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Home » Recipes » Dessert

Modified: Nov 14, 2022 | Categories: Baked Goods

Molasses Cut Out Cookies

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These easy and tasty molasses cut out cookies are perfect for the holidays as a party treat, a food gift, or simply to enjoy with a mug of hot chocolate.

They're filled with classic gingerbread flavors and cut into your favorite shapes.

An overhead shot of molasses cut out cookies.
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How to make molasses cut out cookies

Featured Ingredients

  • Flour: Any all-purpose flour.
  • Spices: Specifically cinnamon, ginger and cloves.
  • Baking soda: To make them puff up a little.
  • Butter: Softened, to be precise.
  • Brown sugar and molasses: For that classic gingerbread cookie sweetness.
  • Powdered sugar: For dusting.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, baking soda and salt until combined.
  3. In a separate bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together softened butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg and molasses, milk.
  4. Pour wet ingredients into the bowl with dry ingredients and use a spatula to mix together until combined and a dough ball has formed.
  5. Dust a few tablespoons of flour on a large cutting board. Place dough on the cutting board and use a rolling pin to roll it out flat to about ¼ inch thickness.
  6. Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter and cut out about 24 cookies. Place them on the parchment paper, about ½ an inch apart. Bake 8-9 minutes, until set but soft.
  7. Let cookies cool, then dust with powdered sugar or decorate with white icing.
Overhead shot of gingerbread man cut-out from flat dough.

Recipe Substitutions and Alterations

  • For the flour: Use any all-purpose flour you have, such as whole wheat, whole wheat pastry, whole wheat white or regular all-purpose (or a mix of any of these).
  • For the spices: Adjust the level of cinnamon, ginger and cloves based on your preferences.
  • For the butter: Try with coconut oil.
  • For the brown sugar: Use dark or light brown sugar, or substitute with a brown sugar substitute such as Stevia or Swerve.

Nutrition Considerations

  • To make these gluten free: Use gluten free all-purpose flour.
    • Be sure all ingredients you choose are gluten free.
  • To make these dairy free: Use a dairy free milk alternative, such as soy, almond, coconut, cashew, rice, pea or oat.
  • To make these vegan: Try with coconut oil, an egg substitute and use a plant-based milk alternative, such as soy, almond, coconut, cashew, rice, pea or oat (although I haven't tested this).
  • To make these nut free: These do not contain nuts.
    • Be sure all ingredients are nut free.
  • To make these egg free: Try an egg replacer, such as Bob's Red Mill Egg Replacer or a flax 'egg' (although I haven't tested this).
Side shot of a stack of finished Gingerbread Cut-Out Cookies
PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

For more holiday dessert inspiration:

  • White Chocolate Peppermint Brownie Cookies
  • Sweet Potato Pie with Maple Whipped Cream
  • Winter Citrus & Pomegranate Mascarpone Cups
  • Cranberry Pecan Pie Bars
  • Cranberry Goat Cheese Stuffed Pears
  • Peanut Butter Yogurt Cookies with Dark Chocolate
Print

Molasses Cut Out Cookies

Print Recipe

These easy and tasty molasses cut out cookies are perfect for the holidays as a party treat, a food gift, or simply to enjoy with a mug of hot chocolate!

  • Author: Julie Andrews
  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 30 mins
  • Yield: 24 Cookies 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ tablespoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon coarse salt
  • ½ cup softened butter
  • ½ cup dark brown sugar
  • ½ cup molasses
  • 1 large egg
  • 3-4 tablespoons milk
  • Flour, for dusting
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar and/or white icing

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, baking soda and salt until combined.
  3. In a separate bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together softened butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg and molasses, milk.
  4. Pour wet ingredients into the bowl with dry ingredients and use a spatula to mix together until combined and a dough ball has formed.
  5. Dust a few tablespoons of flour on a large cutting board. Place dough on the cutting board and use a rolling pin to roll it out flat to about ¼ inch thickness.
  6. Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter and cut out about 24 cookies. Place them on the parchment paper, about ½ an inch apart. Bake 8-9 minutes, until set but soft.
  7. Let cookies cool, then dust with powdered sugar or decorate with white icing.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cookie
  • Calories: 135
  • Sugar: 10g
  • Sodium: 67mg
  • Fat: 4g
  • Saturated Fat: 3g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 1g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 23g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 2g
  • Cholesterol: 18mg

Keywords: easy, icing, Christmas cookies, best, simple, from scratch, homemade, healthy

Did you make this recipe?

Did you make this recipe? Share a photo and tag us on Instagram and Facebook @thegourmetRD. We can't wait to see your creation!


Overhead shot of three Gingerbread Cut-Out Cookies decorated with white icing.
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hi, i’m julie!

chef, registered dietitian & mom
passionate about simple, healthy cooking

*formerly the gourmet RD*

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