Indulge in the Best Soft & Chewy Gluten-Free Molasses Cookies: A Holiday Favorite

Discover the ultimate recipe for soft, chewy gluten-free molasses cookies, bursting with warm, comforting spices and featuring a delightful crackle crunch on the outside. These irresistibly tender treats are perfect for elevating your holiday baking, making them an essential addition to any festive cookie tray or seasonal gathering.

The holiday season is synonymous with warmth, joy, and the intoxicating aroma of freshly baked goods. For those embracing a gluten-free lifestyle, the desire for classic festive treats is as strong as ever. That’s why we’re thrilled to share our meticulously crafted recipe for gluten-free molasses cookies, designed to be every bit as delicious and comforting as their traditional counterparts. Forget compromises; these cookies deliver on every front: a deeply satisfying chewiness, a perfect balance of aromatic spices, and that coveted sugary crinkle that makes them visually stunning and incredibly tempting.

These aren’t just ‘gluten-free cookies’; they are genuinely exceptional cookies that happen to be gluten-free. Their rich, inviting flavor profile, stemming from a thoughtful blend of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, combined with the distinctive depth of molasses, creates a taste that transports you straight to cherished holiday memories. Whether you’re planning a festive cookie exchange, preparing a thoughtful gift for neighbors, or simply craving a cozy treat to enjoy with a cup of tea, these gluten-free molasses crinkle cookies are your answer. Their beautiful appearance and irresistible texture are sure to impress even the most discerning palates.

Our journey in the kitchen this year has been an exciting exploration, focusing on developing a diverse array of gluten-free holiday cookie recipes to share with our community. Our vision was to create a comprehensive collection, akin to a virtual holiday cookie exchange, where everyone could find a delightful treat to bake and share. From beloved gluten-free takes on classics like Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies and Peanut Butter Blossoms, to innovative flavor combinations such as Holiday Kitchen Sink Cookies and Pumpkin Snickerdoodles, our aim is to provide you with an abundance of fantastic options that you’ll be proud to present.

These Gluten-Free Molasses Cookies stand out as a highlight among our holiday offerings. Their signature sugar crinkle is not just pretty; it adds a delicate crunch that contrasts beautifully with the soft, chewy interior. The warm spices infuse every bite with an unmistakable holiday cheer, perfectly complementing the deep, caramel-like notes of molasses. Best of all, if you have a jar of molasses in your pantry, you likely possess most of the other simple ingredients needed to embark on this delightful baking adventure. So, gather your kitchen tools, grab your stand mixer, and let’s create some magic with these wonderful gluten-free molasses crinkle cookies!

Starting with Simple, Quality Ingredients for Exceptional Cookies

The secret to truly outstanding gluten-free molasses cookies lies in the quality and balance of simple ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that perfect soft, chewy texture and rich, spiced flavor. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need:

• Softened Butter: The foundation of these delectable cookies, butter contributes to richness and a tender crumb. Using softened butter, not melted, is crucial for achieving that light, fluffy, and tender texture. When butter is creamed with sugar, it incorporates air, which is essential for a soft cookie. Opt for unsalted butter to have precise control over the overall saltiness of your cookies, though salted butter can be used—just be mindful to reduce the added kosher salt slightly. Ensure your butter is truly at room temperature; it should yield slightly when pressed but not be greasy or oily.
• Brown Sugar & White Sugar: This dynamic duo is essential for both flavor and texture. Light brown sugar brings moisture and a subtle caramel note, contributing significantly to the cookies’ signature chewiness. Granulated white sugar, on the other hand, ensures proper spread and adds to the crisp exterior. The combination creates a beautifully balanced sweetness and an unbeatable texture. For an even deeper molasses flavor, feel free to experiment with dark brown sugar.
• An Egg: A single large, room-temperature egg acts as a binder, adding structure, moisture, and richness to the cookie dough. Bringing your egg to room temperature allows it to blend more seamlessly with the other ingredients, creating a smoother, more emulsified dough.
• Molasses: The star of the show! For authentic molasses crinkle cookies, you’ll need regular, unsulphured molasses. This type is sweet and syrupy, imparting that classic, deep, rich flavor without being overpowering. It’s vital to avoid blackstrap molasses, which is much thicker and has a distinctly bitter taste that won’t yield the desired cookie profile.
• Vanilla Extract: A touch of pure vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors, adding a fragrant, sweet undertone that elevates the complexity of the cookies. It’s that perfect little something that makes the flavors sing.
• Gluten-Free Flour Blend: For convenience and consistent results, we highly recommend a high-quality measure-for-measure (or 1:1) gluten-free flour blend. Our go-to choice is King Arthur’s Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour. If you opt for another brand, such as Bob’s Red Mill 1:1, it’s crucial to ensure it contains xanthan gum. Xanthan gum acts as a binder, mimicking the elasticity of gluten, which is essential for the cookies’ structure and preventing them from becoming crumbly. Do not substitute with single-grain flours like coconut, almond, or oat flour, as this recipe is specifically formulated for a blend.
• Baking Soda: This leavening agent is key to achieving the perfect softness and desirable spread in your cookies. It reacts with the molasses and brown sugar to create a tender texture and subtle lift.
• Warm Spices & Kosher Salt: This is where the magic of the holiday season truly comes alive! A carefully balanced blend of ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves infuses these cookies with an incredibly fragrant and comforting flavor. Ginger provides a warm, slightly spicy kick, cinnamon adds sweetness and depth, and cloves contribute a rich, aromatic intensity. Kosher salt, meanwhile, balances the sweetness and enhances all the spice notes, making the flavors pop. If using fine table salt, use half the amount.
• Coarse Sugar: The final touch for that iconic crinkled exterior! Coarse sugar is essential for rolling the cookie dough balls, creating a sparkling, crunchy shell as the cookies bake. For the most impressive, bakery-style finish, we love sparkling sugar. Other excellent choices include raw sugar, Turbinado sugar, or demerara sugar, all of which provide a beautiful texture and shimmer. Even coarse-grained organic cane sugar will work well if you can’t find these specific types.

How To Make Gluten-Free Molasses Crinkle Cookies, Step By Step

For precise ingredient measurements, a printable recipe card, and additional helpful tips, please refer to the full recipe card located further down this page.

1. Cream Butter & Sugars to Perfection. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer), combine your perfectly softened butter, light brown sugar, and granulated white sugar. Beat these ingredients together on medium speed for approximately 2 to 3 minutes, until the mixture becomes visibly lighter, fluffy, and creamy. This crucial step incorporates air, which is essential for developing the cookies’ soft, tender texture and preventing a dense result.
2. Incorporate the Wet Ingredients. Next, pour in the unsulphured molasses and mix until fully combined, ensuring its rich flavor is evenly distributed. Then, add the room-temperature egg and vanilla extract. Continue mixing on low speed for 30-60 seconds, just until the ingredients are smooth and well-incorporated, taking care not to overmix.
3. Gently Add the Dry Ingredients. Reduce your mixer speed to low. Gradually add the gluten-free flour blend, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and kosher salt to the wet mixture. Mix just until the dry ingredients are barely combined and no streaks of flour remain. Be cautious not to overmix, as this can develop the starches in gluten-free flour, leading to tougher cookies. Once combined, use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
4. Chill the Dough for Optimal Texture. This step is non-negotiable for the best results! Cover the cookie dough tightly and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours, or ideally, overnight. Chilling allows the gluten-free flour to fully hydrate and the flavors to meld beautifully, preventing the cookies from spreading too much in the oven and ensuring they remain wonderfully thick, soft, and chewy. If chilling longer than 2 hours (up to 2 days), make sure the dough is very well covered to prevent it from drying out.
5. Prepare for Baking. When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This prevents sticking and promotes even baking and easy cleanup.
6. Scoop, Roll, and Coat. Place your coarse sugar in a shallow bowl. Using a medium cookie scoop (approximately 2 tablespoons), portion out the chilled dough. Roll each portion smoothly between your palms to form a uniform ball, then roll it generously in the coarse sugar, ensuring it’s completely coated. Place 6 cookie dough balls on one of the prepared baking sheets, leaving enough space for them to spread. Return the remaining dough to the refrigerator between batches to keep it chilled.
7. Bake to Perfection. Place one baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are set and firm, but the centers still look slightly soft and appear just a tiny bit underdone. Remember, the cookies will continue to set and firm up as they cool on the baking sheet. If desired, immediately after removing them from the oven, use a large cookie cutter or the rim of a glass slightly larger than your cookies to gently coax them into perfectly round shapes for a professional finish.
8. Cool Properly. Allow the baked cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 1-2 minutes. This brief resting period helps them set before they are moved. Then, carefully transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Cooling completely on a rack ensures even cooling and prevents the bottoms from becoming soggy.
9. Repeat the Process. Continue baking the remaining cookie dough, alternating between your two prepared baking sheets. This practice ensures you are always placing cold cookie dough onto a cool baking sheet, which helps maintain consistent baking temperatures and prevents excessive spreading.
10. Serve & Store. These gluten-free molasses cookies are absolutely divine warm from the oven, or at room temperature. Enjoy them immediately, or store any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days to maintain their freshness. For longer storage, transfer completely cooled baked cookies to a freezer bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature when ready to enjoy.