Anita’s Molasses Spice Cookies
I may have mentioned this before, but I have to say it again: I love the holiday season. From mid-November to New Years Eve I’m all about holiday movies and baking – the latter of which is a particular joy because this is one of the few times of year I can bake gobs of goodies, then give them to people without getting funny looks. There are no “What’s the occasion?” questions or awkward “Gosh, do I have to give her something now?” moments. No, it’s just me, the local baking fanatic, who likes to give away cookies and breads to celebrate the season. It’s great.
In the past my go-to gifting items have been cappuccino chocolate chip cookies, coconut biscotti, marble molasses pound cake and apple-honey challah. These treats will certainly make appearances this year as well, but there are also new items like chocolate-chip pumpkin bread, pulla and coffee-glazed chocolate chip scones that I’m eager to give to people. The newest addition? Molasses spice cookies from foodblogger Anita Chu’s new book, the Field Guide to Cookies. I made these babies last week and took them to the office, where everyone raved about them and asked for the recipe. Since I knew I was going to be writing about Anita’s book today as part of her official blog tour, I was happily able to respond: the recipe will be online next week!
Anita is one of the most recent bloggers to turn her hobby into an official food career, and not only am I thrilled for her but the cookbook world is better for her contribution. The “Field Guide to Cookies” is Anita’s first publication and is filled with tempting recipes for things like chocolate crinkles, cowboy cookies, maple glazed cookies and peanut butter whoopie pies. Choosing which recipe I was going to share with you was very, very difficult, but I have a particular weakness for spiced cookies with that decadent, chewy texture that only molasses can bring. I will most definitely be giving tins filled with these cookies as gifts this year.
Anita’s cookies have a rich, soul satisfying flavor that comes from the combination of spices like cinnamon, ginger, cloves and allspice with molasses. Molasses is a thick syrup that’s made with juice that is a by-product of turning sugarcane into sugar. Stalks of sugar cane are harvested and stripped of their leaves, then their juice is extracted by crushing them together. The resulting juice is boiled down to a syrup, and depending on how long that syrup is cooked you get different kinds of molasses:
- 1st boiling: boiling the syrup once produces “light molasses.” It is the sweetest variety and is often used as a syrup for pancakes or waffles.
- 2nd boiling: processing the syrup a second time produces medium or dark molasses.
- 3rd boiling: processing the syrup a third time results in “blackstrap molasses.” This is dark molasses that has a slightly bitter, robust flavor. It has significant amounts of vitamins and minerals, and is a source of calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron. Whole Foods has an interesting article about all the health benefits of blackstrap molasses here.
Molasses made from young green sugar cane is treated with sulphur dioxide, which acts as a preservative, during the sugar extraction process. However, molasses made from mature sugar cane does not require treatment. Unsulphured molasses has the best flavor and is what I used to make the delicious cookies featured in this post.
Molasses has a tragic (but fascinating) past in the United States. In 1919 an event later known as the Great Molasses Flood took place when a molasses storage tank holding over two million gallons of molasses broke. Its sticky contents came pouring into the streets of Boston, Massachusetts, traveling as fast as 35 miles per hour in waves as tall as 15 feet. Property was destroyed, 21 people were killed, and 150 people were injured. To this day residents claim that on a hot summer day the area still smells like molasses.
The Japanese call molasses kuro mitsu, which means “black honey,” while the British call it by the somewhat unappealing name of treacle. It is a Japanese import but has been used for centuries in British cooking. People used to buy it in bulk and made all kinds of cookies, puddings, gingerbread and fruitcakes with it. When molasses was imported to colonial America from the Caribbean Islands it became the most popular sweetener because it was far less expensive than refined sugar. It was added to baked beans, soups and squaw bread – not to mention all the desserts the colonists brought with them from Europe. It was also used as a glaze for meats and a sweetener for strong black coffee. In the south, molasses became a key ingredient in shoofly pie – a dessert I’ve never tried but have been curious about for some time. The name “shoo-fly pie” first appeared in print in 1926 and is often thought to originate from the fact that the molasses in the pie is so attractive to flies that they have to be constantly “shooed” away.
As Anita notes in her book, “although many cookies made with molasses and ginger in America were based on recipes from the Old World, the molasses spice cookie appears to be a uniquely American distillation – its round shape and soft chewiness are much more typical of American baking.” You can sample other cookies from Anita’s book by visiting this page, which lists all the other blogs that will be sharing recipes, or by visiting the links below. Also, one copy of Anita’s books is up for grabs in this month’s book giveaway. 
- Blog Tour Schedule:
Nov. 11th – Jen of use real butter
Nov. 12th – Ari of Baking and Books
Nov. 13th – Sara of Ms. Adventures in Italy
Nov. 14th – Ivonne of Cream Puffs in Venice
Nov. 17th – Helen of Tartelette
Nov. 18th – Veronica of Veronica’s Test Kitchen
Nov. 19th – Aran of Cannelle et Vanille
Nov. 20th – Bea of La Tartine Gourmande
Nov. 21st – Peabody of Culinary Concoctions by Peabody
Molasses Spice Cookies
Reprinted with permission from the Field Guide to Cookies: How to Identify and Bake Virtually Every Cookie Imaginable, by Anita Chu. One copy of this book is up for grabs in the November giveaway!
Baking Notes: Be sure to use spices that are as fresh as possible, as much of the cookie flavor depends on them. The type of molasses used also affects the intensity and depth of flavor. Light and dark molasses are the most common types found in stores; both work well in this recipe.
- Ingredients: Makes about 4 dozen cookies
- 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 3/4 cup softened unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup dark molasses
- Extra sugar for rolling
Sift flour, baking soda, salt, and spices into a bowl and set aside.
In a stand mixer, cream butter and sugars on medium speed for several minutes until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and mix until combined. Add molasses and mix until combined.
Add flour mixture and mix on low just until incorporated. Cover dough and refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes. (Note: I found that 30 minutes worked best.) Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line several cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Roll 1 1/2 inch balls of dough in the reserved sugar. Place cookies on cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, rotating cookie sheets halfway through. For crispy cookies, leave them in for another minute or two. Cool sheets on wire racks for about 5 minutes before transferring cookies directly onto wire racks with a spatula to finish cooling.
Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
112 Responses to “Anita’s Molasses Spice Cookies”
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Hi Ari,
Thanks so much for your wonderful post – you made the molasses spice cookies look terrific! And I love all the extra research you did into molasses! Believe it or not, I actually wanted to cram more info into the book about cookies and their history, but I think it might have made it too big!
Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed the book!
mmh… i actually have molasses in my pantry, whaddya know. and all the other ingredients. i ought to take advantage of alice’s napping marathons to bake these.
I too love the holiday season – it’s such a delightful time of year!! And I looooooove spice cookies
VeggieGirl’s last blog post -> New Look, New Snacks, New Baking Tool, New Baked Good!!
This is my favorite time too… Its such a homey type season… My girls are getting older now and I want to start the holiday cookie baking with them… My oldest loves to help in the kitchen… Those cookies look so yummy…
draven’s last blog post -> Changed my mind….
Superbe! I bookmarked couple recipes. They all look really yummy. Thanks for sharing.
Hélène’s last blog post -> Chicken Pot Pie – Pâtés au poulet
Those cookies look gorgeous! Molasses add a very interesting taste to baked treats…
Cheers,
Rosa
Rosa’s last blog post -> CINNAMON-CHESTNUT-PERSIMMON MUFFINS
I love cookies so much – and I love molasses cookies! As a vegan, I try to incorporate molasses for the iron & other goodies – and how fun if it’s in a cookie!
Shellyfish’s last blog post -> On My Desk…
Wonderful! I actually have the ingredients to make these right now and I may just do that. I really hope I win that book or I may have to go out and buy it!
It’s a great time for bakers, not just because of the holidays but because of the weather. As soon as I see a snowflake I head to my kitchen and start baking. There’s just something cozy and comforting about it. These cookies look yummy. I love spicey cookies.
Reeni’s last blog post -> "Outside the Box" Chile
once again, I can’t wait to make these. thanks
These look great. I think I’ll make them this weekend. Thanks for the recipe!
nik’s last blog post -> Grumpy
Anita’s getting around! Love molasses cookies anytime. Yours look great.
There’s nothing that says “holiday season” more to me than spice cookies! I can’t wait to try these and to see Anita’s book.
*Fingers crossed for winning the sweepstakes this month!*
These look like they’re the perfect texture. They look chewy and delicious!
lisaiscooking’s last blog post -> Seared Salmon with Tatsoi and Persimmons
I love this time of year too
. Can’t wait to make some spice cookies — yum!
Dana’s last blog post -> Keeping it Simple
Molasses cookies always remind me of the holidays as well…i can’t wait to dip these cookies in a nice cold glass of milk!
These look like they’ll make my kitchen smell fantastic- I love holiday cookie smell! I know molasses cookies aren’t “officially” holiday cookies, but they just seem so *right* at this time of year.
I LOVE these cookies. My dad has a similar recipe from the really old Betty Crocker cookbook and we always used to make these together when I was a kid.
Emily’s last blog post -> Pineapple Stuff
Hmmn….these cookies sound fantastic! And your right, the holiday season has began! And Yay for Anita for coming out with the great cookie book!
Oh, those sound so yummy! Makes me want a glass of milk.
pam’s last blog post -> Printer Problems?
yum these look great!
These look so festive, I’m sure they are the perfect holiday cookie. And no matter how many strange looks you might get about baking year round, keep it up!! It’s those little gestures that really make someone’s day – even if they are too stunned to be entirely gracious.
Culinarywannabe’s last blog post -> I am SO not ready for winter
Those cookies look great – thanks Anita!!!!!
-DTW
http://www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com
Darius T. Williams’s last blog post -> Asiago Stuffed Gnocchi in a White Wine Cream
Oh… what a pity… I don’t know where to find molasses here,.. don’t even know how it tastes!
Anyway, they look perfect! congrats!
the cookies looks great.. i love spiced cookies..
These cookies look so beautiful! I’m going to have to make these tonight now. =) Molasses is one of my favorite ingredients…thank you for all the information about it!
Haha! I too am the random baker, always bringing in goodies for my classmates. The holiday baking season is also my favorite – I can’t wait to make these! Thanks for the great post!
Ari,
I’m with you on the holiday baking! This is the best time of year. You’ve done Anita proud with those cookies! They may find their way into my holiday cookie repertoire as well!
Ivonne’s last blog post -> Cookies for Sale!
What a wonderful way to share a delicious recipe. After receiving a tin of these cookies, I bet the recipient can’t wait to get home and make them.
That was a very interesting story about the molasses flood. Talk about a sticky situation.
and of course, I agree, this is the best time of year.
This has to be one of the better molasses cookie recipes I’ve seen. And no coffee to make my allergies flare! Thank you!
Vic » Thanks to Anita! It is her fabulous recipe.
Ivonne » Thank you! I can’t wait to see your post.
T » I hope you do! You will not be disappointed.
Sil BsAs » Where are you located? Maybe you could order some online?
Culinarywannabe » You know, I think people just don’t expect to be given goodies for no reason. They are always happy after the first bite though.
These looks so yummy! I can’t wait to make them and the book giveaways this month are divine!
pam » For sure! Or a huge cup of coffee… or tea.
veron » I know! Way to go Anita.
Emily » Your comment made me smile. I hope you make these cookies.
Amanda » Who says they aren’t official holiday cookies? They got the spice! I say holiday worthy for sure.
Reeni » So true. There is nothing like baking something warm and comforting when it’s cold outside.
I’ve added Anita’s book to my must-have list. Now to make some room on the cookbook shelf…
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)’s last blog post -> Gifts for food lovers: For kids who love to cook (Recipe: green bean sesame sauce toss)
These look divine.
Hi Ari,
you made the cookies look wonderful! I so love holiday season too!! Christmas is really my favourite festive. Hee…hope you will have more festive goodies coming up. =)
Jacelyn’s last blog post -> Smiles
I’m all curious about Anita’s book! Will keep an eye for the other recipes. Thanks for sharing this great spicy cookie, just perfect for Christmas.
Suzana’s last blog post -> Delicious Autumn
Molasses disaster has rendered me speachless. Great cookie, though.
Hmm… this recipe looks very good. I have a tried and true recipe for Ginger Snaps but you have swayed me to try this one.
This book sounds perfect for making little, inexpensive treats as holiday presents for friends and co-workers…
Emily’s last blog post -> Feta, garbanzo bean, and eggplant pita sandwiches
These look superb..I can just imagine these being dipped in a warm mug of milk & honey, the flavors would go perfect together…yum… I’ll have to try these this weekend!
These sound amazing. I’m a spice cookie junkie. I even love the store bought and mass market spice cookies. Crumbled up they make great crusts for pumpkin or chocolate cheesecakes. Can’t wait to try these, I have all the ingredients in my pantry.
Ari,
A friend of mine recently sent me a link to your blog, and I am so glad she did. I made the chocolate cranberry sweet buns last week, and I can’t wait to make these cookies. This blog is such a treasure!
There is nothing I love so much in this world than a molasses cookie. ANY molasses cookie. *sigh*
Olivia’s last blog post -> Girl Crush
If I had to choose one type of dessert to live with the rest of my life it would be cookies MMMMMM
Those cookies look wonderful .. making me hungry… very interesting story of the molasses spill in Boston – what a horrible way to die! Thanks for a great post. (I really like reading your info about the ingredients .. keep it up!)
I’ve been looking for a molasses cookie recipe, although I have always been hesitant to use molasses for some reason! I suppose because I don’t use molasses in my everyday cooking or baking. But certainly it is a flavor for the holidays, and I’m excited about trying this recipe! You make the process sound very approachable, and I anticipate that my cookies will be just as delectable as yours! The rave reviews are very encouraging.
i always buy molasses cookies at trader joes but i will have to try these out since they look so delicious
I thought treacle and molasses were two different things! Then again, I’m easily confused, but I could have sworn I’ve seen discussions and posts in various places telling British ex-pats where to find real treacle. Same thing with golden syrup and Karo.
Sandra
I just found this little book at barnes & noble this past weekend and was flipping through it. she has the recipe for my favorite Indian sweet, the almond “cookies” though they’re not baked, that I have been searching for since I got back from India nearly 3 years ago. I’ll have to go back and pick up a copy to support her!
I cannot wait to try these. Thanks for all the nspiration.
I love the warm colors in your photos! They definitely look like a great fall cookie
Sara, Ms. Adventures in Italy’s last blog post -> The Cheapest, Great Gelato with the Longest Line in Italy
Although I am not the greatest baker, I do love molasses cookies. The tantalizing photos have inspired me to give this recipe a whirl this evening!
Yum. Those are such pretty cookies. With recipes coming from Anita and cookies coming from you – these can only be a resounding success
Jen Yu’s last blog post -> blog tour: anita chu’s field guide to cookies
My husband baked molasses cookies a few weeks ago. Your pictures looks so good, I’ll be requesting him to bake more again using this recipe.
Caroline’s last blog post -> Arroz Caldo (Chicken Soup for My Soul)
Ari, the cookies look great. Molasses is something that has been elusive for a while here so I’m just going to have to gawk at the photos till then.
Shaheen’s last blog post -> Blogging by Mail: 10 Items or Fewer
Your posts are always so informative! I always leave here smarter
Those cookies look so yummy and I love how spicy-sweet they sound!
I’m crossing my fingers to win that book!!!
joey’s last blog post -> Dense Chocolate Loaf Cake
joey » Thank you! I couldn’t resist adding food history to this post, molasses is fascinating.
Shaheen » Shucks! Maybe you could order molasses online, if you’re so inclined?
Caroline » How nice that your husband cakes cookies for you!
Gwarcita » These cookies are VERY easy to make, so if you’re new to baking and want to give these a shot, I say go for it.
I love giving food as gifts. Particularly breads, only because so many people never even consider making it on their own. But something sweet is always nice, too. These cookies and the book sound great!
alexandra’s kitchen’s last blog post -> Candied Pecans & A Thanksgiving Day Salad
Those look perfect for the holidays.
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http://edp.org/molasses.htm
Thanks for the account of the molasses flood — it’s a favorite story and a link to a good account is above.
I grew up with molasses cookies and have never made them. Time to correct that oversight! Actually, I like to lick the molasses spoon… Thanks for the introduction to what looks like a needed book (?)!
Molasses cookies are some of the best fall cookies that exist! Love them. Her book looks interesting. I’ll have to check out those other recipes.
claire’s last blog post -> Leftover Candy Cookies
I had never heard of the Great Molasses Flood – wow. what a way to go……….
Those cookies look yummy, I will definitely be checking out the blog tour and the book soon!
Llamabean’s last blog post -> Today, is a good day, to be an American.
I love molasses cookies -they are my absolute favorite!
This recipe looks great and is now on my list of items to make before Thankstgiving.
Thank you!
I have a huuuge obsession with olasses cookies. But I’ve never made them for some reason. Maybe I need to fix that!! I do love the ones at Starbucks though
Sues’s last blog post -> The Best Lentil Soup Ever
I can’t wait to begin my holiday baking! These look fab.
Abby’s last blog post -> Special Report: Election Day Cupcakes Arrive!
I love molasses. There’s nothing like a good molasses cookie to make you feel like the holidays are here!
yum, yum, yum. i love molassas and molassas cookies.
What an interesting story about molasses!
Never enough cookies! These look so tempting!
I didn’t appreciate molasses cookies until I because an adult. No creme filling? No chocolate kiss sitting in the middle? But these are the qualities I like most now! Just simple, spicy, satisfying with a cup of tea or hot chocolate. And yours are perfect looking!
Sandy S’s last blog post -> November 15: I’m Thankful For . . .
I totally relate to you when you reffered to other peoples reaction to your giving them baked goods and the holiday season! I also love to bake for people but get strange reactions when I give them random gifts of cookies. Anyway, I’m looking forward to the holiday season and baking up a storm! Can’t wait to try your recipes! These spice cookies sound delicious and I would love a chance to win that book
Love all the fun information on Molasses, thanks!
I’ve never had molasses cookies, though I’ve heard about them so much! Perhaps this is the baking fairy’s way of telling me to make use of that months-old bottle of molasses I have in the pantry? I can’t even recall why I bought it.
kayenne » I think that molasses bottle is begging to be used. Go for it!
Alison » Glad I’m not the only one who experiences that response sometimes. Luckily, folks usually only do it once… although previous recipients often change their tune to “Uh oh, looks like there’s some delicious baked goodness coming my way… I’m going to have to work out more.” lol.
Sandy S » Me too! My dad used to eat them with his morning coffee and I always thought they were so boring. No longer.
Sues » These are better their Starbucks’ cookies, thanks to Anita!
alexandra’s kitchen » I love giving bread as gifts too. I always wonder why more people don’t learn how to make loaves at home, but since they don’t freshly baked bread is a novelty, like you said.
Definitely making these for next week! Thanks for posting this.
These remind me of a molasses cookie I used to be completely addicted to. I haven’t bought them in years because they weren’t good once I realized I could make better. I’ll have to try this!
Now that jar of molasses in my cupboard has a purpose! Thank you again and again (for this recipe, and all the others).
Hi, Ari,
What a great post. Your site is terrific as always. Thanks for sharing this.
victoria´s last blog post -> Spaghetti with Pangretta
I made these for my coworkers and they were a huge hit! It was so satisfying to use that jar of molasses I’ve been holding on to for a while. Thanks.
These cookies look like they’d go perfect with a nice cup of cocoa on a chilly afternoon. I’ve got an ingredient shopping list ready for my next trip to the store!
These are one of my favorite cookies. I always add more spices to the mix then called for and they turn out great. Love your blog.
I just love Anita. I am so excited for her new book. The cookies look wonderful!
Maria´s last blog post -> Chocolate Chip Amish Puff Cookies
This sounds like a great cookie. What a fun book and perfect for the holiday baking season.
These look so good! Right now, I’m in bare feet, pretty much freezing, and I’d love to have one of these with a cup of tea!
Madam Chow´s last blog post -> What To Do With Leftover Halloween Candy
These look just fantastic! I cannot find dark molasses in my area here, so i was wondering if honey can be a good substitute? Thanks for the recipe!