It happens every December, my father begins hinting that he sure would love some molasses cookies. He used to take multiple trips out to Tim Horton's just to purchases them and wondered if I could try and figure out their recipe. This year, and every year prior - the subtle mentions begin December 1st. My mother, God bless her, offered to make them for him this year, as she knows how busy I have been. Now let me tell you about my mom. She is an incredible cook and baker, hands down. BUT, she is no recipe person. She throws in this and that, and it always tastes terrific. When she asked me for the molasses cookies recipe, I told her that this is the kind of recipe that you have to follow exactly to the letter. "Of course", she assured me. I was curious to see how these cookies would turn out. A couple of days later, I received a message from her that she AND Dad have been baking up a storm and have made dozens of these molasses cookies. However (here it comes), "they don't quite look like yours". They brought over some cookies to me, so I can dunk them into a glass of milk. She was right - they didn't look like mine, but were still so tasty. Mom says that maybe Dad rolled the balls too big, but didn't really know why they looked the way they did. Mom, did you follow the recipe, exactly? "Well of course I did", said she. Hmmm.
I cleared my schedule early Saturday morning, pulled out all my baking supplies, and made my version of these chewy, sugar-coated molasses spice cookies. They are soft and crunchy in the right spots and are a family favorite.
The holidays wouldn't be complete without them.
Here is the recipe inspired by Martha Stewart, for you to make for your own family. They are a yummy treat for Santa on Christmas Eve.
Chewy Molasses-Spice Cookies
Prep Time: 25 mins
Total: 1 hr 30 mins
What you will need:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1 /2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1 /2 cups sugar
3/4 cups (or 1 1 /2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
1/4 cup molasses
Directions:
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a shallow bowl, place 1/2 cup sugar; set aside.
Step 2
With an electric mixer, beat butter and remaining cup of sugar until combined. Beat in egg and then molasses until combined. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in dry ingredients, just until a dough forms.
Step 3
Pinch off and roll dough into balls, each equal to 1 tablespoon. Roll balls in reserved sugar to coat.
Step 4
Arrange balls on baking sheets, about 3 inches apart. Bake, one sheet at a time, until edges of cookies are just firm, 10 to 15 minutes (cookies can be baked two sheets at a time, but they will not crackle uniformly). Cool 1 minute on baking sheets; transfer to racks to cool completely.
Nom Nom.
Give them as a gift, or share them with your family. They smell so good and taste even better. Warning, Santa may need more than two, just saying.
Merry Christmas and Happy Baking x
