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Spiced Molasses Cookies with Creamy Vanilla Frosting [Giveaway]

Spiced Molasses Cookies

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Dark, rich, gooey spiced cookies topped with sweet, creamy vanilla frosting.  In regards to molasses cookies, it really can’t get much better than this.  Spiked with cinnamon, clove, ginger and allspice, these cookies get their deep, dark color and flavor from a 1/2 cup of unsulphered molasses.  I just love the way the molasses pours from the measuring cup into the mixing bowl.  A slow stream of seemingly molten deliciousness.  These cookies are just one of the many that can be found in Stacy Adimando’s Cookiepedia.  Offering a wide range of recipes, The Cookiepedia is a great resource for beginners and seasoned cookie bakers.  What I really love about the book is that it provides variations for each cookie recipe.  Spreading a thin layer of creamy vanilla frosting on these classic molasses cookies elevates them from yum to o.m.g. yum.  I’m giving away 5 copies of The Cookiepedia below.  Continue reading for the recipe and giveaway deets.

Flour

Quirk Books has graciously given me 5 copies of The Cookiepedia to give away to Kitchen Konfidence readers!  To enter you can do one or all of the following:

1.  Leave me a comment below sharing your favorite Holiday cookie.

2.  Like Kitchen Konfidence on Facebook. [leave a separate comment below for entry]

3.  Subscribe to the Kitchen Konfidence recipe digest. [leave a separate comment below for entry]

I will be collecting entries until 11:59pm on December 23.  Winners will be selected and announced shortly after.  For US residents only.  Good luck!  Continue on for the recipe.

Spiced Molasses Cookie Dough

PS. I got this fun red tin at west elm.  A perfect way to package up my Holiday cookies!

Spiced Molasses Cookies

Spiced Molasses Cookies

Spiced Molasses Cookies with Creamy Vanilla Frosting

by Brandon Matzek
Adapted from here.
4 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings 3 dozen

Ingredients
  

For the cookies:

  • 2 1/3 cup flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, preferably freshly ground
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice, preferably freshly ground
  • 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup dark unsulphured molasses
  • Turbinado sugar, for rolling

For the frosting:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Sift together flour, baking soda, sea salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and allspice in a medium bowl.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter, dark brown sugar and white sugar (beat on medium for several minutes until fluffy). Add egg and vanilla extract, beating until well incorporated. Add molasses and beat until combined.
  • To the wet ingredients, add the dry ingredients (flour and spice mixture) in three additions. With each addition, only beat until just incorporated. Overmixing can result in tough cookies. Cover dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 325°F and place a rack in the center of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat. Using a spoon, scoop approximately 1 teaspoon of dough then roll the dough in your hands to form a ball. Roll each dough ball in the turbinado sugar (coating evenly) then place on the lined baking sheets about 1 inch apart.
  • Bake for 12 - 14 minutes. If you want a softer, chewier cookie, I would recommend pulling them out around the 12 minute mark. If you want a crispier, crunchier cookie, take them out around minute 13 or 14. Let cookies cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet then transfer to a cooling rack.
  • To make the frosting, combine powdered sugar, heavy cream and vanilla extract in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium until smooth and creamy.
  • To serve at a Holiday party, set up a cookie station with plates of Spiced Molasses Cookies and a small bowl of the Creamy Vanilla Frosting. Guests can enjoy the cookies unadorned or spoon frosting over top.
Tried this recipe?Tag @brandiego on Instagram so I can check it out!
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Comments

  1. Ann P says

    My favorite holiday cookie has to be molasses cookies, and no, I’m not just saying that! I think the warm flavors are perfect for Christmas 🙂

    Reply

  4. Rachel says

    Oh, I think these might be my new favorite cookies, although perhaps I should wait to try them first! My current favorites are a snappy ginger cookie I make and top with sea salt.

    Reply

    • Brandon Matzek says

      Interesting. I make a triple ginger cookie, but never thought to add sea salt on top. I’ll have to give it a try!

      Reply

  8. Evan Thomas says

    My favorite holiday cookie is Italian Christmas Cookies flavored with anise extract and given a powdered sugar glaze.
    These remind me of the chewy molasses cookies my grandmother in law used to make. I love a spicy cookie that packs a flavor punch.

    Reply

    • Brandon Matzek says

      Growing up in an Italian family, I used to have Italian Christmas Cookies every year. However, I haven’t had once since moving to San Diego. Thanks for reminding me 🙂 I’ll need to make some soon.

      Reply

  9. Matthew Day says

    I might say these are my favorite because they sound amazing! I have to make them first. For now, though, I’ll just stick with the traditional gingerbread 🙂 Keep cooking and making wonderful things for us to try! Until we cook in person, I’ll be following on here, Facebook, and Twitter. Merry Christmas!

    Reply

    • Brandon Matzek says

      When I first went in for a taste of the frosting, I was like… o.m.g. Then proceeded to “taste” another five times. I like gingerbread as well.

      Reply

  13. Missy says

    My favorite are my grandma’s ginger snaps. Instead of shaping them before you bake, you cook them in logs and then use a pizza cutter to cut them into strips as soon as you take them out of the oven. Super easy, super tasty. Out of the 8 cookies I did for the holidays, they were everyone’s favorites again 🙂

    Reply

  14. David Taboada says

    I have to agree with Ana P. These Molasses Spice cookies have taken the place of my favorite Ginger Pecan Snaps. I’m not usually very fond of Molasses but the way each spiced bite pops with a sugar layer crunch is too much to resist…. and I’m not just saying that 😉

    Reply

  17. Emma says

    I just made a batch of my favorite cookies that my mom always made growing up. They’re Lace Cookies from Libby Hillman’s book “Lessons in Gourmet Cooking” (sadly out of print). I can’t wait to take a crack at the Rugelah recipe – the same recipe that my goyisha relatives have been requesting from my mother at the family Christmas party for the past 25 years – go figure!

    Reply

    • Brandon Matzek says

      I’m glad you are learning and carrying on your family’s cookie traditions. I think that’s very important!

      Reply

  19. Karen Hughes says

    4 stars
    My favorite Christmas cookie is probably gingerbread cookies, although molasses comes in very close! I love them both.

    Reply

  25. Beth S says

    I have a long-time friend who is a master baker, and every Christmas she sends me a variety of cookies that she makes and packages up for the holidays. They’re wonderful — probably because they’re full of love!

    Reply

  34. Bryan says

    This year I made a standard gingerbread cookie but substituted pomegranate molasses for regular molasses since it was all I had on hand. It came out really great – it starts with a gingerbread flavor but ends with a really sweet pomegranate flavor that lingers. It’s definitely a weird cookie but strangely addictive!

    Reply

  40. WanderChow says

    I’m really liking the northern European cookies these days. German Spice Cookies are one of my favorites, and anything Swedish. Thanks so much!

    Reply

    • Brandon Matzek says

      Interesting! I had some delicious cookies during my time spend in Germany, but I’m not familiar with Swedish cookies. What is a typical Swedish cookie?

      Reply

  45. Tracey says

    These look amazing. I’m bookmarking and will be trying the recipe soon! It’s so hard to pick my absolute favorite holiday cookie. There is a Ginger Spice one that I make every year; it’s soft and chewy and intensely flavored with lots of spices as well as crystallized ginger. But beautifully decorated sugar cookies are super festive and the holidays are about the only time when I’ll stop and spend the time to do this. And then if you ask my son, he’ll tell you that his favorite are these Caramel Cracker bars. They have layers of club crackers, caramel, and a chocolate mixture that also has peanut butter and butterscotch in it (sounds gross, but it all works and they are delicious).

    Reply

  46. Eliot says

    I love most all holiday cookies but I am posting a favorite ginger snap recipe on Christmas Eve. I love the addition of the vanilla icing to yours!

    Reply

  47. RoChele says

    My favorite holiday cookies to make are star-shaped sugar cookies. If you use different sizes and stack them just right, they make a holiday tree!

    Reply

  50. Koharu says

    I love anything gingerbready! I will have to try this.

    I also love buttery shortbread, especially with really dark chocolate studs and a hint of lemon. Oh, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.

    Reply

  56. adriana says

    These look delicious!! As for favorite holiday cookie, it is hard to go wrong with classic chocolate chip cookies. Although this time of year a good gingerbread cookie also makes a delicious treat.

    Reply
4 from 1 vote

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