

I’ve been adapting my Chocolate Chip Cookies 2.0 recipe into all sorts of fun flavors, like Seven Layer Cookies, Ultimate Chocolate Cookies, and now these Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies for the holidays.
I do love my Pan-banging Ginger Molasses Cookies, but I also wanted to come up with a version that didn’t require any extra step. This version is also based on the Ginger Cookie from 100 Cookies, but has more ginger flavor thanks to fresh, grated ginger. I know that most everyone has a strong opinion on how they want their molasses cookies to be (soft! hard! chewy! dense! coated in sugar! no sugar! fresh ginger! just ground spices!). My favorite way is crispy edges, a tender center, and plenty of ginger flavor. I use both fresh, grated ginger and crystallized ginger in these cookies for fabulous, spicy flavor.
These Double Ginger Molasses Cookies pack incredibly well, making them perfect for holiday cookie boxes. Their flavor also continues to deepen for a day or two after they’re made.
Ingredient Notes For Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies:
- All-purpose flour: Make sure your all-purpose flour is not too high or low in protein; I like to use Gold Medal unbleached all-purpose for cookie baking. At 10.5 percent protein it is a good, moderate choice to keep baked goods tender.
- Unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter in my recipes so I can control the salt content. This recipe uses both salt in the dough and sprinkled on top before baking, so unsalted works well here in order to keep the cookies from getting too salty.
- Molasses: I use light molasses here; dark molasses or blackstrap has a stronger, more bitter flavor, and I haven’t tried substituting it.
- Candied Ginger: Candied ginger is sweet and spicy, and adds a lot of flavor. It can be omitted, but I highly recommend it.
- Sanding Sugar: I like to use equal parts granulated sugar and sanding sugar for sprinkling/rolling. I find the granulated sugar helps totally cover the dough, and the sanding sugar gives extra sparkle and crunch.
This particular recipe doesn’t need to be refrigerated. These taste best when the centers are slightly under baked, just like the chocolate chip cookies.

To Freeze Cookie Dough:
Cookie dough can also be formed into balls and frozen for up to 2 weeks. Freeze them on a sheet pan without them touching, then move into a freezer bag. When you’re ready to bake, let the cookies sit out at room temperature until the oven preheats. The cookies will need an extra minute if baked frozen.
More Cookie Recipes:
- Red Velvet Sugar Cookies (and a mint version!)
- Seven Layer Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Cookies 2.0, My New Favorite


Chewy Double Ginger Molasses Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups [355 g] all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
- Pinch cloves
- 9 tablespoons [126 g] unsalted butter at room temperature
- ¾ cup [150 g] brown sugar
- ¾ cup [150 g] granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger or ginger paste
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup [113 g] mild unsulphured molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ cup [32 g] crystallized ginger chopped fine, optional
- Sanding sugar for rolling
- Flaky salt for sprinkling, optional
Equipment
Instructions
- Adjust an oven rack to the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400F [200C]. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and cloves.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add the brown and granulated sugars, fresh ginger, and salt and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the molasses, egg, yolk, and vanilla, and mix until smooth. Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed until just combined. Add the crystallized ginger if using and mix on low until distributed evenly. Use a rubber spatula to give the dough a final mix and make sure it is completely combined.
- Form the dough into balls, about 2 tablespoons each [50 g], and roll into the sanding sugar, covering the whole ball of dough. Place 8 cookies on each sheet pan. Sprinkle each cookie with a little flaky salt, if desired.
- Bake one pan at a time, rotating halfway through baking. Bake the cookies until the tops are golden brown and the cookies are slightly puffed and starting to crinkle, 9 to 11 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and use the back of a spatula to gently press the top of each cookie to flatten it. Let the cookies rest on the sheet pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling. Cookies are best slightly warm but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. Cookies will soften the longer they sit. Cookie dough can be formed and refrigerated overnight, then baked the next day; the cookies may need an extra minute if chilled. Cookie dough can also be formed into balls and frozen for up to 2 weeks; let the cookies sit out at room temperature until the oven preheats. The cookies will need an extra minute if baked frozen.
15 Comments
Nicole K
Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 1:31 pmThese are truly the best ever. I’ve searched high and low for the ginger cookie that would give me that squidgy but not too soft center, an exterior that is just shy of crispy – it’s got resistance but it’s also tender, and excellent ginger flavor. I followed gram measurements and the only thing I changed is added two tsp dried ginger and 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger. Omitted the candied ginger but will try it next time. Absolutely five stars.
Sarah Kieffer
Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 2:07 pmYay, so glad to hear you enjoyed these cookies!
Rachael B
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at 5:02 pmBrought these to school and one of my students said “This is the best cookie I’ve ever had in my whole life.” I didn’t have crystalized ginger but otherwise, made as is.
Lyn H.
Monday, January 9, 2023 at 9:21 pmIf you love ginger and want a stronger ginger flavor, you can add 2 teaspoons ground ginger with the spices, increase the grated ginger to 2 tablespoons, and increase the minced crystallized ginger to 3/4 cup. It’s faster and easier to cut crystallized ginger with scissors than with a knife. I love ginger–and these are my new favorite ginger cookie!
Michelle
Saturday, December 24, 2022 at 11:36 pmJust made these. They are absolutely scrumptious. I mean, they were so good I’m pretty sure I cried a tear or two lol from happiness. Sugar is the way to my heart. Can’t wait to share these with my family. Thank you for such a wonderful recipe. Happy holidays!
Janet
Friday, December 23, 2022 at 9:29 pmThis recipe is the best ginger molasses cookie I have ever baked. I was known for my gingersnaps, but this beats it. My husband asked me not to give any away–huge compliment in my book. Try this recipe, you will not be disappointed!!
Brigid
Friday, December 23, 2022 at 8:58 amHi Sarah! I’m so excited to make these for a holiday party. Any tips on doubling the recipe? I know sometimes this can mess with the proportions.
Sarah Kieffer
Friday, December 23, 2022 at 10:44 amNo problem in doubling the recipe!
Alicia
Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 10:09 pmThese taste like a hug. The molasses is the star and the texture is lovely. A very low effort/high reward recipe. I coated in demerara sugar because I had it on hand and it worked well.
Alyson
Monday, December 19, 2022 at 7:50 pmAmazing flavor and texture—after 50 years of baking I thought I already had the best molasses cookie recipe ever, but this one blows everything up in the best way possible!
Sarah Kieffer
Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 8:08 amThank you, Alyson!
Anne
Sunday, December 18, 2022 at 3:50 pmAny tips for chopping the crystallized ginger? I love it in cookies, but find it very difficult and time consuming to chop
Thanks, Anne
Sarah Kieffer
Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 4:57 pmHi Anne – I find a sharp scissors works well – I use that to cut it. It is tedious, I agree!
Julie
Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 9:12 pmMade these today and they turned out incredible! I’m an avid baker and have never left an online review, but these blew me away. I’ve never been able to achieve this texture in a cookie before – crisp-shell exterior and gooey center, and they couldn’t have been easier.
Linda Mueller
Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 9:49 amI am making these today, can’t wait for the aroma to fill my home!