by Mary Neumann · 39 Comments
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year, time to make Aunt Linda’s famous Molasses Sugar Cookies, amust-try cookie recipe!
The BEST molasses sugar cookies! Perfectly spiced with a crispy edge and a soft, chewy center.
Perfectly spiced old-fashioned molasses cookies (Aunt Linda’s treasured recipe) – crispy on the edges with a soft, chewy center. Our family and friends think these are the best molasses cookies around, Santa agrees! These nostalgic cookies are a cinch to make and are a wonderful addition to holiday cookie trays, perfect for cookie swaps too. They also make a wonderful gift.
Read great reviews from people who tried this recipe on Pinterest (Photos)!
Original Post Date, October 26, 2016. Post Updated, November 26, 2023
I made this batch of cookies with my sister during my visit to Alaska last month. I’ve wanted to add this recipe to my blog for years. So a special thank you to my sister, Anastasia, for all the baking we did during my trip.
For this recipe, the dough is made ahead of time and refrigerated. We always make the dough the night before. The dough needs to be thoroughly chilled, which takes approximately 4–6 hours.
Please note, when the dough is thoroughly chilled and ready to be rolled,the dough will be very stiff.
When these cookies are baking, the house fills with the sweet smell of the holidays. Someone cue the music, “Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la, la la la la.”
If you are looking for a terrific molasses cookie recipe, just like grandma used to make – look no further!
The Best Old-Fashioned Molasses Sugar Cookies
Perfectly spiced old-fashioned molasses cookies (Aunt Linda's treasured recipe) - crispy on the edges with a soft, chewy center. Our family and friends think these are the best molasses cookies around, Santa agrees! These nostalgic cookies are a cinch to make and are a wonderful addition to holiday cookie trays, perfect for cookie swaps too. They also make a wonderful gift.
5 from 5 votes
Print Recipe
Prep Time 6 hours hrs
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 6 to 8 Dozen
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups butter or Parkay Original Margarine, at room temperature *see notes below
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup dark molasses
- 2 eggs, beaten
Remaining Dry Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons baking soda
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Turbinado or Sparkling sugar to coat the unbaked cookies
Instructions
In a medium bowl, beat the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Stir in the eggs and molasses until completely blended.
In a separate large bowl, mix all the remaining dry ingredients together. Add the butter mixture to the flour mixture and mix well until combined completely. Cover the dough tightly and refrigerate overnight.
IMPORTANT – The dough needs to be thoroughlychilled. When the dough is thoroughly chilled and ready to be rolled, itwill be very stiff. Allow at least 4 to 6 hours to chill.
When dough is ready to bake:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and coat them with Turbinado sugar. Bake the cookies on a sheet pan, placed 1–2 inches apart, for 10-12 min. The cookies should crackle on top and have golden edges.
Recipe makes 6 to 8 dozen, depending on size.
Notes
*Note
If you were to ask my aunt which to use, butter or Parkay, she would say (passionately), Parkay! The original recipe, which dates back to 1981, calls forParkay Original Margarine. Parkay can sometimes be difficult to find, especially in Alaska. If you can’t find Parkay, use butter – the cookies turn out wonderful! When it comes to margarine, I recommend ONLY using PARKAY ORIGINAL MARGARINE. Some brands of margarine have a higher water content and will make the cookies super flat.
Keyword Molasses Cookies
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Tara
Do you still need to put 1 teaspoon of salt when using salted butter?
Reply
Michelle
The cookies are amazing. Couldn’t stop eating them.
Reply
Sheila
Can these be made with butter instead of margarine?
Reply
Mary Neumann
Yes, Sheila! The cookies above are made with butter 🙂 Happy baking!
Reply
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