This post may contain affiliate links. To learn more check my disclosure page.
An easy recipe for gluten-free molasses cookies. This chewy spiced gluten-free ginger molasses cookie dough comes together in one bowl and bakes up in just 10 minutes.
Gluten-Free Molasses Cookies
These homemade gluten-free molasses cookies are perfect for the holidays! If you love the warm spiced flavors of Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies and the soft, chewy texture of our Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle Cookies, then you won’t be able to resist these gluten-free ginger molasses cookies.
These classic Christmas cookies have a light sweetness and perfectly chewy texture, so it’s like having the best of both worlds in the cookie kingdom! This gluten-free cookie recipe comes together quickly in one bowl and bakes up in just 10 minutes, so you can easily get a batch together for last-minute celebrations. They’re a wonderful addition to our collection of Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies!
You can see how easy it is to make these gluten-free molasses cookies are to make in the detailed recipe step photos below.
Ingredients For Gluten-Free Molasses Cookies
- Butter: Give the cookies their rice flavor and soft texture. Make sure it’s at room temperature so it can cream nicely together with the sugar.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness to the cookie dough. The cookie dough is also rolled in sugar to form a crackly crust.
- Dark Brown Sugar: Another sweetener that also helps give these cookies their signature color.
- Egg: The main binding agent.
- Molasses: The star ingredients! It gives the cookies their signature flavor.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor.
- Gluten-Free All-Purpose with Xanthan Gum: The main gluten-free base. Use your favorite gluten-free baking flour.
- Salt: For taste.
- Baking Soda: Gives the cookies their irresistible chewy texture.
- Ground Cinnamon, Ginger, and Cloves: Warming spices that add holiday flair.
Gluten-Free Flour
We researched and tested the best gluten-free flours on the market to use for anything you’re looking to bake.
How to Make Gluten-Free Molasses Cookies
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a medium mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar for about 30 seconds. (photo 1)
- Add in the egg and molasses and beat until well combined. (photo 2)
- Add all remaining ingredients and beat until a smooth dough forms. (photo 3)
- Use 1 ½ tablespoon cookie scoop to measure out the dough. Roll into a ball and toss in the granulated sugar. The dough may be a bit sticky. Place on the baking sheet, leaving enough space between each for spreading. (photo 4)
- Bake for 9 to 12 minutes or until the center looks set, and they will continue to harden as they cool. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 15 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Tips for Making the Best Gluten-Free Molasses Cookies
- Make sure you let the cookies cool on the baking sheet before moving them to a wire rack. If you try and take the cookies off too soon, they may fall apart.
- Freeze the rolled balls and have molasses cookies at the ready whenever holiday guests stop by! Just skip rolling in the sugar until you’re ready to bake. It may take an additional minute or two for the cookies to bake from frozen.
How to Store Gluten-Free Cookies
The best way to store leftover gluten-free cookies is to let them completely cool, then place them in an airtight container. Molasses cookies can be stored at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Frozen gluten-free cookie dough can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Easy Gluten-Free Molasses Cookies
These gluten-free molasses cookies are made with simple ingredients and is an easy gluten-free cookie to make. Molasses cookies are a classic Christmas cookie that will be the hit of any holiday dessert table or Christmas cookie swap. This gluten-free cookie recipe is simple to pull together and makes an incredibly chewy cookie that’s brimming with a spiced molasses flavor.
More Gluten-Free Christmas Cookie Recipes to Try!
Let’s Connect! You can FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, or Instagram!
★Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!★
Gluten-Free Molasses Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, room temperature
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla
- 2¼ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour with xanthan gum
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar for about 30 seconds.
- Add in the egg and molasses and beat until well combined.
- Add the pure vanilla extract, gluten-free all-purpose flour with xanthan gum, salt, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and ground cloves. Beat until a smooth dough forms.
- Use 1 ½ tablespoon cookie scoop to measure out the dough. Roll into a ball and toss in the granulated sugar. The dough may be a bit sticky.
- Place on the baking sheet, leaving enough space between each for spreading.
- Bake for 9 to 12 minutes or until the center looks set, and they will continue to harden as they cool.
- Let them cool on the baking sheet for 15 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Notes
- Make sure you let the cookies cool on the baking sheet before moving them to a wire rack. If you try and take the cookies off too soon, they may fall apart.
- To store: The best way to store leftover cookies is to let them completely cool, then place them in an airtight container. gluten-free molasses cookies can be stored at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- To freeze: Freeze the rolled balls and have molasses cookies at the ready whenever holiday guests stop by! Just skip rolling in the sugar until you’re ready to bake. It may take an additional minute or two for the cookies to bake from frozen. Frozen cookie dough can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Mama says, “Make sure to always check your labels!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I am NOT a baker and these were delicious and easy to make. Took them to my bridge club and walked out with an empty plate!
can u make this dairy free?
Hi Ann! You can try making this with plant-based butter instead and 1/4 cup aquafaba in place of the egg. Though they likely won’t come out exactly the same. Let me know if you give it a try!
Hi Claire,
I love your recipes and I thank you for helping out our Celiac Community! Because I have a dairy allergy, I always look to see what you have suggested about the butter in your recipes. I think I am missing it in this recipe. Were you able to test it with the Country Crock Plant Butters? They are my favorite.
Hi Marie! Unfortunately, I haven’t tried these with a plant-based butter, but I assume that you could use the same amount of plant-based to replace the dairy butter for pretty similar results. If you do please let me know how they turn out!