Description
Ginger molasses cookies blend rich warmth from traditional New England baking with classic spice notes. Comforting aromas and deep caramel undertones invite home bakers to explore this classic winter treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup (170 g or 6 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 g or 7 oz) packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup (60 ml or 2 fl oz) molasses
- 2 ¼ cups (280 g or 10 oz) all-purpose flour
- 2 tsps ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup (50 g or 1.75 oz) granulated sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Position the oven rack to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats for even cookie baking.
- Creaming Foundation: Whip butter and brown sugar into a fluffy, light mixture, creating a smooth base that serves as the cookie’s fundamental structure.
- Liquid Integration: Blend egg and molasses into the creamed mixture until a uniform, glossy texture emerges, incorporating deep, complex flavors.
- Dry Ingredient Assembly: Sift together flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt, forming a harmonious spice blend that will define the cookie’s character.
- Dough Formation: Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, maintaining a delicate touch to preserve the dough’s tender consistency and prevent overworking.
- Coating and Shaping: Form uniform dough balls, roll generously in granulated sugar to create a sparkling exterior, and arrange on prepared baking sheets with ample spacing.
- Baking Transformation: Bake for 8-10 minutes, targeting edges with subtle firmness while keeping centers slightly underdone – the cookies will continue setting during cooling and develop their signature soft texture.
- Cooling Process: Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to complete their textural refinement, ensuring a perfectly chewy result.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters: Ensure butter is softened but not melted for optimal cookie texture and even mixing.
- Spice Intensity Control: Adjust spice quantities to personal preference, keeping the core ginger-molasses flavor balanced and not overwhelming.
- Sugar Rolling Technique: Use granulated sugar generously when rolling dough balls to create a crisp, sparkling exterior that adds delightful crunch and visual appeal.
- Avoid Overbaking: Watch cookies closely during last 2-3 minutes of baking; they should look slightly underdone in center to guarantee soft, chewy final texture when cooled.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 23
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg