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Tasty Chewy Chai Spiced Molasses Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 104 reviews

These Tasty Chewy Chai Spiced Molasses Cookies are soft, chewy, and bursting with warm chai-inspired spices. Featuring a blend of molasses, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and allspice, these cookies offer a delightful balance of sweetness and spice. Perfect for fall or winter baking, they are coated in spiced sugar for an extra layer of flavor and a beautiful crackled top. With a simple method requiring chilling and baking in the oven, these cookies develop a rich, deep flavor and chewy texture that’s irresistible.

Ingredients

Scale

For the cookie dough:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
  • 2/3 cup white sugar
  • 2/3 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1/3 cup molasses (e.g., Grandma’s brand)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour (375g, leveled and spooned)
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/4 tsp allspice

For the spiced sugar coating:

  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent the cookies from sticking. Set the baking sheet aside for later.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/4 teaspoon allspice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt until evenly combined. Set this dry mixture aside for later use.
  3. Cream Butter and Sugars: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the softened butter, 2/3 cup white sugar, and 2/3 cup packed brown sugar. Beat on medium-high speed (about 6-8) for 5 to 8 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl a few times. The mixture should become light and fluffy.
  4. Add Wet Ingredients to Butter Mixture: Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract to the creamed butter and sugar. Beat on low speed, then gradually increase to medium, mixing until fully combined. Scrape down the bowl as needed to ensure even mixing.
  5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients to Make Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in two batches. Start mixing on low speed, then increase to medium-high, scraping down the bowl as you go, until no streaks of dry flour remain. Wrap the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to overnight. If chilled overnight, let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before scooping to soften slightly. Chilling helps develop a chewy texture and deeper flavor.
  6. Prepare Spiced Sugar and Shape Cookie Dough: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup white sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger to make the spiced sugar for rolling. Scoop out portions of the chilled dough using a 1.5 tablespoon cookie scoop, then roll the portions into neat balls between your hands. Roll each dough ball in the spiced sugar until fully coated, then place on the prepared baking sheet, leaving at least 1 inch between cookies.
  7. Bake and Cool the Cookies: Bake the cookies for 9 to 12 minutes, or until the edges look set and the tops begin to crack. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. The cookies will firm up as they cool. Optionally, sprinkle a little extra cinnamon on top just after baking for extra warmth.

Notes

  • Chilling the dough is important to develop a chewy texture and deeper flavor; chill for at least 1 hour or overnight.
  • If chilling overnight, allow dough to come to room temperature for 15 minutes before scooping for ease of handling.
  • Use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
  • Cookies will be soft when removed from the oven but will firm up as they cool.
  • Adjust baking time slightly for larger or smaller cookies to avoid over or under baking.
  • Optional: sprinkle extra cinnamon on cookies when they come out of the oven for added aroma and flavor.

Keywords: chai cookies, molasses cookies, chewy cookies, spiced cookies, holiday cookies, molasses, chai spice, ginger cookies

Find it online: https://messykitchenmagic.com/tasty-chewy-chai-spiced-molasses-cookies-recipe/