Five Spice Molasses Cookies

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There are some recipes that just taste like cold weather.  One bite and it feels like the holiday season is here!  That’s exactly what these Five Spice Molasses Cookies are to me.  Soft, crunchy, spicy, and sweet.  They are one tasty cookie!

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Chinese Five Spice

My brother in law gave me this recipe years ago and I was immediately intrigued by the Chinese five spice addition to these molasses cookies.  So what is Chinese five spice?  It’s a blend of cinnamon, cloves, fennel, star anise, and Szechuan peppercorn.  

Most of those spices are in your standard molasses cookie recipe, and we even add more cinnamon and cloves here.  But the added spices, including the cardamom we add, brings so much more flavor!  

Five Spice Molasses Cookies

I have always loved a good molasses cookie, and these Five Spice Molasses Cookies are the best ones yet!  They are rolled in sugar before baking, which gives them just the slightest crunch when you bite one.  I prefer them rolled in regular granulated sugar, but try decorative sparkling sugar for a bigger crunch.

After that crisp exterior, your mouth is then treated to a soft, chewy cookie that is a bouquet of cozy spices.  No single spice will smack you in the face and steal the show though.  They blend together and make you feel the holiday season.  Even if it’s August…

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Small Batch for Quarantine

This actually isn’t quite the recipe that my bro-in-law gave me.  I figured that most people will be celebrating the holidays in smaller groups and may not need over three dozen molasses cookies.  So I cut the recipe in half.  This is how we do Quarantine Christmas (or Covid Christmas, whichever you prefer…).

If, for some reason, you do need 40+ Five Spice Molasses Cookies in your life (no judgment), you can easily double this recipe.  It’s nice to have options, know what I mean?

You Oughta Know

Since this is a small batch recipe, I just made it with my hand mixer.  Because who wants to pull out the big ole stand mixer if you don’t need it?  The dough will be super soft when you’re done.  Don’t worry.  It will firm up to a play dough consistency over night.

Even after a night in the fridge, the dough won’t be rock hard, so be sure to handle the dough as little as possible.  I have hot hands and they definitely softened the dough even more when I rolled the cookie balls.  

Related Reading: 8 Cookie Tips and Tricks You Need to Know

Christmas Baking

These bad boys need to make it onto your Christmas cookie list!  The flavors are incredible and they make your house smell a bit like gingerbread.  Not only that, these are easy to make and look beautiful!

If you need more Christmas baking ideas, check out some of these personal holiday favorites:

• Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Kolache: Slovakian Walnut Roll
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies
• French Toast with Kahlua Whipped Cream
• Cranberry Orange Scones

Enjoy!

Christmas during covid is going to be a bit strange.  Hopefully you’ll find a bit of comfort in your holiday baking this year.  These Five Spice Molasses Cookies are good holiday cookies that will bring warmth and coziness to your house.

But I’d love to know what else you’ll be baking during the colder months.  Leave me a comment here or give me a shout out on Facebook and tell me all about your holiday favorites!

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Five Spice Molasses Cookies

These soft, chewy cookies are bursting with the perfect blend of spices. They are the perfect cookie to enjoy during the holiday season.

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Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Cookies, Fall, Holiday

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Chill Time 3 hours hours

Total Time 3 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Servings 22 Cookies

Calories 85kcal

Ingredients

• 2 oz unsalted butter softened
• 2 oz dark brown sugar
• 2 Tbsps granulated sugar (+ extra for rolling)
• 2 1/2 Tbsps canola oil
• 2 1/2 Tbsps molasses
• 1 egg room temperature
• 1/2 Tbsp vanilla
• 3 1/2 oz all- purpose flour
• 2.5 oz bread flour
• 1/2 Tbsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp Chinese five spice
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground cardamom

Instructions

• Beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and oil until creamy, about 1-2 minutes on low, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
• Add molasses, eggs, and vanilla, and mix until combined. If necessary, scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients (ap flour - cardamom). Pour the dry ingredients into the mixing stand bowl and beat until slightly combined, but there are still dry streaks. Finish bringing the dough together by hand, until just combined.
• Place a large piece of cling film on the counter. Turn the dough out onto this and wrap tightly. Chill in the fridge for at least three hours and up to 3 days.
• When the dough is chilled and ready to be used, preheat the oven to 375℉. Place a rack in the top third of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place 2- 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar in a small bowl. Using your small cookie scoop, or a tablespoon, make balls of cookie dough. Roll the balls in the sugar to evenly coat and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake for 9- 10 minutes. The cookies will seem slightly under baked. Let them cool on the sheet for 5- 10 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.

Notes

• I suggest making the dough the night before you plan to bake the cookies.
• The flavor of these cookies deepens a day or two after they’re baked.