Gluten Free Soft Molasses Cookies

Gluten Free Soft Molasses Cookies – soft and chewy with hints of ground cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg, and ginger. They are perfect for Thanksgiving and of course the holiday season but let’s be honest – chewy molasses cookies are perfect all year round. Add these chewy ginger molasses cookies to your Holiday Cookie Platter or package them in cookie tins to share with loved ones as homemade gifts.

This recipe for Gluten Free Soft Molasses Cookies can easily be adapted to be dairy free.

If you love traditional cookies, please make sure to check out my Gluten Free Chocolate Sugar Cookies and my Gluten Free Snickerdoodles.

Recipe Ingredient Notes

Gluten Free Flour: I tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure and my own gluten-free flour blend. This is a recipe that should work without any issues with any gluten-free flour blend you may have on hand. Please make sure the blend does contain xanthan gum.

Cornstarch: The added cornstarch gives those molasses cookies their ultra-soft and tender crumb we all love. It also helps with the structure of the cookie.

Shortening: In this recipe, we are using a mix of butter and shortening. Shortening helps the cookies hold their shape and prevent spreading. Cookies baked with all butter will most likely spread more and be more on the crispier side. I highly recommend not skipping the shortening in this recipe. I use Crisco Vegetable Shortening.

Molasses: Molasses is the liquid that is left after white sugar is processed from sugar cane juice. It is a thick, dark syrup, high in minerals and lower in sugar than other syrups. It normally can be found in the baking aisle of your grocery store. I recommend using unsulphured light molasses such as Grandma’s Molasses. Please be aware when using Blackstrap Molasses your cookies will have a slightly bitter flavor.

How to make Gluten Free Molasses Cookie Dough

This simple recipe can be made in no time. Please make sure all your ingredients (butter, shortening, and egg) are at room temperature.

Step 1: Sift together gluten-free flour blend, cornstarch, baking soda, kosher salt, ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a bowl and set aside. Sifting dry ingredients together may seem like an extra step Chefs like to add to the recipe but there is actually a reason behind the sifting. Not only does sifting dry ingredients make sure all the ingredients are blended well but it also helps to lighten up the flour mixture.

Step 2: In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, combine room temperature shortening, unsalted butter, and light brown sugar and mix at a medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Around 4-5 minutes.

Step 3: Turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl. Without scraping down the sides, fat/sugar builds up on the sides of the bowl. When you add the flour, that film of fat will create random streaks of fat in your dough. And we have all seen those ugly cookies where a pocket of fat makes them look sloppy. To avoid this, I recommend scraping your bowl once mid-creaming, after adding the egg, and after adding the flour. Every time make sure to whip your dough for 10 seconds or so after.

Step 4: Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract and mix at medium-high speed for an additional minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Step 5: Mix in the dry ingredients at a low speed into the wet ingredients until a dough forms. Your dough will be very soft and wet. Do not add any additional flour no matter how tempted you are.

For the best results, transfer the dough to an airtight container and allow it to rest for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator. At this point, you can store the dough in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

How to bake Gluten Free Soft Molasses Cookies

Step 1: When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside.

Step 2: With a medium cookie scoop (around 1.5-2 tablespoons), portion out the cookie dough and roll it into balls. You should get around 16-18 cookie dough balls from this batch.

Step 3: Roll each ball in granulated sugar and divide your cookies between your sheet trays. If you used only shortening, gentle press down the cookies before baking. This will help with spreading.

Step 4: Bake them at 350F, one tray at a time, for 10-12 minutes. They will be slightly underbaked in the center.

Step 5: Remove the gluten-free ginger molasses cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Make sure to cool the best gluten-free molasses cookies completely before storing them at room temperature in an air-tight container for up to 5 days.

Recipe Variations for Molasses Cookies

Chocolate Molasses Cookies: Love chocolate? Add 100 grams of chocolate chips to the cookie dough. You could even dip half of them in dark chocolate.

Orange Molasses Cookies: Add the zest of one small orange to the cookie dough – this brings out the flavors of the spices used even more

Cardamon Molasses Cookies: Personally, I love adding ground cardamon (around ¼ teaspoon) to my molasses cookies

How long does Molasses last?

While unopened jars of molasses can last up to 10 years when stored in a dry, cool place once Molasses is open, it has a shelf life of 6 months.

Open jars of molasses need to be stored in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Hot and humid weather can promote mold growth and will spoil the product.

It is not very easy to tell if Molasses has gone bad so keep an eye on the color, smell, and flavor.

FAQ about Molasses Cookies

Can I make this recipe for Soft Gluten Free Molasses Cookies dairy free?
Yes! In place of the butter, you may use all shortening or replace the butter with vegan butter such as Earth Balance. Make sure to gently press down the cookies before baking.

Can I make this recipe with all butter?
Using all butter may result in a slightly thinner but still delicious gluten-free molasses cookie.

Can I freeze the Molasses Cookie Dough?
The dough for Gluten Free Soft Molasses cookies freezes beautifully. I recommend making the dough, allowing it to chill for at least 30 minutes (it will be easier to scoop that way), and form into balls. Do not roll it in sugar before freezing! Place them on a small sheet tray that’s lined with parchment paper and freeze the dough balls. Once the dough is frozen you can transfer it to a ziplock bag and store it in your freezer for up to 3 months.

How do I bake Soft Molasses Cookies from frozen?
To bake Molasses cookies from frozen, remove the dough from the freezer, and divide it between parchment-lined sheet trays. Allow for it to sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes while preheating your oven. When ready to bake, roll them in granulated sugar and bake as directed.

I can’t find Molasses where I live
I know Molasses can be sometimes difficult to find outside the US. In Austria and Germany, it is called “Zuckerruebensyrup” or “Melsasse” and is normally available in organic food stores (Reformhaus)

I don’t have celiac – can I make this recipe?
Yes! Please use 275 grams of “Regular” All Purpose Flour instead of the gluten-free flour.

Baking in grams

I share my recipes in grams and by weight since baking by weight is the most accurate way to bake. Digital Scales are very affordable and very affordable. You can purchase them on Amazon for less than a set of measuring cups. Measuring cups are very inaccurate and can cause significant errors when it comes to baking. Especially since I bake with gluten-free flours which weigh differently than “regular” flours. I do provide some ingredients like spices and leavening agents in measuring spoons.

Note about Ovens and Oven Temperatures

All my recipes are tested and developed with a conventional oven. I always bake my baked goods on the rack placed in the MIDDLE of my oven. This way the heat coming from the bottom will not burn my baked goods.

If you are baking with convection (fan-forced), please adjust the recipes accordingly. Be also prepared that the convection oven can cause your baked goods to dry out quickly and still be raw inside. Be aware that it takes at least 15-20 minutes for a standard American Oven to be fully preheated. I highly recommend investing in an Oven Thermometer.

Substitutions and Modifications

Any dietary or ingredient modifications/substitutions to this recipe may alter the end result in appearance and taste. I test my recipes several times as published in this post and The Gluten Free Austrian Blog is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe you find on our website.

Want to be the first to know when a new recipe is live?

Make sure to sign up for my “New Recipe Alert” e-mail list – You may sign up here