Molasses Cookies

Hi everyone! Can you believe we are officially less than two weeks from Christmas? This is the best time of year in my opinion, because I love all of the holiday preparation that takes place. Chris and I are heading back to Illinois to spend Christmas with our families, and I’m getting excited for all of the family time and festivities, even if they may look a little different this year.

Growing up, my mom always made a huge variety of cookies for the holidays. Sometimes we even made batches of cookies in advance and put them in the freezer so they were ready to go before family or guests arrived! I love all of my mom’s baking, but these molasses cookies were, and still are, my very favorite recipe! They’re easy to make, a total crowd pleaser, and just taste like Christmas to me. I’ve tried my hand at the recipe a few times over the past couple of months, and they have been a hit here in Texas. I can’t wait to make another batch (or five) at home next week!

Time to turn on your Christmas music, sip some hot chocolate, and prepare to make these molasses cookies by the batch because I promise everyone will be asking for more. Do you have a favorite family recipe that you make every year? Tell me about it in the comments below! Thanks for reading and sharing - I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Ingredients:

·      2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

·      2 teaspoons baking soda

·      1 teaspoon ground ginger

·      1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

·      ½ teaspoon ground cloves

·      1 cup packed brown sugar

·      ¾ cup shortening or cooking oil (I use shortening)

·      ¼ cup molasses

·      1 egg

Directions:

1.     Stir together the first 5 ingredients and ¼ teaspoon salt in a large bowl.

2.     Combine the remaining ingredients (brown sugar, shortening, molasses, and egg) in a separate bowl and beat well. I use my KitchenAid mixer for this part.

3.     Add dry ingredients to beaten mixture, beating well. I mix thoroughly on low speed.

4.     Form 1 to 1 ½ inch balls and roll in granulated sugar. The recipe calls for 1-inch balls, but I make them a littler larger for a slightly bigger cookie!

5.     Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. I use these baking sheets and mats from amazon which work wonderfully!

6.     Bake in a 375 degree oven for 9 ½ minutes. 1-inch balls make 48 cookies, larger (1 ½) inch balls make about 25 cookies.  

Enjoy!