Ginger cookies have been a staple of festive baking for centuries, tracing their roots back to medieval Europe, where crystallized ginger and molasses were prized for both flavour and preservation. By the 19th century, gingerbread had become a holiday tradition, with spiced cookies and cakes appearing on family tables across Europe and North America. Rich with warming notes of ginger, cinnamon, and clove, these cookies have long evoked nostalgia, conjuring the scents and memories of winter kitchens.
Yet while the ginger cookie is beloved for its spice and warmth, there is a certain magic in chocolate. Enter the chocolate chip cookie, a classic North American invention that brought gooey, melty chocolate into the equation, elevating a simple dough into a comforting, irresistible treat.
Our Chocolate Ginger Molasses Cookie marries these two worlds. It takes the spice-forward complexity of a traditional ginger cookie, layering in cocoa and semi-sweet chocolate chunks for depth and indulgence, and enrobes it in a subtle, sparkling sugar coating that adds a delicate crunch and visual elegance. The result is a cookie that is simultaneously chewy and soft, lightly spiced and luxuriously chocolatey.
This hybrid is ideal for the holidays, for gifting, or for a quiet moment by the fire with a mug of tea or cocoa. It captures the nostalgia of ginger molasses, the comfort of chocolate, and the refined finish of sparkling sugar, making it a cookie that stands apart from the crowd.
Whether you are a seasoned baker or trying your hand at holiday baking for the first time, these cookies are remarkably forgiving. Underbake slightly to ensure a tender chew, roll them generously in sugar for sparkle, and wait until the aroma fills your kitchen –warm, inviting and unmistakably festive.
In a world of endless cookie options, this chocolate ginger molasses cookie manages to be classic, contemporary and utterly irresistible.
Soft Chocolate Ginger Molasses Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup fancy molasses
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour spooned and levelled
- 2½ tbsp cocoa powder
- 2½ tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup chopped semi-sweet chocolate 142 g
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar or coarse sugar for coating
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
- In large bowl, beat butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until fluffy; beat in egg and molasses until combined. In separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, ground ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, cloves, salt; stir into butter mixture just until combined. Add semi-sweet chocolate and combine.
- Place coarse sugar in shallow dish. Roll dough, 1 tbsp at a time, into balls; roll in sugar to coat. Arrange 2 in. (5 cm.) apart on prepared pans. Bake, 1 sheet at a time, just until edges are firm, 10 to 12 minutes.
- Bang tray on counter to level, then let cool on pans for 5 minutes. Transfer to racks; let cool completely.
Notes
More delicious soft and chewy cookie recipes
Chocolate chunks and orange zest are the best part of these moist triple-chocolate chookies.
Get the recipe
Chocolate chunks and orange zest are the best part of these moist triple-chocolate chookies.
Get the recipe
These chewy ginger molasses cookies are made with real grated ginger, rich dark molasses, warm spices and a touch of cinnamon. A light sprinkle of sea salt on top balances the sweetness, making them perfect for holiday baking or any time of year.
Get the recipe
These chewy ginger molasses cookies are made with real grated ginger, rich dark molasses, warm spices and a touch of cinnamon. A light sprinkle of sea salt on top balances the sweetness, making them perfect for holiday baking or any time of year.
Get the recipe
Get ready for the ultimate chewy chocolate chip cookies: soft in the middle, slightly crisp on the edges and packed with chocolate – in this case chocolate chips and chocolate chunks. The secret to the perfect flavour and texture? A perfect ratio of brown sugar for moisture, a short chilling period and a slight under‑bake to retain chewiness.
Get the recipe
Get ready for the ultimate chewy chocolate chip cookies: soft in the middle, slightly crisp on the edges and packed with chocolate – in this case chocolate chips and chocolate chunks. The secret to the perfect flavour and texture? A perfect ratio of brown sugar for moisture, a short chilling period and a slight under‑bake to retain chewiness.
Get the recipe
These soft and chewy cookies are loaded with premium white chocolate chunks, roasted macadamia nuts and shredded coconut. It's a gourmet treat for any occasion and perfect for holiday gifting.
Get the recipe
These soft and chewy cookies are loaded with premium white chocolate chunks, roasted macadamia nuts and shredded coconut. It's a gourmet treat for any occasion and perfect for holiday gifting.
Get the recipe
A soft and chewy chocolate ginger molasses cookie with cocoa and semi-sweet chocolate, finished with a sparkling sugar coating.
Get the recipe
A soft and chewy chocolate ginger molasses cookie with cocoa and semi-sweet chocolate, finished with a sparkling sugar coating.
Get the recipe
