Hamdi Saidani This Pioneer Woman Molasses Cookies recipe is a chewy and spicy recipe, which is made with rich molasses and warm spices like ginger. It’s the ultimate comfort food recipe, a classic old-fashioned cookie perfect for the holidays, ready in about 30 minutes.
Pioneer Woman Molasses Cookies Ingredients
A classic combination for a perfectly spiced, soft and chewy cookie.
- 1 cup granulated sugar, plus more for coating
- 3/4 cup vegetable shortening, such as Crisco
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp. ground cardamom
- 1/4 tsp. salt
How To Make Pioneer Woman Molasses Cookies
A step-by-step guide to these wonderfully soft, spiced, and chewy cookies.
- Prep Oven and Mix Dough: Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the sugar, shortening, molasses, and egg together until well combined.
- Combine and Bake: Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, and salt to the bowl. Mix on low speed until the dough is just combined.
- Roll and Bake: Using your hands, roll the dough into walnut-sized balls, then roll each ball generously in a separate bowl of granulated sugar to coat it completely. Place the sugar-coated balls on an ungreased baking sheet, leaving some space between them.
- Bake and Cool: Bake for 9 to 11 minutes. The cookies are ready about 1 minute after they begin to crack on top. They will look very soft. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes to set before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Recipe Tips
For the perfect, chewy molasses cookie every time.
- How to get perfectly chewy cookies? The secret is to not overbake them. These cookies should be pulled from the oven when they are puffy and cracked on top, but still look very soft in the center. They will firm up as they cool on the hot baking sheet, which is what creates their signature chewy texture.
- Why use shortening instead of butter? Shortening is a classic ingredient in old-fashioned molasses cookies. It has a higher melting point than butter, which means the cookies spread less, resulting in a thicker, softer, and more tender cookie.
- Can I use fresh ginger? It’s not recommended for this recipe. Ground ginger provides the dry, concentrated, and warm spice that is characteristic of a classic ginger molasses cookie.
- Do I have to chill the dough? It’s not required for this recipe, making it a very quick cookie to whip up. However, if your kitchen is very warm and the dough feels overly sticky, you can chill it for 30 minutes to make it easier to roll.
What To Serve With Molasses Cookies
The perfect accompaniment for this classic, comforting cookie.
These soft and spicy cookies are a perfect treat, especially during the fall and winter. They are a classic pairing with:
- A tall, cold glass of milk
- A hot cup of black coffee or a spiced chai latte
- A scoop of vanilla bean or eggnog ice cream to make a cookie sandwich
How To Store Molasses Cookies
Keeping your cookies soft and fresh.
- Room Temperature: Once completely cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay soft and chewy for up to a week. Placing a slice of bread in the container is a classic trick to help them stay extra soft.
Pioneer Woman Molasses Cookies Nutrition Facts
An estimated guide per cookie.
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Fat: 5 g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
What kind of molasses is best?
For the classic, rich flavor in these cookies, a standard unsulphured molasses (like Grandma’s brand) is the best choice. Avoid using blackstrap molasses, as it has a much stronger, more bitter flavor.
Why did my cookies turn out flat and crispy?
Flat, crispy cookies are usually the result of over-baking. Remember to pull them from the oven when they still look soft in the middle. It can also happen if you used melted shortening instead of room temperature shortening.
Can I freeze the dough?
Yes, this cookie dough freezes beautifully. Scoop the dough into balls, roll them in sugar, and then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet to freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer the dough balls to a freezer-safe bag. You can bake them directly from frozen, just add an extra 2-3 minutes to the baking time.
Try More Pioneer Woman Recipes:
- Pioneer Woman Chocolate Chunk Cookies Recipe
- Pioneer Woman Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
- Pioneer Woman Cowboy Cookies Recipe
Pioneer Woman Molasses Cookies Recipe
Description
Classic, old-fashioned, and incredibly chewy molasses spice cookies with a signature crackly sugar crust and a wonderfully soft texture, thanks to a simple shortening-based dough.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat together the sugar, shortening, molasses, and egg until combined.
- Add all the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, spices, salt) to the bowl and mix on low speed until a soft dough forms.
- Roll the dough into walnut-sized balls.
- Roll each ball generously in a bowl of granulated sugar to coat it completely.
- Place the balls on an ungreased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, until the cookies have spread and the tops have begun to crack. They will look soft.
- Let the cookies cool on the pan for a few minutes to set before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- u003cliu003eIt is crucial not to over-bake these cookies to maintain their soft and chewy texture. They should look slightly underdone when you remove them from the oven.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eUsing vegetable shortening is the secret to the classic soft texture of these cookies.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eThe combination of ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom gives these cookies a wonderful, warm spice flavor perfect for the holidays.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eThe dough can be chilled for 30 minutes if it feels too sticky to roll.u003c/liu003e
