What happened to this year? It seems like a minute ago it was February. Anticipation of spring kicked in and then all of a sudden the holiday season is here. Summer flashed by like lightning. Even my birthday month, November, is passing by too quickly. Christmas is my favorite holiday though. I have to admit I had a bucket of fun with taking the photos of these Ginger Molasses Cutout Cookies. Digging into my holiday decorations got me excited and thinking about all the festivities to come.
Ginger has a big association with holiday time. Candied ginger, gingerbread houses and cookies, plus it being in so many winter squash recipes. My Gingered Butternut Squash Tart has ginger snaps, ground ginger and candied ginger in it. It's warming for the soul and so nice to enjoy on a cold winter day. I adore the flavor and was very excited when ginger was announced as the theme for November's Creative Cookie Exchange.
I then had to decide which ginger cookie to bake. I first thought about something with candied ginger. I even bought some to get inspiration. Low and behold it was a jar of molasses in the panty that put me in the direction of these cookies. I wanted to do cutout cookies because I think they are so fun and festive looking.
The dough is a very soft one for cutout cookies. It is important to keep it cold or it will be too soft to cutout properly. Also be sure to flour your work surface and the rolling pin generously. The dough is somewhat sticky too. I wondered how these cookies would turn out only to be very pleasantly surprised.
Ginger Molasses Cutout Cookies are thin and crunchy. The flavor is like a less spiced gingerbread cookie. Ginger and cinnamon are the main spices with a hint of mace or nutmeg. I thought all the molasses and dark brown sugar in the dough would make them quite sweet. It was yet another surprise to find the cookies are only mildly sweet.
Do you enjoy ginger? Scroll down to find more ginger cookie recipes by talented bakers for the Creative Cookie Exchange. Cherish every moment to come with the holiday season ahead. Treasured memories are waiting to be made so savor those good times with family and friends.
Ginger Molasses Cutout Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- ½ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- ¾ cup dark molasses
- 1 large egg
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground mace or nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon hot water
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
Instructions
- Cream butter and brown sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add molasses and egg and beat to combine.
- Whisk together flour, ginger, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and mace in a medium bowl. Add to creamed mixture and beat until just combined.
- Add water and vinegar and mix to combine. Place plastic wrap on directly on top of the dough in the bowl and chill overnight.
- Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with non-stick liner or parchment paper.
- Divide dough in half. Roll one half of the dough to ¼-inch thickness or a lightly floured work surface. Keep the other half of the dough chilled until rolling.
- Note the dough with be soft and somewhat sticky. Move it around on the work surface and sprinkle with flour while rolling to keep it from sticking. Chill dough if it becomes too warm or work in smaller batches.
- Cut dough with cookie cutters and place cutouts 2-inches apart on cookie sheets. Place baking sheet in refrigerator until ready to go in the oven.
- You can gather up dough after cutting for more cookies. Chill thoroughly before re-rolling.
- Bake until the edges have slightly browned, about 14 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Recipe adapted from one in the Southern Living Christmas Cookies cookbook published in 1986 (no longer in print).
The Creative Cookie Exchange theme this month is Ginger Cookies. It's such a warm and wonderful spice for baking. If you are a blogger and want to join in the fun, contact Laura via email (thespicedlife AT gmail DOT com) and she will get you added to our Facebook group where discuss our cookies and share links.
You can also use us as a great resource for cookie recipes. Be sure to check out our Pinterest Board and our monthly posts (you can find all of them here at The Spiced Life). You will be able to find them the first Tuesday after the 15th of each month! Also, if you are looking for inspiration to get in the kitchen and start baking, check out what all of the hosting bloggers have made:
- Buttery Ginger Shortbread Cookies by Karen at Karen's Kitchen Stories
- Chewy Ginger Cookies by Anshie at Spiceroots
- Chocolate-Ginger Chewies by Laura at Baking in Pyjamas
- Favourite Gingerbread Cookies by Sarah at What Smells So Good?
- Ginger Chocolate Ninja Cookies by Kim at NinjaBaker.com
- Ginger Curry Sugar Cookies by Laura at The Spiced Life
- Ginger Lemon Sandwich Cookies by Sophie at Sweet Cinnamon & Honey
- Ginger Molasses Cutout Cookies by Renee at Magnolia Days
- Ginger Sour Cream Cookies by Kathya at Basic N Delicious
- Oat, Orange and Ginger Crisps by Jill at Made With Love
- Orange Ginger Cookies by Shilpi at Indian Curries/Stew
- Pepparkakor (Swedish Ginger Cookies) by Holly at A Baker's House
- Refrigerator Ginger Cookies by Tanya at DessertStalking Blog
- Séches aux Gingembre by Stacy at Food Lust People Love
- Vegan Ginger Cookies with Cardamom by Heather at Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
I love these! Nothing nice than a ginger cutout.
I hear you - Christmas comes faster each year. I love these cookies and the texture looks super smooth!
A reliable gingerbread cookie recipe is a treasure to have around the holidays. My son loves decorating these and we'll surely enjoy doing so this Christmas. Your cookies and decorations are perfect for getting into the holiday spirit!
Your warm Christmas lighting of the ginger molasses cookies enhances the photos sooo beautifully, Renee. You are one talented and together person. And this Magnolia Days cookie creation - as always - looks yummy! P.s. Any chance you'll fly away for a week or two again to Germany and visit their famous Christmas markets?
Your cookies look great I have never baked with molasses, but have wanted to try.
Ginger and Molasses just makes the Holiday time perfect! I agree - the cutout cookies add so much festive flavor to cookies.
Oh my.. bring on the holidays. Love ginger and molasses, the cookies look yummy.
Love these kinds of cookies this time of year! Great cookie!
I'm wild about ginger, especially at this time of year. There's just something so festive and comforting about it. You're totally right about cut-out cookies being super fun. I haven't been baking in the past month or so and now I'm super excited to start my holiday baking. Your lovely ginger molasses cutout cookies are inspiring me to get into the kitchen asap!
What a perfect cookie for the holidays! They look lovely! 🙂
I love them... the perfect cutout cookies...
These look wonderful. Perfectly cut and held their shape. Yes, where the heck did 2014 go??????
There is something about the smell of molasses and ginger baking that makes me go Christmasy all over, Renee. I would have to turn on the carols, even if it's just November. Beautiful cookies!
these cookies are SO Christmas and make me sooooo excited for it!
Nothing says Winter like ginger and molasses and fresh baked sweets! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
I make so many cut out cookies for xmas but never ginger ones! Definitely going to try them this year1
These look so delicious, perfect for the holidays!
PERFECT holiday cookies!
I love these kind of cookies, it brings back many childhood memories of icing and decorating the already baked cookies that my mum baked. Love your ginger version.
I was excited to find a recipe for ginger molasses cookies that I could use for Christmas cut-out cookies! I doubled the recipe and left out half a cup of molasses and think the flavor is good without the full amount. Looking forward to baking these tomorrow!