The Perfect, Soft and Chewy, Ginger Molasses Cookies
Author: Ask Anna
Prep time: 8 mins
Cook time: 12 mins
Total time: 20 mins
Ingredients
  • ½ cup, plus ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup, plus ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1½ tsp cinnamon
  • 1½ tsp cinnamon
  • 1½ tsp ginger
  • 1½ tsp ginger
  • 
1/2 tsp cloves
  • 
1/2 tsp cloves
  • ¼ tsp allspice
  • ¼ tsp allspice
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1½ sticks unsalted butter, softened
  • 1½ sticks unsalted butter, softened
  • ⅓ cup packed dark brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 
1/2 cup dark molasses
Instructions
  1. Adjust oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 375 degrees. Spread ½ cup of the sugar in a shallow dish for coating and set aside.
  2. Whisk together in a large bowl, the flour, baking soda, spices, pepper, and salt. Set aside.
  3. Beat the butter, brown sugar, and the remaining ⅓ cup sugar together in a large bowl using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3-6 minutes.
  4. Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla until combined, about 30 seconds.
  5. Beat in the molasses until incorporated, about 30 seconds, scraping down the bowl and beaters as needed.
  6. Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly mix in the flour mixture until combined, about 30 seconds (the dough will be soft). Give the dough a final stir with a rubber spatula to make sure it is combined.
  7. Using wet hands (dip them in water to prevent the dough from sticking to them), roll 2 TBS of dough at a time into balls, then roll in the sugar to coat and lay on two parchment-lined baking sheets, spaced about 2 inches apart.
  8. Bake the cookies, one sheet at a time, until the edges are set and the tops are cracked but the centers are still soft and underdone, about 10-12 minutes.
  9. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for an additional 10 minutes. Serve warm or transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.
Notes
Original recipe can be found in America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook.
Recipe by Ask Anna at https://askannamoseley.com/2015/11/the-perfect-soft-and-chewy-ginger-molasses-cookies/