Healthy Blackstrap Molasses Cookies! My healthy molasses recipe is made with no refined sugar and no white flour.
My Healthy Molasses Cookies Recipe is:
- Super easy to make!
- Perfectly chewy
- Sweet and fragrant
- Whole Grain
- Refined Sugar Free
- Dairy Free
Make sure you try these blackstrap molasses cookies this winter!
Molasses cookies are such a classic to make in the winter. Filled with warming and healing spices, these are perfect to make when the weather outside is frightful!
A delicious cookie just even got better. I substituted in some healthier ingredients to make these!
HEALTHY MOLASSES COOKIES INGREDIENTS
- white wheat flour
- baking soda
- ginger
- cinnamon
- cloves
- nutmeg
- pink sea salt
- organic butter
- honey or maple syrup
- black strap molasses
- egg
- pure vanilla extract
IS MOLASSES DAIRY FREE?
Yes! Molasses does not contain dairy. Molasses is a byproduct when sugar is made. There is light molasses, dark molasses, and black strap molasses. I used blackstrap molasses in these cookies to get the greatest healthy benefits. Rosemary Squires, MA, RD, CDN
Blackstrap molasses has has the lowest sugar content of any sugar cane product. It contains potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, vitamin B6, selenium.
Just 1 tablespoon of blackstrap molasses has about 20% of your daily need for iron!
HOW TO MAKE MOLASSES COOKIES HEALTHIER
I took my grandma's classic molasses cookie recipe and swapped each ingredient for something healthier. Read about the healthy molasses cookies ingredients I used...
- White whole wheat flour --> more protein & fiber
- Ginger--> good for digestion
- Cinnamon--> anti-inflammatory & antioxidants
- Cloves--> anti-inflammatory & antioxidants
- Nutmeg--> anti inflammatory & antioxidants
- Sea salt--> micro minerals
- Honey --> anti-inflammatory properties
- Black strap molasses--> has some iron & other minerals
- Egg--> good protein source
TIPS TO MAKE THE BEST HEALTHY BLACK STRAP MOLASSES COOKIES EVER
USE UNSULPHURED MOLASSES. Unsulphured molasses is much sweeter than sulphured molasses. Sulphered molasses is molasses that has been treated with a preservative and is much less sweet.
USE BLACKSTRAP MOLASSES FOR THE GREATEST HEALTH BENEFITS. Although it is not as sweet as light molasses, you will get a very rich dark flavor and the most health benefits from blackstrap.
WARM BUTTER TO ROOM TEMPERATURE BEFORE BEATING. Butter mixes best when it is at room temperature. If you have time, leave the butter out for an hour before you make your cookies.
CHILL DOUGH BEFORE ROLLING. Chilling the dough helps them not only keep their form when they bake, but also get that nice cracked molasses cookie top.
LEAVE SPACE BETWEEN COOKIES. I like to bake 8 at a time. This ensures the heat gets around them and the cookies bake evenly.
WATCH HOW I MADE HEALTHY MOLASSES COOKIES WITH NO BROWN SUGAR
HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY FLAVORFUL MOLASSES COOKIES
Make my molasses cookies no brown sugar necessary and no sugar at all! Just some good quality honey needed to sweeten my healthy molasses. 🙂
Step 1: Prepare your healthy ingredients
First, in a medium sized bowl sift together the dry ingredients. The dry ingredients include: white whole wheat flour, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, add the vegan butter, honey, molasses, egg, and vanilla. Then, using a hand blender on medium speed, beat the mixture until it is light and fluffy.
Step 2: Chill the molasses cookie dough
Now, cover your dough and place in the fridge for at least an hour.
While your cookie dough chills, prepare your baking tray. You can line it with either parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 3: Roll and Bake
Finally, the moment you have been waiting for: time to bake your cookies!
Roll each cookie by a handful of the dough into smooth balls. If you're not sure how much this is, the measurement is about two tablespoons. Roll each ball into sugar and place on your baking tray.
Bake until you see cracks on top, about 8-10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
This recipe should make about 24 cookies total.
HOW LONG CAN I STORE MOLASSES COOKIES FOR?
These can be stored at room temperature for up to a week or in the freezer up to a month. Keep in mind the longer they are stored the more they dry out.
FAQ’S
Frequently asked questions about healthy blackstrap molasses cookies.
HOW MANY CALORIES ARE IN A MOLASSES COOKIE?
120 calories in 1!
WHAT DOES MOLASSES DO FOR COOKIES?
Blackstrap molasses is a rich dark sweetener that adds a ton of flavor and caramelization to your cookies. Molasses is a liquid, so it will give your baked goods a chewier texture.
DOES MOLASSES TASTE GOOD IN COOKIES?
Blackstrap molasses is delicious in cookies and gives a subtly sweet rich flavor. Molasses cookies are made even more delicious with warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
WHAT'S THE BEST MOLASSES FOR COOKIES?
For super sweet cookies, use light unsulphered molasses. For the most nutritional benefit and the richest flavor, however, use blackstrap unsulphured molasses.
IS WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR GOOD FOR COOKIES?
Whole wheat flour has the greatest nutritional benefit, however, it has the heartiest texture, which isn't always a desirable cookie texture. I used white wheat flour, which has a much lighter texture.
HOW DO I MAKE GLUTEN FREE MOLASSES COOKIES INSTEAD?
Simply replace the white wheat flour with 1:1 gluten free baking flour.
WHY DIDN'T MY MOLASSES COOKIES RISE?
You might be using expired baking powder, or not enough baking powder.
More Healthy Cookie Recipes:
- Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies
- Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Peanut Butter Buckeyes
- Coconut Flour Cutouts
- Passion fruit filled Macaroons
- Healthier Lofthouse Style Frosted Sugar Cookies
- No Bake Healthy Cookie Dough Bars (Vegan, Dairy Free, Gluten Free)
- Half Moon Cookies!
If you try my Healthy Molasses Cookies Recipe, please let me know your thoughts by leaving a rating and comment below! Ready for more? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube!
Healthy Blackstrap Molasses Cookies
Equipment
- hand held beaters
- Baking mat
- Baking tray
Ingredients
Dry ingredients:
- 2 ¼ cup white whole wheat flour or 1:1 gluten free flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon pink sea salt
Wet ingredients:
- ¾ cup vegan butter if not diary free, use organic unsalted butter
- ½ cup honey sub date syrup or maple syrup
- ¼ cup black strap molasses
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ cup raw cane sugar to roll them optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking tray with parchment paper or a baking mat.
- In a medium sized bowl add the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and sea salt. Sift together to combine.
- In a separate bowl add the vegan butter, honey, molasses, egg, and vanilla. Using a handheld mixer, beat until smooth and fluffy.
- Fold your dry ingredients into your wet ingredients.
- Place in the fridge for at least an hour.
- Remove the chilled dough from the fridge. Roll into 2 tablespoon sized balls. Dip them in sugar.
- Place on a baking mat and bake 8-10 minutes. Bake only until the tops crack!
- Enjoy warm!
Tamera
These sound very yummy! Do you think that almond flour could be substituted for the white wheat flour?
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Hi Tamera! I haven't tried that yet-- but let me know how that turns out for you. Almond flour typically requires more of a binding agent (like egg), so I would first sub the almond flour 1:1 in here, and then if it seems that the cookies don't stay together very well, experiment with adding 1 small egg.
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I haven't tried these with almond flour, but you can start by switching out 1/2 cup of the white wheat flour at a time to see how they hold up. Chances are that if you sub all the wheat flour out, you will need an egg with the almond flour to help bind the cookies 🙂