Blackstrap Molasses Cookies
This recipe was submitted by Margaret Hanes from Davisburg, MI during our March Recipe Contest. These are delicious old-fashioned molasses cookies that Margaret swears are made even tastier when Golden Barrel Blackstrap Molasses is used. We couldn’t agree more. 🙂
Margaret has lots of experience baking these molasses cookies–over 50 years, to be exact! They’re her “signature cookie” and ever since discovering Golden Barrel blackstrap molasses years ago when her sister lived in PA, she’s sold on the robust taste of this Lancaster County staple. After a fruitless search in her local Michigan grocery stores, she’s thrilled that she can now order the same tasty products online. (<–her words, not mine!) So yay for modern technology!
One thing I did differently from Margaret was I swapped out the canola oil (originally called for in this recipe) with Golden Barrel coconut oil. I’ve experimented in the past with making molasses cookies with three different fats–butter, shortening, and coconut oil and while I’m a butter girl through and through, the cookies made with coconut oil were my favorite. These cookies are delightfully chewy and have incredible flavor. Plus by making them this way, you receive the healthful benefits of coconut oil! (And don’t forget all the benefits of blackstrap!) That’s a win/win right there in my book.
I also used Golden Barrel organic cane sugar. This type of sugar is courser and a bit darker than refined white sugar. It makes the perfect sugar to dip the cookies into for that crunchy sugary coating.
I used a cookie scoop to keep the cookies uniform in size. If there’s one thing I can’t stand is wonky-shaped cookies–a giant one next to a dinky one. And of course this is a big deal when you have three little boys who always search for the biggest cookie. 😉 Momma’s got this covered. All the same size, baby!
Perfectly crinkly, crunchy on the outside, chewy in the middle…I mean, you just have to make these, guys. You don’t even have to break out the mixer. Grab a bowl and your wooden spoon and you’ll feel like Betty Crocker, all old school-like. You may even don an apron if you feel so inclined. 🙂
Here is a picture that Margaret sent us of her husband enjoying her tasty blackstrap molasses cookies. Now that’s a plate of cookies! Thanks, Margaret, for sharing your recipe with us. Just like your husband, we love these cookies! 😉
- 2/3 cup Golden Barrel Coconut Oil, melted or Canola Oil
- 1 cup Golden Barrel organic cane sugar or white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup Golden Barrel Blackstap Molasses
- 2 cups, 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/3 cup Golden Barrel organic cane sugar, for dipping
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine oil and sugar and stir well. Add egg and stir well. Add molasses and stir well. Add flour, baking soda, ginger, and cinnamon. Stir until mixed.
- Cover cookie sheets with parchment paper (I used a baking stone, so no parchment was needed). Using cookie scoop for uniform size, scoop out dough and roll into walnut-sized balls. Dip tops in reserved sugar and press lightly onto cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes until set and done. Do NOT over bake or cookies will be hard. The tops should crackle with sugar. Remove from oven and let cool.
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The Author:
Kat is a mother of three boys who loves to bake and enjoys all things DIY. She has been blogging since 2010 featuring recipes and home design projects. Some of her home projects have been featured in Country Living and This Old House magazine, as well as many other prominent DIY blogs and websites.
can i substitute honey for the cane sugar?
thanks
Hello, I made this recipe 2 times, first with coconut oil, 2nd time with canola oil…both times the cookies have turned out very cakey…I did some research and it would seem there is not enough fat/oil to the flour ratio plus too much baking soda, I also have a friend that made this recipe and her cookies were very cakey and not good. I was very sad that both times were a flop as I was really looking forward to some delicious cookies and ran out of molasses 🙁
Hi, Ashley. Sorry they did not turn out for you. I just made these for my Dad for his 92nd birthday. I used a different brand of molasses and baked for 10 minutes. I switched the pans around from top shelf to bottom at the 5 minutes mark. I also let them cool for 3 to 4 minutes on the cookie sheet before removing them to a wire rack. I spaced out and missed the part about sugaring the top of the ball and rolled the entire ball in turbinado sugar. It is a coarser sugar and leaves nice little crunchy sugar specks on the cookie. I find regular sugar sort of disappears. Next time I do plan to use about 2/3 regular molasses and 1/3 black strap molasses as I like the stronger flavor of black strap.
Folks loved them and a few recognized the faint coconut flavor from the oil. They ended up slightly soft and chewy. I plan to make more for Dad for Christmas. Hope you try them again. Oh, and I spooned the flour into the measuring cups rather than scoop it out with the measuring cup. I think that makes a difference in how much flour you end up with.
Like the recipe, I use your products the oil and coconut oil.
I just made these according to instructions. They were very soft and fell apart easily, and I even baked them at 350 for 12 minutes. Maybe I need to get my oven checked? I wasn’t a big fan of the molasses taste. Maybe next time I will add a lot more ginger and reduce the molasses.
I cook often. I made these cookies last night. Followed the recipe as it is written. I thought these tasted Great! Taste just as good this AM. Not sure why folks think this recipe doesn’t work. My whole family approved.
I followed your recipe exactly and the dough all ran together like bars. Grrrrrr
Blackstrap cookies were grrrrrreat. I added ginger and raisins.
Wish I had read the comments before making them. These were a very good favor but much too soft. They fall apart and you can’t pick them up to eat them. They are also quite greasy. Odd for cookies. I used coconut oil as suggested and baked them for 9 minutes. Disappointed to have wasted my ingredients.
Don’t know what you all are doing wrong. Mine are perfect every time. Maybe try a little more flour and less oil.
My recipe is a little different. When I make my molasses cookies I do not melt the shortening and I use brown sugar not white sugar (except for rolling the cookie in). The Golden Barrell blackstrap enhances the flavor of the cookies.
It took me a long time to tweak recipes until I go it the way I like it. My family loves molasses cookies.
Made the recipe as directed with no substitutions. Cookies turned out perfect, I live a Mile hi in Denver. Oh yeah, I have never baked these cookies in my life. I look at recipes like a formula follow the measurements exactly.
I made these and they were great, they were a little soft but I was able to pick them up without them crumbling. I will tell everyone I know about these. THANK YOU for this recipe
I was a little short on coconut oil so I used vegetable oil to top it up to 2/3 c. I made them about the size of a walnut – while baking they did spread out and puff up. They were in a 350 oven for maybe 8 1/2 mins. I pulled them out …. like a souffle – they fell and we LOVE these cookies. So happy I bought blackstrap molasses by mistake and found the recipe!
So glad you liked them, Jill! Thanks for the comment!
Absolutely perfect and delicious cookies! Made exactly as requested and love them! Thanks so much!
Just made these and they are awesome. I did a substitution, one for one gluten free flour for the flour because of gluten allergies. 👌
I made these as directed with canola oil instead of coconut oil. I was skeptical about the consistency when mixing and then rolling them, but the consistency came out great baking for 8 minutes. The blackstrap molasses is much stronger than regular molasses and you could definitely taste that with these, but I was looking for a recipe specifically using blackstrap and this was perfect for that!
Great! Glad you liked them!
I see some of the cookies recipies ask for Blackstrap molasses and not the Supreme Blackstrap molasses. Does it make a difference to which one is used??
I am confused to the two difference selections
Thanks
Hi Kath, typically if a recipe calls for “Molasses” you will want to use a Supreme Baking Molasses. If it specifically calls for Blackstrap Molasses then that is when you would use that. Blackstrap Molasses has a much stronger flavor than Baking Molasses so experimentation would be needed as it could significantly change the flavor of the cookie.
I am wondering if I could use another ingredient in place of part of the molasses? The flavor is a bit too strong for my liking. Thank you.
You can use Golden Barrel Baking Molasses–it’s a lighter, sweeter molasses than blackstrap.
Wonderful cookies! I have made them several times with no problems except for the whining when the last delicious one is gone.
I am looking for a mole added cookie recipe. My boyfriend’s gramma had a recipe where the cookies were very dark and hard. He loved them but I can’t find a recipe any where for a hard dark moleasses cookie. Any suggestions would be great!
Bake for another couple of minutes they will be hard and tasty
These cookies are always a hit with my whole family, so good!
These cookies are a hit at my house! We used flax egg instead of regular egg and it works well other than no crackle. The flavor is great!
First time making very good. If you leave in another few minutes become crunchy and tasty
People finding this recipe ‘cakey’ may want to make sure that they followed the instruction to “press” the cookies onto the baking sheet. While this may not be the problem for everyone, I had a similar experience in the past due to neglecting this important step.