Pumpkin Molasses Cookies

Soft and fluffy pumpkin molasses cookies with a sweet sugar coating. A fun Fall cookie recipe the entire family is guaranteed to love!

Soft and fluffy non-cakey pumpkin molasses cookie recipe from @bakedbyrachel

I wish every Fall day could be like the one we had yesterday. It was truly gorgeous! A perfect day all around! Warm, sunny with a light breeze. A great afternoon with friends… and making the day even more perfect… a trip to the apple farm! We stocked up! The kids each picked out a small pumpkin to paint and then we loaded up a giant bag full of apples. Which, I can pretty much guarantee will disappear SO fast. Apples never last here and most of the time that’s just from snacking! We love apples. I could eat them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and snack and still not get sick of them. Okay, maybe eventually I’d need a change, but right now that definitely wouldn’t be the case. I’m in Fall heaven right now! This time of year is my happy place.

Switching gears…

But still very much a happy place… reading! I’m currently working on Exhume, which was one of last month’s Kindle First picks. I’ve never read a book quite like it, but I’m not at all bored or disinterested with it. So far so good! If you’re into murder mystery/thriller type novels, this is one you should definitely check out. I’m reserving the right to change my mind depending on how the ending goes… it can seriously make or break a book for me!

Soft and fluffy non-cakey pumpkin molasses cookie recipe from @bakedbyrachel

Every year I try to make at least one new pumpkin cookie recipe. Classic or unique, but always family friendly and an absolute winner!

These were just that… huge winners! My family fell in love with these cookies the moment they each bit into one. Completely irresistible.

Soft and fluffy spiced pumpkin molasses cookies with a sweet sugar coating. The tender cookies bake up nice and fluffy, then fall on themselves just enough, while remaining perfectly soft and staying soft! These cookies are guaranteed to always remain soft! And, unlike a lot of pumpkin cookies, these aren’t cakey!

Soft non-cakey pumpkin molasses cookies… an absolute MUST make! In fact, make a double batch. Trust me! They’re just that good!

Soft and fluffy non-cakey pumpkin molasses cookie recipe from @bakedbyrachel

Pumpkin Molasses Cookies

Soft and fluffy pumpkin molasses cookies with a sweet sugar coating. A fun Fall cookie recipe the entire family is guaranteed to love!
Prep Time3 hours 10 minutes
Cook Time11 minutes
Total Time3 hours 21 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cookie
Servings: 6 plus

Ingredients

  • 1/2 C unsalted butter softened
  • 1 C granulated sugar divided
  • 1/2 C light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 C pumpkin puree
  • 1/4 C molasses
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp allspice 
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/8 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 C all purpose flour

Instructions

  • In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat together butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla, beating until just combined. Mix in pumpkin puree and molasses, followed by spices, salt and baking soda. Scrape the bowl as needed. Add flour, mixing until combined well and no streaks remain. Chill dough for 3-4 hours. 
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. 
  • Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop and shape dough into smooth balls. Roll in remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Place sugar coated dough balls on prepared baking sheet, spaced at least 2-inches apart. Chill remaining dough in refrigerator until ready to bake.
  • Bake for 11 minutes. Immediately transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 
  • Store cookies in an airtight container. 

Notes

Recipe yields roughly 2 dozen cookies.
An original recipe from Baked by Rachel

Items used in this recipe:

This post contains affiliate links.

Soft and fluffy non-cakey pumpkin molasses cookie recipe from @bakedbyrachel
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18 Responses to “Pumpkin Molasses Cookies”

  1. #
    1
    Marye — October 20, 2016 at 7:46 am

    I love molasses cookies! These look delicious!

    • #
      1.1
      Rachel — October 21, 2016 at 6:58 am

      Thanks Marye!

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    2
    Heather Kinnaird — October 20, 2016 at 10:42 am

    I love pretty much anything with molasses, and of course it wouldn’t b fall without a little pumpkin too! these cookies look perfect for an afternoon of reading and a cup of tea

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      2.1
      Rachel — October 21, 2016 at 6:59 am

      Thanks, Heather!

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    3
    Catherine — October 20, 2016 at 1:38 pm

    Dear Rachel, these look so soft and warm…just a perfect cookie! I wish I had a couple with my coffee right now. xo, Catherine

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      3.1
      Rachel — October 21, 2016 at 6:59 am

      Thanks, Catherine!

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    4
    Lexi | Sempre Dolce — October 21, 2016 at 3:41 pm

    Oh my, these look amazing! I can’t wait to try them. :)

    • #
      4.1
      Rachel — October 23, 2016 at 8:09 am

      Thanks, Lexi!

  5. #
    5
    Jocelyn @BruCrew Life — October 21, 2016 at 4:13 pm

    Oh, my goodness! Those are so fat and fluffy looking! What a perfect fall cookie!

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      5.1
      Rachel — October 23, 2016 at 8:09 am

      Thanks, Jocelyn!

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    6
    Jessica — October 22, 2016 at 10:57 pm

    Made these today and they were light and delicious! I look forward to making them again!

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      6.1
      Rachel — October 23, 2016 at 8:07 am

      So glad to hear you enjoyed them, Jessica! Thanks so much for sharing! :)

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    7
    Diane — September 22, 2018 at 11:22 am

    The Pumpkin Molasses Cookies are filled with wonderful fall flavors! As I was baking the cookies, I had wonderful memories of my Great Grandmother baking and sharing her Molasses Cookies dancing in my head ❤️. I love the addition of pumpkin with the molasses cookies.

    I baked them for 9 minutes with the convection oven set at 325 degrees and they turned out perfectly! These delicious cookies, filled with fall favors, will definitely be a hit at the football tailgate party!

    Thank you so much for sharing!

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      7.1
      Rachel — September 24, 2018 at 7:01 am

      So glad you enjoyed them, Diane!

  8. #
    8
    SMum — November 25, 2019 at 10:35 pm

    Really liked the flavour in these cookies, but mine did not bake up as nicely as yours. They puffed up but didn’t fall in on themselves, instead remaining puffed up and cakey. I tried modifying the baking time, cooler dough vs warmer dough, bigger vs smaller cookies but they were either under-baked of puffy. Any suggestions?

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      8.1
      Rachel — December 4, 2019 at 9:16 am

      Baking is such a science. It could be as simple as the temp of your room when the cookies came out of the oven, or maybe your oven isn’t cooking at the proper temp (they can be wildly off from one to another). I’d start by checking your oven temp, as that’s super important. Beyond that, I’ll quote my kids from Thanksgiving… it’s not how they look but how they taste that matters. :)

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    9
    Danielle Durand — September 30, 2020 at 4:23 pm

    Thank you so much for the recipe, they are wonderful and so easy to make. My kitchen smells so good! Of course I will make some more tomorrow. One question, can you freeze these before they are cooked? If I was to put the balls of dough made in the freezer, then pop them in a ziplock… and cook any number I want when I crave for these? Thanks a million, they are so so tasty and soft… and wonderful!

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      9.1
      Rachel — October 9, 2020 at 5:42 am

      I haven’t personally frozen them, but I’m sure it would work just fine.

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