I usually wait until the week before Christmas to start baking my Holiday cookies. The reason I do this is because I like the cookies to be as fresh as possible when I get them out for our family party. I also seem to run out of places to store them if I make them too far in advance. Next week my children are off all week for Winter Break and it will be so much fun baking some of our favorite Christmas Cookies with them. Because I’ve been listening to Christmas Music and really getting into the Holiday spirit, I’ve made a few batches of cookies already and I’ve stored them in the freezer. Among those are some of these deliciously simple Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies.
I think the best cookies are simple ones. Sure Pinterest is full of amazing looking cookies that have everything imaginable in them, but I always tend to go back to the ones that seem to get forgotten. The classic cookies that my grandmother and her mother use to make.
These Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies are crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and full of warm spices. There’s just something about making these too.
The dough always smells so delicious and it’s so easy to work with. Our favorite part is of course rolling the dough balls in sugar before placing them on the baking sheet. I also can’t get enough of that warm, inviting smell of these cookies baking in the oven. It’s just wonderful.
This recipe makes about 4 1/2 dozen cookies, but we like them so much, that usually that’s not enough! I’m sure next week I will be baking a few more of these tasty cookies for my family. They are a really nice treat in the morning with your coffee, or are perfect in the evening with a glass of milk.
If you are looking for a little something sweet to take you back to an Old Fashioned Christmas this season, give these Molasses Cookies a try. You might even have to add them to your cookie to-do list every year!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups shortening (Crisco)
- 2 cups brown packed sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 4 tsp. baking soda
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 2 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 2 tsp. ginger
- 1 1/2 tsp. clove
Instructions
- In your Kitchen Aid Mixer, combine the sugar and shortening and cream together.
- Add the eggs, one by one and mix well being sure to scrape down the sides.
- Add the molasses and combine well.
- In a medium mixing bowl sift the dry ingredients and then slowly add them to the wet ingredients and mix until a nice dough forms.
- Take a Tablespoon sized cookie scoop or spoon size amount of dough and roll it into a ball.
- Gently roll the dough ball in sugar and place on parchment lined baking sheet.
- Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill.
- After 20 minutes, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- When the 30 minutes is up, place the cookies into the oven and bake for 11-13 minutes.
- They should be starting to crack.
- Remove them from the oven and let them sit on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.
- Serve warm or room temperature.
- Makes about 4 1/2 dozen.
- *To freeze (these freeze beautifully by the way) cool completely and then store in a freezer friendly container or plastic bag.
- Enjoy!
- Recipe slightly adapted from 1961 Betty Crocker's New Picture Cook Book
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Could I use butter instead of shortening to make your Molasses Cookies? if so, equal amounts??? Thanks!
Hi Beth! I’ve never used just butter, but I think you can do it. The shortening does help make the cookies have that chewy texture. If you do try it, it would be equal amounts. Have a great weekend!