Name: Molasses Cookie Mix
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 21 min
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup sugar; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon cloves; 1/8 teaspoon allspice; 1 teaspoon ginger; 3/4 cup butter or margarine (softened); 1 egg; 1/4 cup molasses; Sugar for sprinkling (optional)

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When you want warm spiced cookies without dragging every jar out of the cabinet, this Molasses Cookie Mix does the heavy lifting ahead of time. You stir together the dry ingredients once, tuck the mix away, then add butter, egg, and molasses when you’re ready to bake.

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It’s the kind of pantry shortcut that actually earns its shelf space. The finished cookies bake up lightly spiced with that familiar deep molasses flavor, and the dough comes together fast enough that you can make a batch on a weeknight without turning the kitchen into a flour storm.

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🍪 Ingredients for Molasses Cookie Mix
🥣 How to Make Molasses Cookie Mix
🔥 How to Bake the Cookies
🧠 Helpful Tips
🔁 Easy Variations
📦 Storage and Shelf Life
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown
🛒 Walmart Grocery List
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
📌 Pin this Recipe
🖨️ Print-Friendly Recipe Card

You’ll combine the dry ingredients now, then add the wet ingredients later when you’re ready to bake.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon ginger

To bake the cookies, you’ll also need:

3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
Sugar for sprinkling (optional)

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This mix is simple by design. Just measure, shake, and store. If you’re making several pantry mixes at once, label the bag before you fill it. Future you will be less annoyed.

Measure the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and ginger into a large zip-top bag.
Seal the bag and shake well until the spices and leaveners are evenly distributed through the flour and sugar.
Transfer the blended mix to a vacuum-seal bag and seal it for longer storage.

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How to Bake the Cookies

When you’re ready to use the mix, the cookie dough comes together quickly. Creaming the wet ingredients first helps the molasses blend smoothly so you don’t wind up chasing streaks through the bowl.

Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a mixing bowl, blend the softened butter or margarine, egg, and molasses until smooth.
Add the full package of Molasses Cookie Mix and beat well until a soft dough forms.
Roll the dough into balls and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Press each dough ball gently to flatten slightly.
Sprinkle the tops with sugar, if desired.
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes.
Let the cookies rest on the pan for 2 minutes, then transfer them to a rack to finish cooling.

This batch makes about 24 cookies, depending on how large you roll them. If you love old-fashioned spice cookies, you might also like soft molasses cookies or crackle top molasses cookies for a more bakery-style finish.

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Helpful Tips

Use softened butter, not melted butter. Melted butter makes a looser dough and encourages spreading. Softened butter gives you a dough that’s easier to shape and a more even texture.

Press the dough balls gently. A light press helps the cookies spread evenly in the oven without turning thin and lacy.

If the dough feels too sticky, chill it for 20 to 30 minutes. That firms the fat and makes rolling easier, especially in a warm kitchen.

Measure the flour carefully. Too much flour gives you dry, stiff cookies that barely spread. Spoon and level if you want consistent results instead of guessing and hoping for the best.

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Easy Variations

Roll in sugar instead of sprinkling. If you want a crackly top, roll each dough ball in granulated sugar before baking.

Use margarine if that’s what you keep on hand. The original directions allow for butter or margarine, so either works.

Pack it as a gift mix. Add the mix to a sealed bag or jar with a note listing the butter, egg, and molasses needed to finish the dough. If you already enjoy pantry mixes, Sugar Cookie Mix in Jar is another handy one to keep around.

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Storage and Shelf Life

Dry mix: Store the sealed mix in an airtight container or vacuum-sealed bag in a cool, dry, dark place for up to 6 months. That’s a practical estimate based on the shortest-lived ingredients in the mix, especially the baking powder and ground spices. For best quality, keep it away from heat and humidity. For reference, USDA guidance on baking powder shelf life notes unopened baking powder keeps about 6 months at room temperature.

Prepared dough: Cover and refrigerate the mixed dough for up to 2 days before baking. If it firms up too much, let it sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes so it’s easier to roll.

Baked cookies: Once cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If you want them to stay soft, tuck a slice of bread into the container. The cookies borrow moisture from it, which is a lot easier than trying to revive a stale cookie later.

Freezer: Freeze baked cookies in a well-wrapped airtight container for up to 3 months. You can also freeze the shaped dough balls on a tray, then transfer them to a freezer bag and bake from chilled, adding 1 to 2 minutes if needed.

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Serving Suggestions

These cookies are right at home with coffee, hot tea, or a glass of cold milk. They also fit nicely onto a holiday cookie tray because the spice flavor stands out without needing frosting or fuss.

If you want to dress them up a little, dust the tops with extra sugar before baking or serve them alongside vanilla ice cream. The warm spice and molasses flavor do the rest without needing a parade.

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💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Molasses Cookie Mix

Ingredient	Walmart Item	Pkg Price	Amount Used	Cost Used
All-purpose flour	Great Value All-Purpose Flour, 5 lb	$2.96	2 C.	$0.31
Sugar	Great Value Pure Granulated Sugar, 4 lb	$2.98	1 C.	$0.33
Baking soda	Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, 1 lb	$0.92	1 t.	$0.01
Baking powder	Great Value Double Acting Baking Powder, 8.1 oz	$1.24	1 t.	$0.02
Cinnamon	Ground Cinnamon	$1.27	1 t.	$0.05
Nutmeg	Great Value Ground Nutmeg, 1.8 oz	$2.48	1/2 t.	$0.06
Cloves	Great Value Ground Cloves, 1.5 oz	$2.98	1/4 t.	$0.04
Allspice	Great Value Ground Allspice, 1.75 oz	$2.48	1/8 t.	$0.01
Ginger	Great Value Ground Ginger, 1.5 oz	$1.24	1 t.	$0.05
Butter or margarine	Great Value Margarine Sticks, 16 oz	$1.98	3/4 C.	$0.74
Egg	Great Value Large White Eggs, 12 Count	$1.47	1	$0.12
Molasses	Grandma's Original Molasses, 12 fl oz	$3.24	1/4 C.	$0.54
Sugar for sprinkling	Great Value Pure Granulated Sugar, 4 lb	$2.98	1 ≈ a light dusting	$0.01

💸	Cost
🧾 Total Batch Cost	$2.29
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost Per Serving	$0.10

📅 Walmart prices last verified August 26, 2026. Prices may vary by location and are subject to change. Learn how to calculate the cost of a recipe on your own!

🛒 Walmart Grocery List

Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Here’s how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.

Frequently Asked Questions about Molasses Cookie Mix

Can I make this molasses cookie mix in a jar instead of a bag?

You can, as long as the jar seals tightly and holds all of the dry ingredients with a little headroom for shaking. A 1-quart jar usually works for a mix this size, but pack it gently and give the flour a stir before measuring so you don’t cram in more than you meant to.

What kind of molasses should you use for these cookies?

Regular unsulphured molasses is your best bet here because it gives you that deep flavor without turning bitter. Skip blackstrap unless you actively enjoy making life harder on yourself, since it’s much stronger and can make the cookies taste harsh.

Can you use margarine instead of butter?

Yes, because the directions already allow for butter or margarine. Just use the same amount, 3/4 cup, and expect slightly softer dough and a little more spread with some margarine brands because they usually contain more water than butter.

Why didn’t my molasses cookies spread in the oven?

Too much flour is the usual culprit, and a stiff dough will sit there like a stubborn toddler. Make sure you measured the flour lightly, softened the butter properly, and gently pressed the dough balls before baking so the cookies get a head start.

Can you chill the dough before baking?

Absolutely, and it helps if your kitchen runs warm or the dough feels sticky. Chill it for 20 to 30 minutes for easier rolling, or up to 2 days if you want to prep ahead, then let it sit 10 to 15 minutes if it gets too firm to scoop comfortably.

How do you know when molasses cookies are done?

Pull them when the tops look set and the edges are lightly done, usually at 9 to 11 minutes. They’ll still feel a bit soft in the center on the hot pan, which is exactly what you want if you’d rather eat a cookie than a roofing shingle.

Can you double this cookie mix recipe?

Yes, and it doubles cleanly because the measurements are straightforward. Use a very large bowl before bagging it so the spices and leaveners disperse evenly, otherwise one bag gets all the personality and the other gets all the flour.

What’s the best way to keep the baked cookies soft?

Store them fully cooled in an airtight container and add a slice of bread if you want extra insurance. The cookies absorb moisture from the bread over a day or two, which helps them stay tender without turning sticky.

Can you freeze the dough or just the baked cookies?

You can freeze either one. Freeze shaped dough balls on a tray first, then bag them for up to 3 months, or freeze cooled baked cookies in layers with parchment so they don’t weld themselves together.

What should you serve with molasses cookies?

They’re great with coffee, tea, or cold milk because the warm spices hold their own next to strong drinks. For dessert, serve them with vanilla ice cream or add them to a holiday tray when you want something spiced instead of another plain sugar cookie.

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