Ginger Sugar Cookies are one of those cozy holiday cookies I turn to every single year. They're soft, full of rich molasses, and rolled in crunchy sugar with just the right amount of warm cinnamon and ginger. Add these ginger sugar cookies to your Christmas cookie tray, they always disappear fast.
If you like these Ginger Sugar Cookies, you'll love my Chocolate Crinkle Cookies and my Soft Amaretti Cookies with their chewy almond centers.

Ginger sugar cookies or ginger molasses cookies have become one of our go-to holiday cookies. With rich molasses, brown sugar, and warm ginger and cinnamon spice, these cookies bring that classic Christmas flavor right to the cookie tray. Whether you're baking for the season or just craving something festive, these molasses ginger cookies hit the mark.
There are smells that instantly transport me back to childhood-sugar cookies in the oven, ginger cookies filling the kitchen with their spicy scent. Last week we kicked off our Christmas cookie baking early, and these were the first batch we made. Sparkling turbinado sugar on top, soft centers inside-everything about them says "holiday."

The flavor was maybe too subtle. I will add more ground ginger and probably some fresh grated ginger in the next batch. I used blackstrap molasses and the flavor was distinctive and delicious.
What ingredients are in Ginger Sugar Cookies?
slightly adapted from Adapted from Gourmet magazine March 1965
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cup Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup molasses (I use blackstrap)
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For Rolling
- Turbinado or coarse suga
How do you make ginger sugar cookies?
Cream butter and gradually add brown sugar. Continue to beat until fluffy.

Add egg and molasses to butter mixture.

Beat until evenly blended.

Combine flour with baking soda, spices, and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating until all the dry ingredients are incorporated. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Roll the dough into small balls and roll around in the sugar.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place balls of dough at least 3 inches apart on prepared baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes, until firm.
Let sit on baking sheet for 1 minutes, then remove to racks to cool.
ENJOY!:)
Expert Tips for Perfect Molasses Ginger Cookies
- Chill the dough so the cookies don't overspread in the oven.
- Use turbinado sugar for extra crunch and shine.
- Don't overbake-they firm up as they cool.
- Try fresh ginger if you want a stronger ginger kick (½ teaspoon grated).
- Light vs. blackstrap molasses:
- Blackstrap creates a darker, deeper, slightly less sweet cookie.
- Regular molasses gives a milder, classic flavor.
Variations
- Add a vanilla glaze for extra sweetness.
- Dip half the cookie in white chocolate and sprinkle with sugar.
- Make chewy ginger sandwich cookies by filling them with vanilla buttercream.
How to Store Ginger Sugar Cookies
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freeze baked cookies for up to 2 months.
- Freeze cookie dough balls and bake straight from frozen, adding 1-2 minutes to the baking time.

FAQ'S
Yes! Chill the dough overnight or freeze the dough balls for a quick bake later.
No-granulated sugar works, but turbinado gives the cookies that crunchy, sparkly finish.
Yes. Earth Balance or another vegan buttery stick works beautifully.
Make sure the dough was chilled and that your baking sheet wasn't warm from a previous batch.
More Holiday Cookies You'll Love
- Italian Christmas Cookies
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Soft Amaretti Cookies
- Pumpkin Spice Cookies
What's your favorite holiday cookie?
Some other cookie recipes to try this holiday:
- Chocolate Crackle Cookies
- Cuccidati-Sicilian Fig Cookies
- Italian Lemon Knot Cookies
- Sicilian S Cookies
20 Minute Ginger Molasses Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup molasses I used blackstrap
- 2 ¼ cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Sugar for rolling I used turbinado
Instructions
- Cream butter and gradually add brown sugar. Continue to beat until fluffy.
- Add egg and molasses to butter mixture. Beat until evenly blended.
- Combine flour with baking soda, spices, and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating until all the dry ingredients are incorporated. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Roll the dough into small balls and roll around in the sugar. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place balls of dough at least 3 inches apart on prepared baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes, until firm.
- Let sit on baking sheet for 1 minutes, then remove to racks to cool.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
Notes
Expert Tips for Perfect Molasses Ginger Cookies
- Chill the dough so the cookies don't overspread in the oven.
- Use turbinado sugar for extra crunch and shine.
- Don't overbake-they firm up as they cool.
- Try fresh ginger if you want a stronger ginger kick (½ teaspoon grated).
-
Light vs. blackstrap molasses:
- Blackstrap creates a darker, deeper, slightly less sweet cookie.
- Regular molasses gives a milder, classic flavor.






These ginger cookies are adorable! Congrats on the Top 9 today!
Lora,
Congrats on the Top 9 today! Lots of #cookielove
Wow what a gorgeous cookies! it looks so sparkling and lovely 🙂
These ginger cookies would be awesome with some hot tea. Yummy.
These ginger cookies look so beautiful!!!
And that sugar sprinkle make them absolutely festive...
Deliciously Beautiful!!!
The sugar crystals on top of the cookies remind me of Christmas 🙂 I love ginger and need to make these asap! Thank you for sharing!
I love how pretty your cookies look with the sugar sprinkles on top! I think our #cookielove cookies are very similar with the molasses and spices...Great minds think alike 🙂
I Love your new header, Lora! These cookies look wonderfully soft. I love ginger cookies!
Damn! I'm your 399th follower! Would have loved to be the 400th! 🙂
You probably get this a lot, but I thought I should let you know how much I loved browsing your blog posts! 🙂 Not only are the pics & recipes great, but your whole blog has a pleasant layout! Truly enjoyed my time here! 🙂
Would love to have your recipes linked to my 1st food blog event. If possible, please go through the rules of my event Jingle All The Way and link your posts there..
Ongoing Events:
Jingle All The Way &
Microwave Easy Cooking
Edible Entertainment
Lovely cookies, Lora! They look Christmassy with those golden sugar crystals 😀
Incredible cookies,looks damn cute.
These are so cute! They sound so tasty, and could easily be made vegan. I'll definitely have to try these ones out!
Mmmm these are so very Christmassy! I love spic cookies and these look tasty and perfect, especially with the sugar. Now you have put me in the mood to make cookies!
That Ginger cookie is soooo delish! So hard to tear myself away from the photo. Glad you joined the CookieLove with us!
These sound like a whole lot of cookie love to me. I'm ready to start baking for the holiday and probably won't stop till Jan. Hope you had a great weekend. Just getting over a cold, then hopefully I will have some cookie posts soon.
-Gina-
I love these cookies. They look so yummy and sparkly. I have some of this sugar and love to use it. Nothing I like better than some sparkle on my food. Your plates are gorgeous, love the pattern.
oh my goodness... your cookies are sparkling gold. do you know how much i love the color gold? hehehe. these cookies look fabulous and schmancy! btw, i like your new blog header!
Beautiful cookies Lora! You've used some of my favorite flavors: ginger, molasses and brown sugar, yum.
Nothing beats a good sugar ginger cookie during the holidays!
ooh these look amazing. I love ginger and must try them soon.