Description
These Delightfully Spiced Festive Christmas Cookies combine warm holiday spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves with rich molasses and optional nuts and raisins. Soft in the center with lightly golden edges, they’re perfect for sharing during the festive season and can be adorned with a dusting of powdered sugar for an extra festive touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup molasses
Optional Mix-ins and Toppings
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- 1/2 cup raisins or currants (optional)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar (for dusting, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and salt until well combined. Set this mixture aside for later.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: Using an electric mixer, cream the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined, which should take about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add Wet Flavorings: Beat in the egg, followed by the vanilla extract and molasses. Continue mixing until all ingredients are fully incorporated into a smooth batter.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed. Stir just until combined; be careful not to overmix to keep the cookies tender.
- Fold in Optional Mix-ins: If desired, fold in the chopped nuts and raisins or currants using a spatula, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Form Cookie Dough Balls: Using a tablespoon, scoop portions of the dough and roll them into balls. Arrange them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing each about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Flatten the Cookies: Gently flatten each cookie slightly using the back of a fork or your fingers to help them bake evenly and achieve the desired shape.
- Bake the Cookies: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies turn lightly golden. The centers may look soft but will firm up as they cool.
- Cool the Cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely to avoid sogginess.
- Optional Finishing Touch: Once the cookies are completely cool, dust them lightly with powdered sugar for an extra festive and elegant appearance before serving.
Notes
- For softer cookies, avoid overbaking; the centers should look slightly underdone as they firm while cooling.
- Substitute nuts or dried fruit according to your preference or omit them for a nut-free version.
- Ensure butter is softened (not melted) to achieve the best creaming results with the sugars.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- These cookies freeze well; freeze dough balls or baked cookies for longer storage.
