These vegan molasses cookies are soft, chewy and can also be made a little healthier! Can be made with all-purpose, gluten-free or whole wheat flour. If you don’t need them to be vegan, you can just use an egg.
I feel pretty much alone in my molasses cookies love. It’s like… you tell some people that you’re bringing peanut butter cookies, chocolate chip cookies, or anything other than molasses cookies to a party and this is their reaction:
“Aaaah! Thank you! I can’t wait!”
But when I say I’m bringing molasses cookies, I get:
“That would be great. Thank you.”
I don’t get it. Molasses cookies are amazing!
When I was in school, sometimes I’d find some Archway molasses cookies in my lunchbox. The kind that came in a cardboard package with cellophane.
I absolutely loved them! I haven’t had an Archway cookie in ages, but I’m positive that these healthy molasses cookies are just as good or even better.
And they definitely don’t have any of that funky stuff that pre-packaged cookies tend to have.
If molasses cookies aren’t your thing, check out these other cookie recipes!
Different flour options
You’ve got lots of options with this recipe. I’ve made them with all-purpose flour, whole spelt flour, white whole wheat flour, regular whole wheat flour and even gluten-free flour.
There’s so much spice and molasses in these cookies that any whole grain taste is covered up. And they certainly don’t taste like cardboard, the way some whole wheat treats do.
If you prefer a grain-free version, these Paleo Gingerbread Cookies are great. They are much spicier than these vegan molasses cookies and are crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside.
Can I use cookie cutters?
If you’re not making the gluten-free version, you can make these molasses cookies with cookie cutters. If you want to do that, you really need to chill the dough first for a few hours to make it easier to roll out and handle.
You’ll want to roll the dough out between two pieces of parchment paper. If it’s too sticky, then knead a bit of flour into the dough. But I’ve never had a problem with that!
They’ll definitely spread a bit, so I wouldn’t recommend any cutters that are too intricate.
Ingredient notes
In the cookies pictured, I used blackstrap molasses and brown sugar. If you use blackstrap molasses and coconut sugar, your cookies will be darker.
If you use brown sugar and regular molasses, your cookies will be lighter.
Sometimes I like to add a little orange zest, but I usually prefer my molasses cookies plain. You can also rub some orange zest in the sugar you use to roll the cookie dough in for an outer orangey sugary coating.
Note that if you don’t roll them in sugar, then they likely won’t crackle while baking.
Can I use a regular egg?
Yes! If you’re not vegan, you can replace the chia egg with a regular large egg.
Other vegan egg subs would likely work, but I haven’t tried them. So I can’t guarantee it!
What’s up with blackstrap molasses?
I’ve always used blackstrap molasses in everything and have loved everything I’ve made with it. My paleo + vegan Gingerbread Brownies recipe originally called for blackstrap molasses.
And then I learned that WOW! Some people really hate it.
It appears to be an acquired taste. I shared those gingerbread brownies with a ton of people, and everyone claimed to have loved them and wanted more, so I don’t get it.
So what I’m going to say is this – if you regularly use blackstrap molasses and like the results, you can use it here. If you’ve never tried it before, I recommend going with regular light molasses.
By regular light molasses, I mean the molasses you find in every grocery store. Brands like Grandma’s or Crosby’s. It’s lighter in taste than blackstrap.
Blackstrap is thick, dark and concentrated with spicy overtones. It has an ultra-high mineral content and can be bitter.
Everything I’ve read says not to use it in a recipe unless it specifically calls for it, but I always do. Maybe there are big differences in brands of molasses? Perhaps some are very bitter and others aren’t?
I use the blackstrap molasses from Wholesome, a British brand named Meridien, and a German one from Rapunzel. That one doesn’t specifically say blackstrap (it seems like all brands here are blackstrap), but it looks and tastes just like the other two.
Gluten-free version
You can use your favorite gluten-free flour mixture that’s a 1:1 substitute for regular all-purpose flour.
I’ve made them with Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-free Baking Flour but thought the results were better with this homemade mix:
- 188 grams white rice flour
- 68 grams potato starch
- 26 grams tapioca flour/starch
- 3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
There are a few differences when making the gluten-free version. First, the dough will be quite wet.
You’ll need to refrigerate it for 1-2 hours or until firm enough to easily roll into balls.
The cookies also won’t crackle during baking as much as the ones pictured and may not crackle at all.
You do not need to press the cookies down with your palm. They spread quite thin but then puff up. That’s why I said no cutters for the gluten-free version.
My gluten-free molasses cookies were perfectly done at 7 1/2 minutes. Earlier than that and they were uncooked in the middle and any longer than that and they became cakey.
All ovens are different, so I recommend doing one test cookie to make sure 7 1/2 minutes is correct for your oven. The middle should no longer appear wet when they’re ready.
When you take the cookies out of the oven, slide the piece of parchment paper (along with the cookies) onto a cooling rack so that they don’t continue to bake. If they’re firm enough to remove with a spatula, you could also just do that.
These don’t taste 100% like the ones made with wheat. They have a slightly grainy texture that you sometimes get when you use rice flour. It’s really noticeable when you eat them straight from the oven and much less noticeable once they’ve cooled.
Source
I wish I could say that this recipe is my own original creation, but I’ve been making it since I was about 10 years old and have no idea where it came from.
I looked for the source, but I think I’ve made too many changes over the years to recognize the original. If anyone recognizes it, please let me know!
Other Vegan Christmas Desserts
With the holidays nearing, it’s always nice to plan ahead for holiday treats, and I have loads of vegan dessert recipes.
- Starting with this Vegan Hot Chocolate! It’s thick, rich and can be naturally sweetened. Paleo option.
- This Vegan Caramel Pecan Cheesecake is such a beauty! It’s also paleo, no-bake, yet rich, creamy and decadent. Plus, it freezes great, so it’s perfect for the holidays.
- This Vegan Chocolate Cake is super moist and fudgy with an easy chocolate ganache frosting. It can be made with gluten-free, whole wheat or all-purpose flour.
- Vegan Fudge is a must at my house! It’s super creamy and made in minutes. It stays solid at room temperature and tastes just like traditional fudge. If you like mint, this Mint Chocolate Fudge Recipe is for you! Both have paleo options.
- These Mini Apple Pies with Caramel have an oatmeal cookie crust are terrific mini Christmas desserts! They’re gluten-free and vegan.
- Speaking of easy recipes! Energy balls are a perfect addition to your holiday treats. They’re all vegan, easy with simple ingredients, and healthy. Find the ones you like here in these easy Sweet Snacks recipes.
- If it’s cookies you want, try these Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies or these Cassava Flour Cookies, which are perfect for the cookie cutters!
That’s it! I hope you enjoy these Vegan Molasses Cookies! If you try them, drop a comment below, I’d love to hear your feedback.
Note: photos updated 11/2021! Here’s an old one.
Vegan Molasses Cookies (gluten-free option)
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Ready in:
- Yield: 16 cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups (240 grams) all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, or for gluten-free, see notes below1
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 6 tablespoons (84 grams) coconut oil2 or another neutral oil
- 6 tablespoons (132 grams) molasses3
- 1 chia egg4
- 1-2 tablespoons orange zest, optional
- 3 tablespoons raw sugar, optional, for rolling
Directions
- In a medium mixing bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients except for the 3 tablespoons raw sugar.
- Add the dry mix to the wet mix and stir just until combined.
- Depending on the combination of ingredients used, you may need to refrigerate the dough for 1-2 hours or until the dough is firm enough to easily roll into balls. If you used coconut sugar, you must refrigerate the dough (regardless of whether or not it's firm) for at least an hour. The ones pictured were made from non-refrigerated dough. If you refrigerate the dough, the cookies will be a little thicker.
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper.
- Roll the dough into 40 gram balls (about 1 1/2"), roll them in the sugar, flatten them a little with the palm of your hand, and bake for 6-9 minutes.
- Let the cookies cool for 3 minutes on the baking sheet and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Notes
- You can use your favorite gluten-free flour mixture that's a 1:1 substitute for regular all-purpose flour. I used Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-free Baking Flour but thought that the result was better with this homemade mix:
– 188 grams white rice flour
– 68 grams potato starch
– 26 grams tapioca flour/starch
– 3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum - I used refined coconut oil for no coconut taste. You can use unrefined if you don't mind some coconut taste.
- I used blackstrap molasses, but it seems to be an acquired taste. Unless you know that you like blackstrap molasses, it's safer to use Grandma's or another brand of molasses that's not blackstrap.
- Mix 1 tablespoon ground chia seeds with 3 tablespoons water to create the chia egg.
- Additional notes for the gluten-free version:
- The dough will be quite wet. You'll need to refrigerate it for 1-2 hours or until firm enough to easily roll into balls.
- The cookies won't crackle as much as the ones pictured (and may not crackle at all).
- You do not need to press the cookies down with your palm. They appear to spread quite thin but then puff up.
- My cookies were perfectly done at 7 1/2 minutes. Earlier than that and they were uncooked in the middle and any longer than that and they became cakey. All ovens are different so I recommend doing one test cookie to make sure 7 1/2 minutes is correct for your oven. The middle should no longer appear wet when they're ready.
- When you take the cookies out of the oven, slide the piece of parchment paper (along with the cookies) onto the cooling rack so that they don't continue to bake. If they're firm enough to remove with a spatula, you could also just do that.
- These don't taste 100% like the ones made with wheat. They have a slightly grainy texture that you sometimes get when you use rice flour. It's really noticeable when you eat them straight from the oven and much less noticeable once they've cooled.
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133 comments on “Vegan Molasses Cookies (the best texture, so easy!)” — Add one!
4 comments are awaiting moderation!
These are so ridiculously delicious! They are, without a doubt, my favorite Christmas cookie recipe. I replaced the egg with a flax egg and the flour with King Arthur’s all-purpose flour (and added the 3/4 tsp xanthan gum). It is such a great feeling to have a GF cookie recipe that turns out well reliably. Thank you!
I made these GF using King Arthur Alll Purpose cup for cup blend. It worked so well, my mom loves them too! Soooo good!
Awesome! I’m so happy that you and your mom enjoyed them! Thanks for the tip on the flour and for your feedback. :)
I assume you’re referring to KA Measure for Measure flour. Is this correct?
These were great! I made the gf/vegan one (my own gf flour) and then tried a 1/2 whole wheat and 1/2 white flour one. I was afraid the blackstrap molasses would be bitter but it is surprisingly perfect. 5 stars! Thanks!
You’re welcome! I’m happy that you enjoyed them. :) It’s great to know that the recipe works with other GF flour blends, too. Thanks for your comment!
I’ve made these twice now. I used all-purpose flour and an egg. Not too sweet, good taste from the spices, and a bit of salt comes out. So good! My dad doesn’t like cookies, but these he will eat 3 at a time. Thank you for sharing.
Aww, yay! So happy you and your dad enjoyed them. :) Thanks a bunch for your comment and sorry for my slow reply (Christmas chaos got in the way!).
Just made these and I am in love! I used whole wheat flour and egg. They were nice and chewy and I had them in for about 9 minutes. Thank you for the recipe, I’ll definitely be making these again!
So happy to hear that! Thanks a bunch for your comment. :)
I’m making these for my in-laws who have major dietary restrictions due to medical reasons. I’ve never had to bake anything gluten-free and vegan before, so I’m a little lost. Would Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Baking Flour work for this? The flour doesn’t contain xanthate gum, so I’m assuming I’ll have to purchase some to add, right? Any help is appreciated! Thanks :)
*Xanthan gum, sorry!
You usually don’t need to add xanthan gum when using that 1 to 1 flour. I’ve had great results with it in place of wheat flour (which you’d be doing here) so I’m thinking it would work but since I haven’t tried it, I can’t guarantee it. My only worry is that the result may be a little grainy or gritty. The dough is super thick and sometimes that happens with that flour and thick doughs. If you try it out, I’d love to hear how it goes. :)
Hi, my mixture has been in the fridge for over 1 hour and it’s flaky. There’s no way balls will hold together. What do I do??
Nick
Flaky? None of the commenters have ever mentioned that. I also just made them tonight and while the dough is quite thick, it shouldn’t be flaky! Did you make any subs or changes to the recipe at all? You could try mixing in a little liquid (water or milk), a bit at a time, until it holds together.
Hi, I made this with regular unbleached wheat flour, olive oil and a flax meal egg, and found that it was flaky/too dry as well — however I added one more flax meal egg and it worked out well, though it did take a while to mix manually. Very tasty, nice texture; cooked precisely 6 minutes and did not need parchment. I used yellow and pink decorative sugar to make them pretty for Spring-time. Thx.
Spring-time molasses cookies! I love it. I’m so glad you found a way that works with flax egg! I’ve only made these with chia eggs and never had much luck with flax eggs in general (although I know everyone else seems to!). Thanks for your feedback. :)
These cookies are the perfect mix of spicy, sweet, and salty. I love the flavor! I made them tonight, and have eaten too many, LOL. I am going to make these again. Oh, and they look so pretty. That extra step of rolling them in sugar is worth the pretty result. I used whole wheat pastry flour, and you wouldn’t know it. Thanks :)
I’m so happy that they worked out well! I also love the look when rolled in sugar. :) Thanks a bunch for your feedback!
Sounds delish! How would I adjust this recipe for high altitude baking? Did you melt the coconut oil first before measuring? Or scoop it as a dry ingredient?
Thanks! You can measure the coconut oil before or after melting – it’s the same. :) And I unfortunately have zero experience with high altitude baking but I think this guide might be helpful! Sorry I don’t have a better answer for you.
Thank you so much!!! They came out delicious and perfectly crackled. I used your GF flour mix, put in some dry mandarin zest and maple sugar for coating. They were still soft and chewy after 11 minutes in the oven. I could hardly stop eating them after the 4th one:)
Oooh! That sounds delicious. I’m so happy you liked them! Thanks for your comment. :)
I have not tried your recipe yet, but I am going to! I wanted to tell you that I searched “spelt flour” and according to Bob’s Red Mill .com address concerning their spelt product, they write: “…Spelt is unusual because it can be more easily digested than other forms of wheat, and some people with wheat intolerances may be able to tolerate spelt; however, spelt is not gluten free…”
I would strongly suggest that since your recipe calls for spelt flour that you change your advertising that it is gluten free. This can be critical to people like me!
Blessings, ~ Carmen
Thanks for your note! Spelt is definitely not gluten-free, which is why I have a gluten-free blend listed in the recipe. The spelt and whole wheat options listed are the “whole grain options” mentioned in the title. The post also says to “Please read the notes section of the recipe for instructions on how to make the gluten-free recipe” so I hope people are reading that. :) There’s a big notes section in there just for the GF version. I hope you’ll enjoy the cookies!
Hi Erin! These look delicious! Have you ever tried them with Oat Flour?
Hi Theresa! I haven’t. I haven’t had good luck with subbing oat flour in recipes. Everything comes out so much more dense!
Erin, had to comment about rice flour being grainy. You can purchase super fine brown and white rice flour from vitacost on line which don’t leave the natorious gluten free grit. They have many other items as well nd free shipping of their brands with 25$ purchase. Just a suggestion and by the way I love love your recipes, Linda T.
Hi Linda! Thanks for the tip. :) I’ll have to check that out! I’m so happy to hear that you love my recipes. Thank you! :)
Erin! I tried these and they came out delicious! I made substitutions, ran out of unflavored coconut oil ( or any other oil I’d gladly use ) so I used butter. I used Namaste gluten free flour and coconut sugar. I rolled them in maple sugar.
Very tasty! Mine came out a bit cakey ( I always beat my egg too much! ) and although my oven was set at 350, and I left my trial cookie in for 9 minutes, it still came out a bit wet in the middle. I left the lot in for 9 minutes, and then on the pan to cool. Thank you for your dedication, I appreciate it! I took a picture ( ( showing the middle, bottom and tops )of my batch, but don’t know if I can send it.
I’m happy that you enjoyed them! Sometimes GF mixes can yield different results so I’m guessing that could be the issue as they shouldn’t be the least bit cakey. :) If you’re on Facebook, you could upload a comment + picture to this post, where I posted about the cookies. I’d love to see them! Thanks a bunch for your lovely comment. :)
About the flour measurement?? 1 cup of gf flour was 240 grams. I ended up going with my gut instinct and used 2 cups, & ditched the scale for this part. Did measure the coconut sugar on the scale. Also split coconut oil with avocado oil for fear of a strong coconut taste.
These turned out fabulous!!! Cannot rave enough about them.
Wow! Which brand of GF flour did you use? The one I always use (which I didn’t use in this recipe since I used my own mix) is only 158 grams. Good thing that you went with your gut! And also, did you spoon the flour into the cup and weigh it or did you dig the cup into the bag and measure that way? There’s some more info about measuring flour here. I’m happy that the cookies came out well! Thanks for your comment. :)
I used the Namaste brand that I can pick up at Costco here. I had my 1 cup measuring cup on the scale and was spooning the flour into the cup. It was just starting to heap at 240 g which I thought was strange. So I quit using the scale for that measurement. :)
Seriously though… these are fabulous!
So strange! Is this what you used? If so, it says that 1 cup is 138 grams on the nutritional label. Maybe your scale was acting up? I’ve had that happen to me! So yeah. Good call on not going by weight. ;)
These. Were. Amazing! Exactly what I wanted.. very soft, and so flavorful. Even better than grandma’s! I used regular all-purpose flour, coconut sugar, and coconut oil. I was too excited to chill the dough, so I skipped that step, and they turned out perfectly. THANK YOU! I’ve made three different healthy-ish molasses cookie recipes in the last week and they’ve all been horrible. This one’s a keeper.
Aww, yay! I’m happy you finally found a good molasses cookie recipe. But what a disappointment to have to go through three other recipes first! Good to know that it worked out well without chilling. My dough’s always super soft so I have to chill it. Thanks a bunch for your comment and merry Christmas! :)
Hi Erin! I’ve made so many of your cookies and your blog is my go-to when it comes to paleo baking alternatives! I’ve shared your blog and Instagram with quite a few friends. One question, in the step where you said combine the 3 remaining ingredients, did you mean 4? Egg, sugar, coconut oil, molasses…. thanks!
Hi Melissa! I’m so happy you’ve been enjoying the recipes. :) And thanks so much for sharing! Are you talking about Step 2? It says, “In a large mixing bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients except for the 3 tablespoons raw sugar.” Or are you seeing something else, like in a comment or something?
Great recipe! Used Bob’s red mill GF flour with 3/4 tsp Xanthum gum and they are delicious! Definitely adding to the Christmas cookie rotation. So nostalgic, and unique addition to our annual Cookie Exchange party. Also dipped part in Dairy free chocolate and added chopped pistachios and dried cranberries to top (as seen in another similar recipe) which really added another element that took it to another level!
Yummy! I’ll have to try dipping these in chocolate. Did you use the Bob’s GF flour in the red bag? Thanks so much for your tips and your comment! I’m happy they came out well for you. :)
Love this cookie recipe! I have recently become dairy free because my 7 month old has an intolerance to cow’s protein so I have cut out dairy products. I have been looking at a variety of recipes and different websites for my new lifestyle change. I love your website! I used gluten free flour, canola oil instead of coconut (although I do love coconut oil) & I used coconut sugar but rolled dough in raw cane sugar. Chilled in fridge for an hour but towards last ball, dough got pretty sticky. I will take your suggestion for putting dough in freezer next time. I am looking forward to making batches for Christmas gifts! Thanks!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the cookies and that you like my website. :) What kind of GF flour did you use? The mix I listed or another one? Just in case someone wants to make these GF but doesn’t want to use my homemade mix. Thanks a bunch for your comment! I hope people will like your gift of cookies (I know I’d love them! :D)
Aww, these are so good!
Thank you for the recipe
Yay! You’re welcome and thank you for your comment. :)