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    Home » Desserts

    Soft Molasses Cookies

    By Jill Baird · Published September 26, 2023 · Updated October 30, 2023 · 3 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    How to make yummy Molasses Cookies
    How to make the best Frosted Molasses Cookies
    How to make the perfect Soft Molasses Cookies

    These Frosted Molasses Cookies are tender, chewy, and made with simple ingredients. The creamy vanilla buttercream pairs perfectly with these rich cookies, but they are equally delicious on their own. 

    how to make Soft Molasses Cookies recipe.
    Jump to:
    • Soft Molasses Cookies with Icing
    • Ingredients for Frosted Molasses Cookies
    • How To Make Molasses Cookies With Frosting
    • Storing and Make-Ahead Instructions
    • Frosted Molasses Cookies Recipe
    •  More Christmas cookie recipes

    Soft Molasses Cookies with Icing

    If you love soft molasses cookies, then you've got to try these Frosted Molasses Cookies. They're made with butter, sugar, molasses, and all the ingredients that make a knock-out holiday cookie recipe.

    They can be made for any occasion but we love making them around the holidays. You also may want to double the recipe - they're that good!  These cute cookies are the perfect neighbor gift or treat for your favorite teacher. They pair perfectly with our creamy vanilla buttercream frosting or even a lemon glaze.

    molasses cookie recipe, frosted molasses cookies, frosting for molasses cookies.

    Ingredients for Frosted Molasses Cookies

    • Butter - your butter needs to be soft either by pulling out to room temperature ahead of time or gently warming in the microwave for about 10 seconds at a time.
    • Brown Sugar - I like to use dark brown sugar for these since it adds an even deeper molasses flavor. You could use light brown sugar as well.
    • Egg - any type of large egg works great.
    • Molasses - use your favorite brand.
    • All-Purpose Flour - any kind of all-purpose flour works great for these cookies.
    • Baking Soda - this helps the cookies stay nice and chewy.
    • Spices - for this recipe I use a combination of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Feel free to adjust to your own liking.
    • Salt - sea salt works great.

    Frosting for Molasses Cookies

    • Butter - the butter for the frosting also needs to be soft before using.
    • Vanilla - pure vanilla extract has the best flavor.
    • Powdered Sugar - I like to use powdered sugar for frosting because it doesn't have any grittiness.
    • Milk - whole milk is my first choice, but 2% will work.

    Optional Mix-Ins

    • Nuts: just about any kind! Toast them in a saute pan about 5 minutes first or lightly toast them in the oven before adding to the dough.
    • M&M’s: plain, peanut, coconut, peanut butter, all sizes, shapes, and flavors! A really fun and cute addition.
    • Dried Fruit: cranberries, raisins, blueberries, strawberries, flaked coconut (super yummy when it’s toasted) and even sliced & dried bananas!
    • Extra Crunch: try crushing some whoppers, crushed potato chips, or pretzels,
    • Flavored Morsels: butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, caramel bits, or Heath pieces.
    Molasses cookies with white buttercream frosting, frosting for molasses cookies, soft molasses cookies with icing, frosted molasses cookies.

    How To Make Molasses Cookies With Frosting

    1. Mix the cookie dough. In an electric mixing bowl, combine the butter and brown sugar.  Beat until light and fluffy and then add the egg and molasses, mix again In a different medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger powder, ground cloves, and salt.  Mix with a wire whisk until mixed thoroughly. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until combined.  
    2. Scoop the cookie dough. Roll the dough into 1 ¼" balls and place them on a greased cookie sheet.  
    3. Bake. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden on the edges. Take the cookies out of the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes before placing them on wire cooling racks.  
    4. Make the vanilla buttercream. In a medium-sized bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer until the butter is light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and beat again. Add the powdered sugar and beat until the mixture has pea-sized clumps.  Add the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time until the frosting is light and fluffy.  (You want it soft enough to spread but firm enough to hold it's shaped) 
    5. Frost the cookies. Once the cookies are completely cooled, frost as desired. Enjoy!
    Molasses cookies with white buttercream frosting

    Storing and Make-Ahead Instructions

    • Fridge- You can make the cookie dough ahead of time.  It will last in the fridge for a couple of weeks in an airtight container. You can also store the baked Frosted Molasses Cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
    • Freezer- Like most cookie doughs, this dough can be frozen and baked at a later date. Simply scoop into balls and place on a parchment-lined pan and freeze until solid. Once frozen, remove from the cookie sheet and place in a freezer bag. They can be stored in the freezer for 3-4 months.
    • To Bake Frozen Cookies: Defrost for an hour or two in the fridge and bake as directed. If the dough is very cold, you may need to add a minute or two of cook time.
    ginger molasses cookies
    Print

    Frosted Molasses Cookies Recipe

    This Frosted Molasses Cookies recipe is made with simple ingredients and makes the most delicious soft molasses cookies. They're soft and chewy and can be made with or without frosting. Happy baking!
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes minutes
    Servings 15 people
    Calories 408kcal
    Author The Carefree Kitchen
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    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup Butter, at room tempreture
    • 1 cup Brown Sugar
    • 1 large Egg
    • ¼ cup Molasses
    • 2 ¼ cup Flour, all-purpose
    • 2 teaspoon Baking Soda
    • 1 ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon Ginger Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Ground Cloves
    • ¼ teaspoon Salt

    Vanilla Buttercream frosting

    • ½ cup Butter room temperature
    • ½ tsp Vanilla Extract
    • 4 cups Powdered Sugar
    • 2 tablespoons Milk
    • Sprinkles (if desired)

    Instructions

    Molasses Cookies

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • In an electric mixing bowl, combine the butter and brown sugar.  Beat until light and fluffy and then add the egg and molasses, mix again
    • In a different medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger powder, ground cloves, and salt.  Mix with a wire whisk until mixed thoroughly. 
    • Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until combined.  
    • Roll the dough into 1 ¼" balls and place them on a greased cookie sheet.  
    • Bake in a 350-degree oven for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden on the edges. Take the cookies out of the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes before placing them on wire cooling racks.  

    Vanilla Buttercream

    • In a medium-sized bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer until the butter is light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and beat again
    • Add the powdered sugar and beat until the mixture has pea-sized clumps.  Add the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time until the frosting is light and fluffy.  (You want it soft enough to spread but firm enough to hold it's shaped) 
    • Frost the cookies after they have cooled and add sprinkles if desired. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 408kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 354mg | Potassium: 131mg | Sugar: 49g | Vitamin A: 490IU | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1.4mg

     More Christmas cookie recipes

    • Gingerbread Cookie Bars
    • Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Andes Mint Cookies
    • Gingersnap Cookies
    • Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Monster Cookies
    • More Cookie Recipes

    If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you. It helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest,  feel free to leave a comment and photo there too.  Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

    These Molasses Cookies are soft and chewy! This delicious cookie recipe is made with simple ingredients and can be enjoyed with or without frosting. Happy holiday baking!

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