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Crisp Molasses Cookies Recipe

Crisp molasses cookies boast wonderfully crunchy edges and tons of spice flavor. Made with extra molasses, these crispy cookies actually snap in half when you break them!

Molasses Cookie Comparison

What Makes These Crisp Molasses Cookies Different?

It seems like we’ve done it all in the molasses cookie world. But my my my, we are so very mistaken. We’ve never ventured over to the other side. You know, the crunchy side. The under appreciated, mega traditional crisp molasses cookies. They snap when you break them in half, a drastic change from “slow bend” oatmeal scotchies.

But they’re not only snappy in texture. They’ve got some SUPER snappy flavor too! Deeply spiced, a big ol’ nod to my spiced gingerbread loaf. We’re talking lots of ground cloves and cinnamon, with a dose of ginger and lots of dark molasses. These cookies are exactly what I associate with Christmas and a tall glass of cold milk.

The Science Behind the Crispy Texture

What makes these molasses cookies crispy molasses cookies?

  • Granulated Sugar: In today’s recipe, we use all granulated sugar in our cookie dough. Granulated sugar helps encourage spread and also creates a crispier cookie. Think about it: there’s no moisture in granulated sugar. Meaning there’s not much softness, no tenderness, etc. Unlike brown sugar, which creates a soft-baked texture in recipes like my chocolate chip cookies.
  • Molasses: Adding a liquid (in this case, molasses) to the cookie dough weighs it down. This means that the cookies have that beautiful molasses flavor and come out a little thinner. Thinner cookies tend to be more crispy.
  • Sugar for Rolling: Try rolling the cookie dough balls in a coarse sugar. I use half Sugar in the Raw and half regular granulated sugar for rolling. I like the larger granules with the more fine granules. The combination makes pretty cookies AND adds extra crunch.
  • Bake Time: A few extra minutes in the oven produces a crispier edge.

How to Make Crisp Molasses Cookies

These cookies are fun to watch baking and cooling. They puff up in the oven, gently crack at the top, then slightly fall leaving valleys of crinkles. So much character in each cookie. 🙂

Crisp molasses cookies are a wonderful make-ahead option for all your holiday baking. Why? The cookies get even crispier by the next day!

Prep Time 115 mins
Cook Time 13 mins
Total Time 2 hrs 8 mins
Cuisine:
Courses:
Servings: 30
Description

Crisp molasses cookies have perfect crispy edges and are packed with spice flavor!

Ingredients You’ll Need
  • 2 cups (250g)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup (12 Tbsp; 170g)
  • 1 cup (200g)
  • 1/4 cup (60ml)
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2/3 rolling: for cup granulated or coarse sugar*
Instructions
  1. 1
    Whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and salt together. Set aside.
  2. 2
    Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed until completely smooth, about 1 minute. Add the granulated sugar and beat the two together until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla and beat on high until completely combined, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
  3. 3
    Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. Cover and chill the dough for 1 hour in the refrigerator (and up to 2-3 days). If chilling for longer than a few hours, allow to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before rolling and baking because the dough will be quite hard and the cookies may not spread.
  4. 4
    Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. (Always recommended for cookies.) Set aside.
  5. 5
    Roll balls of dough (about 1 scant Tablespoon of dough per cookie) into the granulated/coarse sugar. Place each ball 2 inches apart on the baking sheets. Bake for 13 minutes or until cracked on the top.
  6. 6
    Remove from the oven and allow to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Keywords: all-purpose flour, butter, cinnamon, cloves, eggs, ginger, granulated sugar, molasses, vanilla extract
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