Iced Ginger Molasses Cookies are a delicious and festive treat that are perfect for the holiday season. These iced cookies are made with warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, and are coated in a sweet spiced icing that perfectly complements the rich, molasses flavor of the cookies.
To make molasses ginger cookies, you will need a few key ingredients, including flour, sugar, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and butter. The results of this easy recipe are the most delicious and softest molasses cookies ever!
Texture and Flavor Profile of Molasses Cookies
Iced Ginger Molasses Cookies have a unique texture and flavor that make them stand out from other cookies. The texture of these cookies is soft and chewy, with a slight crunch on the outside. The molasses and ginger gives these cookies a rich, warm flavor that is both sweet and spicy.
The combination of spices in these cookies gives them a warm and comforting flavor that is perfect for the holiday season. The ginger adds a slightly spicy kick, while the molasses gives the cookies a rich sweetness. The icing on top adds a touch of sweetness and helps to balance out the spices. Overall, Molasses Cookies are a delicious treat that are perfect for any occasion. Their soft texture, combined with their warm and spicy flavor, make them a crowd-pleaser that everyone will love.
Why you’ll love this amazing Spiced Cookie Recipe
- Simple ingredients. Everything about these cookies is so easy, from the cookie dough to the icing on top. You will be surprised to know that you have a lot of the ingredients for them already in your kitchen!
- Soft and Chewy Texture: These cookies are soft and chewy, with a slightly crispy edge. The texture is perfect, making them a crowd-pleaser for all ages.
- Great for Parties: These cookies are a fun and unique addition to any party or gathering. They are sure to impress your guests and leave them wanting more.
Iced Molasses Cookies Ingredients
Flour: The base of the cookie dough is 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour.
Salt: You will need ¼ tsp of salt to balance the flavors in the cookie dough.
Baking soda: Adding 2 tsp of baking soda will help the cookies puffs up as they bake.
Spices: For perfectly spiced treats, use ½ TBSP of ground ginger, 1 tsp of ground cinnamon, and ½ tsp of ground cloves.
Butter: Add ¾ cups of room temperature unsalted butter, this is 1 ½ sticks of butter, for rich and flavorful cookies.
Brown sugar: 1 cup of light brown sugar will give these cookies a wonderful depth of flavor.
Egg: You need 1 large egg to bind the dough together well.
Molasses: Using ½ cup of molasses will create a great chewy texture and give the cookies the dark color we are going for.
Cinnamon icing
Powdered sugar: You will need 3 cups of powdered sugar to make the icing smooth and sweet.
Heavy cream: Adding 3 TBSP of heavy whipping cream will make the icing the right consistency.
Cinnamon: For added spice and warmth, add in 1 TBSP of ground cinnamon.
Almond extract: Use ⅛ tsp of almond extract to make the icing taste even richer. If you do not have this on hand, feel free to use vanilla extract.
Salt: To make the flavors stand out even more, add a dash of salt.
How to make Iced Ginger Molasses Cookies
Cookie dough
In a medium size bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking soda, ginger, ground cloves, and ground cinnamon, whisk to combine and set aside.
Next, in a large mixing bowl, using an electric handheld mixer or stand mixer, cream together the unsalted butter and light brown sugar. Then, add in the egg and molasses. Blend well to combine.
After that, add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and stir well to combine. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Proceed to chill the dough in the fridge for 1 hour, this will help the amazing flavors develop and deepen.
Icing
While the dough is chilling, prepare the icing for the cookies. In a medium size bowl, combine the powder sugar, cinnamon, almond extract, and heavy cream, mix until smooth. If needed, add a little more heavy cream, mixing until the desired consistency has been achieved. Let sit until you are ready to top the cookies.
Bake
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Then, line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Remove the dough from the fridge and scoop into balls that are about 1 ½ – 2 inches. Place the dough balls onto the prepared cooking sheets at least 2 inches apart from each other.
Place the cookies in the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes. The cookies will be slightly firm to the touch and look like they are beginning to crack when they are done.
Cool & Assemble
Allow your baked cookies to cool on the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
Once the cookies have cooled, top each one with icing by using a butter knife. Allow the icing to sit on the cookies for 5 minutes to set before serving.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Delicious Cookie Variations
The icing recipe works well with any spices, feel free to tinker around with the flavors that you really like. The icing will work just as well without the cinnamon (or other spices) in it. For true decadence, a cream cheese icing would be amazing on these cookies: just don’t forget to let the cookie cool first.
You can adjust the spices used in the cookie dough. If you prefer a more ginger flavor, add a bit more ginger. You can also reduce or completely omit the ground cloves. Other recommended spices that would work well with this cookie are nutmeg, allspice, or even pumpkin spice.
Do I really need to chill the dough before baking it?
It is not absolutely necessary, but chilling the dough keeps these cookies from spreading out too much while baking. Chilled cookie dough causes the fats within it to solidify, and the longer these fats take to melt, the longer it will take the cookie to spread in the oven. Un-chilled cookie dough will result in flatter cookies.
What are the differences between molasses and gingerbread cookies?
Molasses cookies and gingerbread cookies are similar in flavor, but molasses cookies are softer and chewier. Gingerbread cookies are typically crisp and crunchy. Molasses cookies also contain more molasses than gingerbread cookies, which gives them a darker color and more intense flavor.
How long are iced molasses cookies good for?
These cookies can be kept stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. If desired, you can place them in a sealed baggie and keep them in the fridge for up to 10 days. This will give you even longer to enjoy the cookies, and a cold molasses cookie can be an even chewier treat too!
Can I make Molasses cookie dough in advance?
Trying to get a head start with your holiday cookie list? This can be a great idea for many different recipes, including these cookies. To do this, just store your unbaked dough in the freezer in a sealed baggie or airtight container for up to 2 months. I recommend flash freezing portioned dough balls on a baking sheet beforehand so that the cookies are easier to thaw and bake when ready.
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More Holiday cookie recipes you’ll want to try:
- BUTTERMILK SUGAR COOKIES
- PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE GINGER COOKIES
- CREAM CHEESE RED VELVET COOKIES
- CADBURY MINI EGG CHOCOLATE COOKIES
- RED VELVET 4TH OF JULY COOKIES
- LUCKY CHARMS SUGAR COOKIES
- STRAWBERRY COOL WHIP COOKIES
- NO BAKE GINGERBREAD COOKIES
- FROSTED LEMON EASTER COOKIES
- CHOCOLATE CHERRY COOKIES
- MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BARS
- PEPPERMINT VANILLA SHORTBREAD COOKIES
- NO BAKE MUDDY BUDDY PROTEIN COOKIES
- DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MINT COOKIES
- PATRIOTIC COOKIE CAKE
- PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE SANDWICH COOKIES
- HALLOWEEN COOKIE RECIPES
Iced Ginger Molasses Cookies are a enjoyable and incredibly spiced treat that is simply amazing. These molasses ginger cookies are then topped with cinnamon-spiced icing, you will not be able to get enough of these sweet treats.
LaTasha says
I’m excited to have come across this prescription. None the less, it’s free. Thank you to all responsible.
Aimee says
These cookies are definitely a new favorite, and I can’t wait to make them again for the holidays. I just love the cinnamon icing on top!
Taryn says
Ginger and molasses are such a great combo! Thanks for the recipe.