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Super Soft Molasses Cookies – Warm, Spiced & Chewy

These Super Soft Molasses Cookies are the perfect cozy treat for chilly days, holiday gatherings, or anytime you want something comforting and warmly spiced. They are soft, chewy, tender, and full of deep flavor thanks to rich molasses and warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Every bite has that melt-in-the-mouth texture, lightly coated with a sweet crackly sugar finish. These cookies taste like home — warm, nostalgic, and full of cozy winter magic. Serve them with tea, coffee, or a glass of milk, and enjoy the soft sweetness that lingers with every bite. If you love cookies that are soft, chewy, and full of flavor, these will become your new favorite.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
bake time 11 minutes
Total Time 21 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup granulated sugar plus extra for rolling
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup full-flavor molasses
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • Whisk or hand mixer
  • Rubber spatula
  • Measuring cups & spoons
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Cooling rack

Method
 

Step 1:
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2:
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil and granulated sugar until combined.
Step 3:
  1. Add the egg and molasses. Mix until the mixture is smooth and glossy.
Step 4:
  1. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt.
Step 5:
  1. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix gently using a spatula until a soft dough forms.
Step 6:
  1. Roll the dough into small balls (about 1 tablespoon each). Roll each ball lightly in granulated sugar.
Step 7:
  1. Place the cookies on your baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart.
Step 8:
  1. Bake for 8–11 minutes, just until the tops crack and the edges are set.
  2. (Do not overbake — the secret to soft cookies is removing them while slightly underdone.)
Step 9:
  1. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating
Store at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Freeze baked cookies for up to 2 months.
To re-soften, warm in microwave 5–7 seconds.
🥄 Variations
Extra Cozy: Add ¼ teaspoon nutmeg for more warm spice depth.
Sugar Sparkle: Roll in coarse sugar for a crystal-crackly finish.
Vanilla Touch: Add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract for extra warmth.
Maple Hint: Add a drizzle of maple syrup to the dough for sweetness.
Spice Lover: Increase ginger to ¾ teaspoon for more spice.
❓ 10 FAQs
Why are my cookies not soft?
They may have baked too long — remove when slightly underdone in the center.
Can I use coconut or olive oil instead of vegetable oil?
Yes — but vegetable oil gives the softest texture.
Do I need to chill the dough?
Not required — dough is ready to bake.
Can I make them gluten-free?
Yes — use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
Why roll in sugar?
It creates the classic crackle finish.
Can I add chocolate chips?
Yes — mini semi-sweet chips work best.
Can I use blackstrap molasses?
No — it’s too strong and bitter. Use full-flavor molasses.
Why are my cookies flat?
Baking soda must be fresh for lift.
Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely — these disappear fast.
Do these taste like gingerbread?
Similar, but softer, deeper, and chewier.
🏁 Conclusion
These Super Soft Molasses Cookies are sweet, warm, tender, and full of cozy spice. They’re simple to make, comforting to eat, and perfect for sharing — especially during chilly weather. Whether enjoyed with a warm drink or shared at a gathering, these cookies bring a little bit of heartwarming sweetness to every bite.
Bake them. Share them. Enjoy the cozy season.