Molasses Spice Crinkle Cookies

These Molasses Spice Crinkle Cookies are just one of many of my favorite southern holiday traditions.  These cookies are made year after year, by generation after generation.  They’re made from recipe cards tattered by age, discolored by drips of molasses and sugar crusted fingers, the paper worn soft with age and use, the scent of ginger, molasses, cinnamon, and cloves woven into the recipe cards themselves.

These cookies are crispy and chewy, crusted with sweet sparkling sugar, and they’re rich, delicious, spicy, sweet, and a true southern classic.

I had to hide these cookies THREE TIMES so that I could make them, mail them, and photograph them.  I swear that my family’s spidey senses start tingling as soon as the molasses hits the sugar in the mixing bowl.

What are your favorite holiday cookies?  If you participate in an annual cookie swap, if you don’t… start one, what’s your favorite cookie that you’ve received, and what’s your go-to recipe to make.

Rachel’s Recommeded Tools:

• OXO handheld Illuminating Mixer
• OXO liquid measuring cup beaker set
• White Sparkling Sugar Crystals
• Microplane (Zester)

Molasses Spice Crinkle Cookies

Rich and delicious southern molasses ginger spice crinkle cookies.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:20 minutes mins

Cook Time:10 minutes mins

Total Time:30 minutes mins

Ingredients

• 3/4 Cups shortening
• 1/2 Cup granulated white sugar
• 1/2 Cup dark brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 Cup Molasses
• 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon roasted cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice

Coating

• 1 Cup White Sparkling Sugar Crystals

Instructions

• Beat the shortening at medium speed until fluffy; add the sugars and combine at medium speed until combined. Add the egg and molasses, mix until combined, don’t forget to scrape the sides!
• In a separate bowl: combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. Whisk together.
• Add the flour mixture to the shortening mixture 1/2 Cup at a time. Mix on low, scraping the sides between each addition.
• Chill the dough for at least 1 hour
• Pre-heat the oven to 375°F
• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper
• Roll the chilled dough into 1/4″ to 1/2″ balls
• Roll the balls in the white sparkling sugar crystals and space them 2″ a part on the cookie sheet
• Bake for 8 – 10 minutes
• The cookies may be soft, but they will firm up as they cool
• Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, and then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling

Servings: 3 doz

Author: Rachel – A Southern Fairytale