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The Recipe · No.555 · Molasses Cookies

Molasses Cookies, and where to source it

Molasses Cookies — 5best2buy.com 5BEST2BUY.COM Molasses Cookies American 5best2buy.com

Molasses cookies live and die on the molasses and the spice blend, so tired ground ginger gives you a dull cookie. The technique that matters is pulling them at 10-11 minutes while the centers still look underdone, so they set up chewy instead of hard.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep15 min
Cook11 min
Makes24 cookies
CuisineAmerican
Cost$
Vegetarian
Contains  dairy · eggs · gluten
Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy, and a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.
Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free flour blend (check the other labels too).
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 24 cookies
All-purpose flour
The chew; fresh flour keeps the crumb from tasting stale under the spice.
2 1/4 cups
Granulated sugar
For the dough and the roll; unrefined cane sugar deepens the color.
1 cup plus more for rolling
Unsalted butter
Carries the spice; good butter keeps the cookie from tasting greasy.
3/4 cup, softened
Molasses
The whole point; use dark unsulphured molasses, not blackstrap, which turns bitter.
1/4 cup
Ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves
The backbone; fresh-ground warm spices are the difference between lively and flat.
2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1/2 tsp
Egg
Binds the dough; one fresh large egg is plenty.
1 large
The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●●● A fair little treat
A reasonable little indulgence.
EffortSome doing
Cook it with
Air fryerSheet pan
The Method
  1. CreamBeat butter and 1 cup sugar 3 minutes until fluffy, then beat in the molasses and egg.
  2. MixWhisk flour, spices, 2 tsp baking soda, and 1/2 tsp salt, then beat into the wet just until combined.
  3. ChillChill the dough 30 minutes so it firms up enough to scoop cleanly.
  4. RollScoop 1 1/2 tbsp balls and roll each in granulated sugar to coat.
  5. BakeBake at 350F for 10-11 minutes until the tops crackle but centers look soft. They finish setting on the pan.
The Toolkit

Cookie scoop · Sheet pans · Stand mixer · Silicone mat · Cooling rack

Straight Answers
Can you make Molasses Cookies in an air fryer? — Yes

Yes — bake it in a small pan or dish that fits the basket, at about 25°F below the recipe temperature. Air fryers run hot and fast, so check it early; no flipping needed.

Can you freeze Molasses Cookies? — Yes

Yes — freeze it well-wrapped, then reheat or toast straight from frozen. Frost or glaze after thawing.

Can you make Molasses Cookies ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — bake it a day or two ahead; it keeps well-wrapped at room temperature and freezes cleanly. Add any frosting or glaze close to serving.

Is Molasses Cookies gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free flour blend (check the other labels too).

Is Molasses Cookies vegan? — Vegetarian, not vegan

It’s vegetarian but not vegan as written — it has dairy and egg. Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy, and a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.

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