet is aids in relieving constipation.

    How did you get the soft texture of ginger molasses cookies?

    The difference is in the fat (oil) and buttermilk. These two ingredients contribute to a soft texture that is more cake like.

    Two thick ginger molasses cookies on a white plate

    💭 Tips

    • Light molasses can be used in place of dark molasses.
    • Use a flour sifter to sift the dry ingredients together. This will combine the dry ingredients and soften the four.

    📖 Variations

    • Substitute brown sugar for the granulated sugar for a deeper flavor.
    • Stir in 1 cup of mini chocolate chips or raisins.
    • Top with caramel frosting or a cinnamon cream cheese frosting instead of the vanilla frosting.
    • Substitute 1 tablespoon fresh finely chopped ginger for the ginger powder.
    • Sprinkle the tops of the unbaked cookies with coarse sugar.

    🍽 Equipment

    Mixing bowls

    Wooden spoon

    Flour sifter

    Cookie sheet

    Parchment paper

    🏫 What I've Learned

    There is a difference between thick soft cookies and thin soft cookies. A thick cookie, like these old-fashioned ginger molasses cookies are more cake like in texture. They are more spongy and have no chewiness to them.


    The buttermilk and oil is what makes the difference and creates the soft texture of this cookie.

    Nanny's Ginger Molasses Cookies

    Serving Suggestions

    These ginger molasses cookies are great with a hot cup of tea, coffee, or as a special snack enjoy it with this Salted Caramel Latte!

    Storage

    Store these delicious soft ginger molasses cookies in an airtight container on the counter up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

    Related Recipes 

    Blueberry Cookies with Lemon Glaze

    Pineapple Cookies with Orange Glaze

    Nanny's Sugar Cookies with Orange Moscato Frosting

    Glazed Lemon Cookies

    Sour Cream Drop Cookies


    Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products!

    When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!

    If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating

    📖 Recipe

    Nanny’s Ginger Molasses Cookies

    Shelby Law Ruttan
    A soft thick ginger molasses cookies with a vanilla flavored icing remind me of Nanny's kitchen with their good old-fashioned spiced cookie warmth.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Go to Collections
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 12 mins
    Total Time 32 mins
    Course Cookie Recipes, Desserts
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24
    Calories 200 kcal

    Equipment

    • mixing bowls
    • Wooden spoon
    • Flour sifter
    • Large cookie sheet
    • Parchment Paper

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Ingredients
      

    For the cookies

    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 cup molasses
    • ½ cup canola oil
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup buttermilk
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 4 cups flour

    For the icing (Optional)

    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (optional)
    • 2½ cups confectioners' sugar (optional)
    • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional)
    • 2 tablespoons milk (optional)

    Instructions
     

    For the cookies

    • In a large bowl combine the sugar, egg, molasses, and canola oil.
    • In medium bowl sift together 3 ½ cups flour, salt, baking powder, soda, ginger, and cinnamon.
    • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients alternately with buttermilk. You may need to add remaining flour to stiffen the dough if needed. Chill for 2 hours.
    • Remove the cookie dough onto a floured surface and cut into thirds. Place the dough you are not rolling back in fridge to keep chilled. Lightly coat dough with flour and shape into a round ball. Roll to about ½" thick. Cut with round cookie cutter. Repeat with remaining dough.
    • Bake for 10 minutes or until cookie looks dry on top and a slight dent remains when touching top of cookie with finger. Cool completely on a wire rack.

    For the icing

    • In a large saucepan, melt the butter and mix in with the confectioners' sugar along with vanilla and 2 tablespoons milk. Add more milk as needed to make spreading consistency.
    • Frost completely cooled cookies and store in an airtight container.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 200kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 3gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 179mgPotassium: 246mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 28IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 55mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword Cookies, ginger, Ginger Molasses Cookies, molasses
    Tried this recipe?Mention @grumpyshoneybunch or tag #grumpyshoneybunch!

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    About Shelby Law Ruttan

    Shelby is the author/owner of Grumpy's Honeybunch. Established in 2007, she shares and preserves family recipes as well as recipes for cooking light and keto. She has authored the One-Pot Paleo Cookbook and The Pescatarian Keto Cookbook. She is an experienced, self-taught home cook who loves to share recipes with others. She also authors the websites Honeybunch Hunts and The Best Vegetarian Recipes. You can see her work on websites such as Veal Made Easy, Parade, Community Table, SoFab Food, Yummly, and FoodGawker.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rachael

      April 03, 2015 at 5:50 pm

      I love making old family favorite recipes! They always bring back the best memories. thanks for sharing yours!

      Reply
    2. Sean

      March 07, 2010 at 6:45 pm

      Those cookies look delicious.

      Reply
    3. Cinnamon-Girl

      March 04, 2010 at 2:38 pm

      I just love molasses cookies! I never had them with frosting - how very scrumptious!

      Reply
    4. Pamela

      March 03, 2010 at 1:51 am

      I have really grown to love molasses cookies and these look wonderful. All of that lovely frosting on top. Delicious!

      Reply
    5. theUngourmet

      March 02, 2010 at 10:10 pm

      My son and I love molasses cookies! Frosting them is a great idea! Yummy!!

      Reply
    6. Robin Sue

      March 02, 2010 at 9:49 pm

      I have never cooked with molasses before. I did buy my first bottle this past Christmas and never got to the recipe. But these sound so good... I think I have a new recipe to try out!

      Reply
    7. Cajun Chef Ryan

      March 02, 2010 at 2:08 pm

      Great cookies here, we have been buying bags of these lately, going to have make them now!

      Thanks!
      CCR
      =:~)

      Reply
    8. Jessie

      March 02, 2010 at 1:48 pm

      wonderful cookies! I love ginger molasses cookies and they look even better with that yummy frosting. Family recipes passed down to us always seem to be the best recipes in my opinion 🙂

      Reply
    9. Jamie

      March 02, 2010 at 1:34 pm

      These look great with a cup of tea. I love ginger molasses cookies and the frosting makes them extra special.

      Reply
    10. Katy ~

      March 02, 2010 at 10:36 am

      A flavorful cookie indeed. Love that it's frosted. It's just that little some extra that makes 'em special.

      Reply
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    Welcome! I'm Shelby Law Ruttan, author and content creator at Grumpy's Honeybunch. She is self taught in the kitchen and has been sharing keto low carb recipes and family recipes since 2007.

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