Call me crazy, but I’m a fan of blackstrap molasses. When I encounter a recipe that exclaims, “NOT blackstrap”, I grab my Plantation bottle and forge ahead anyway. I like the less sweet flavor and beautiful dark color it imparts to my cookies and gingerbreads.
Molasses Crinkles
makes 30 cookies ; recipe adapted from "Molasses Crinkles" published in Gourmet (rip), December 2004.
Ingredients
- ½ cup solid vegetable shortening Spectrum Organic
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 cup dark brown sugar India Tree dark muscovado
- ½ cup blackstrap molasses
- 1 egg
- 2 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
For rolling: 2 tablespoons pearl sugar or other coarse sugar
Instructions
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Preheat oven 375° F. Prepare a cookie sheet pan by lining with a Silpat or sheet of parchment paper. Using a stand mixer with paddle attachment, thoroughly cream the vegetable shortening, butter, and brown sugar on medium speed for 3 minutes. Add the molasses and egg and mix to combine.
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Whisk the flour, baking soda, spices, and salt together in a bowl, then sprinkle into the creamed mixture and mix to combine. Use a tablespoon-sized scoop or spoon to portion out dough. Roll into balls and dip top into coarse sugar then place on prepared sheet pan, about 12 per pan, 2-inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake for 9–11 minutes until tops are crackled and a crust has begun to form. Allow to cool a few minutes on the pan, then when cookies firm up, transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Cookies will appear moist in the center when you first take them from the oven, but they continue to cook while cooling. Ideally you want to end up with a dry, crisp shell and a soft, yet baked-through interior. For me and my oven, this means a 10 minute bake time.
