Chewy Molasses Cookies
Chewy Molasses Cookies…just like the ones Grandma used to make!
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It’s about time to revisit one of my favorite topics: Southern sayings. I discussed “kiss my grits” a couple of years back, but there are just so many good Southern sayings. Laura and I were hanging out with our neighbors recently, and this topic came up. Of course, I had to chime in with several of my favorites!
We’ve lived up here in the Hudson Valley area (~3 hours north of NYC) for almost 6 years now, but I still speak Southern. My accent might not be as strong, but my favorite sayings still show up on a daily basis…much to Laura’s chagrin. Although my accent isn’t as pronounced, Laura pointed out that it comes right back whenever I talk to my family on the phone. Funny how that works!
But without further ado, let’s add some new phrases to your vocabulary. (If you already use these phrases on a daily basis, then we need to be friends. Just sayin’.)
- “Madder than a wet hen.” Not to be confused with a Mad Hatter, a mad hen is just downright angry. Used in context, “Robbie was madder than a wet hen earlier when I wouldn’t let him chew on the dog bone.”
- “Nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.” This one is pretty obvious. You don’t want to get your tail stuck under a rocking chair. I’m guessing it would hurt.
- “C’mere and gimme some sugah.” My 100-year-old Grandma still says this whenever I see her. She’s not referring to the ingredient. She just wants a kiss on the cheek.
- “Well butter my buns and call me a biscuit.” I’ve got a kitchen towel printed with this saying. (Not kidding!) It basically means you’re surprised. Like really surprised.
And last but not least:
- “Slower than molasses in January.” And this one has to be said with a nice, long drawl. More like “Slower’n molllllaaaasssssses in Jan-u-ary.” I say this at least once a week. Truth.
But speaking of molasses, let’s turn our attention to this tasty recipe for Chewy Molasses Cookies. I remember my Grandma (the one who asks for sugah) making molasses cookies when I was a kid. These cookies are a cross between gingerbread, gingersnaps and sugar cookies. And they just so happen to be one of my favorites!
I was digging around in the back of our pantry the other day, and I stumbled across a jar of molasses. I don’t use molasses all that much around here, so it was no surprise that the jar had drifted to the back of the pantry. But as soon as I found it, I started craving molasses cookies. And here we are a couple days later with a nice, big batch of cookies. Packed with rich flavor, these Chewy Molasses Cookies remind me of the ones Grandma used to make!
Laura isn’t the biggest fan of molasses cookies (or gingerbread), so I was all on my own when it came to eating these cookies. I was afraid I might eat all of these cookies by myself, so I rode half of ’em up to Robbie’s daycare. I figured the teachers could use a cookie or two after dealing with a roomful of crying kids all day!
What are your favorite Southern sayings?
Did your Grandma make molasses cookies?
And with that, I’ll leave you with a classic goodbye: “Oh, n tellyermama’nemIsaidhi!”
P.S. I just had to jump in with this photo of Robbie in his Halloween costume. I love it! But let’s not talk about how I had to take 40 pictures to get just one that was (mostly) non-blurry. Hah!
Chewy Molasses Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup molasses
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground allspice
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- 1 large egg
- sparkling sugar for topping
Instructions
- Using a medium saucepan, add butter, molasses, sugar, brown sugar and salt. Place over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until butter has melted and sugars have dissolved.
- Transfer mixture into a large mixing bowl. Add ginger and allspice; stir until well combined.
- Add flour and baking soda; stir until well combined.
- Add egg; stir until well combined.
- Cover dough and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Using a tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll into balls. Place dough balls on prepared baking sheets, leaving 2” in between each. Gently flatten the tops of the cookies with the palm of your hand. Sprinkle tops of cookies generously with sparkling sugar.
- Bake at 350° for 14-15 minutes. Let cookies cool completely before removing from pan.
Love all these sayings! I can’t say that they are part of my everyday vocab though! My favorite one is butter my buns….although I think people would fall over laughing if I actually used it! I love molasses cookies! Theses look super yummy….lucky daycare to receive a stack of these yummies! 🙂
You should totally work the “butter my buns and call me a biscuit” into your vocab today, Kathy! If for no other reason than to watch the faces of your coworkers/family. 🙂 Hah! Thanks so much!!
I love the cookies. They would be perfect for my Christmas cookie list. Robbie looks so cute in his costume!!!
Thank you so much, Dawn! And, yes, these cookies are definitely a good one to add to the Christmas cookie list…they remind me of being a kid and eating Grandma’s cookies! 🙂
Hahaha! “Oh, n tellyermama’nemIsaidhi!” I’ve heard that way way way too many times! Though, I might ahve to go ahunting for some more true Southerner friends as I have yet to hear half those sayings and I’ve been here in Hotlanta since 1992!
That photo of Robbie is precious! That look! Lil Shashi says that little chap is gonna grow up to be a heart breaker!
Oh and dang, I didn’t realize Laura didn’t like Molasses cookies when I sent some yalls way last year – I know better this year – though next time you wanna get rid of your molasses cookies – I’m volunteering to take ’em off your hands! 🙂
So you might have heard “n tellyermama’nemIsaidhi”, but did you ever really know how to spell it? 😉 Say what? You haven’t heard any (any!) of these sayings?? You need to get out of the big city and venture into the country for sure! Haha!
Oh my gosh, don’t fret one bit, Shashi! Laura doesn’t prefer molasses cookies, but she will gladly nom nom them. If she had her way, everything I make for the blog would have chocolate in it! Haha. Oh, and yes, we actually say the same thing about Robbie…those blue eyes of his are going to break some hearts one day! Oh…and when he cries now…yeah, he’s already breaking Dad’s heart! Wish me luck…it’s just me and the little man this week as Laura has a work trip.
Oh my gosh, David! I am sitting in my desk LOL alone and everyone around me are staring as if I was “Madder than a wet hen” just saying! Hehehehehe can Robbie be any cuter?? I don’t think so! he is just adorable!!
I have to say that this is one of my favorites : “Well butter my buns and call me a biscuit.” I can just imagine Blanche from the Golden girls saying that 🙈😍! yeah I am Golden Girls fan! I admit!
This cookies look great David!, again well done!
Haha! Hey, if you’re ever having a grumpy day, just work one of these sayings into your vocabulary. They’re too ridiculous not to laugh at! (And, yes, I have indeed heard my grandmother use several of those sayings…for real.) Oh! Golden Girls! Man, I used to watch reruns of that show when I was a kid. Your comment totally takes me back. 🙂 Thanks, Gaila!!
Hi David! I love chewy cookies (shortbread being an exception of course). Since this is a Southern post, I will substitute sorghum for the molasses! Gary’s favorite saying when he smells something cooking is “you’re making it stank in here”. My favorite is “kiss my grits” which he hears fairly often 🙂 Robbie looks like he was being quite patient for his photo op!
Well, I absolutely, 100% support the sorghum here in these cookies! As you well know, sorghum is one of those things that you just can’t find up north. But man, it would be an excellent addition to these cookies. Kiss my grits is definitely another Southern favorites! Have you heard “Well, kiss my grits and call me Sally?” No clue where that comes from, but I’ve heard it…more than once. 🙂 Oh, and Robbie being patient? Hah! It only took 150 photos to get a non-blurred one there! Thanks, Dorothy!
Love it!!
Thanks so much, Amy!
I love these sayings (well, pure cat!), and it’s always interesting how different culteres might have similarities through language and especially sayings. Let’s take this “Slower than molasses in January”. Russia has really similar but with “honey” instead of molasses. Canada has the same with maple syrup. Hah, just kidding about maple syrup:) Anyways, you need to write a culinary book and use all the southern sayings as the introduction for the chapters or even recipes. Don’t thank me for this fantastic idea, David. Just send me a signed copy of your book (along with some food). Well, you can also mention my name in the book:) Delicious cookies btw!
Huh…interesting about the Russian saying with honey instead of molasses. It really is funny how many similarities there are between cultures! I think you’ve commented on it in a post, but so many foods are similar as you cross cultures…just slight little twists and then a name change. But at the core, they’re really all the same. Just with different seasonings! Haha…I love the idea of a book that uses these sayings as chapter titles. Very clever, Ben! I’ll gladly credit you when I write that book. 🙂
My Mom had an apron that said Kiss my Grits it was always cracked me up. I’ve been known to say “well butter my buns” people always laugh at me but I got it from my Mother who probably said it a few times a week. Oh man David I haven’t had homemade Molasses cookies ever! I’m dying to know how these cookies taste, they look divine. OMG Robbie looks so cute in his Halloween costume! I could eat those cheeks 🙂
Yes!! I have a dish towel that says “Well butter my buns and call me a biscuit.” It’s never made any sense to me, but I totally remember my grandma saying that when I was a kid. 🙂 Those little Robbie cheeks are perfect for squeezing…even though he complains a bit when I do it! You definitely should whip up a batch of molasses cookies sometime, Mary! They’re a classic…and perfectly chewy. Yum!!
These cookies are my favorite too, I made a similar batch some 2 weeks back and loved them 🙂 Gosh, Robbie looks extra cute in that costume!
Thank you so much, Manali! And I totally agree with you…there’s something so awesome (not to mention delicious!) about a good, chewy molasses cookie. Yum!!
These are a visual treat to me.. Soon i should make my molasses Cookies., You have tempted me enough David!!
You should definitely make a batch of these molasses cookies soon, Sharmila…they’re super tasty!! 🙂
ahh, love the halloween costume! Also, my grandma also used to make the best soft cookies, ginger molasses in my case. Always looked forward to visiting as I knew that she kept them in an old metal Quality Street box. Haven’t thought about that in awhile, good memories. Thanks for sharing!
Oh, ginger molasses cookies! I love the idea of adding some ginger into these. I guess they would start to turn into gingerbread cookies at that point…but then again, gingerbread (both the bread and the cookies) is one of my favorites! Isn’t it funny how you remember the box that grandma used to keep the cookies in? I totally know the feeling there, too! Thanks, Matt!
Awwww little Robbie is adorable as always. I hope he shares his candy with you both. And those phrases…I’ll be sure to write it down and memorize it well. Same thing with this recipe, except I’ll be baking some cookies soon.
Haha…Robbie is actually a huge sharer! Just last night, he shared a gooey mum (think crumbly cracker type of thing) with me. It was the best! (And then I immediately had to go wipe my face off…) Thanks so much, Linda! And yes, bake up some awesome cookies soon. Santa needs to start taste-testing some cookie recipes to get ready for the holidays! 🙂
Oh my gosh I am dying!!! Hhahah…Madder than a wet hen. Poor Robbie and the dog bone 🙁 He looks so so cute in his costume!!!
Also…you are making me crave molasses now!!
Madder than a wet hen is a classic! I mean, seriously, imagine a wet hen. Now imagine how mad that hen must be! 🙂 Robbie was a trooper in his costume this year…he scrambled all over the place like a wild little man…err, dog. Haha! Thanks, Z!
omg the expression on Robbie’s face. I hope you gets you back one day! Maybe I will pin it so it stays on the WWW forever!
Okay, I am stealing Kiss my grits- In fact, I’m going to end my next blog post with it. Seriously. Kiss my grits. That sounds so random and cool at the same time. While I’m not the biggest fan of molasses in huge doses, this cookies would rectify that.
Oh, I suspect Robbie will get us back…tenfold…for all of these hilarious pics. Heck, he kept us up most of the night last night as he doesn’t know how to handle this time change for Daylight Savings. That’s payback, right? 🙂
And I fully expect to read ‘kiss my grits’ in your next post. Seriously. I’m gonna be madder than a wet hen if you don’t use it! 🙂
What can I say – I am totally guilty- I love chewy cookies! I think I would have no issues eating the whole jar by myself 🙂 Your Grandma sounds amazing – love how she says “C’mere and gimme some sugar” that is just great! My Grandma did not make me cookies but I loved her rice puddings. Grandma’s are just the best thing 🙂 Love Robbies costume – he is soo cute!
I’m right there with ya, Miriam! Sometimes I love a good crunchy cookie, but more often than not I side with the chewy kind instead. And these molasses cookies are awesomely chewy! Ooo…I haven’t had a good rice pudding in so long! Isn’t it funny how we associate foods with our grandparents? I love taking a step down memory lane and thinking back to all of the fun I had growing up! Some may call that living in the past, but I say I’m just appreciating my childhood! 🙂
Those sayings are too funny, David! We definitely have our own unique sayings here in Newfoundland too and I’m sure most people wouldn’t have a clue what they mean. And we definitely have our own unique accent in Newfoundland. I don’t hear it as much (duh, ’cause I’m from here), but anyone not would notice it. Kinda like a mix of Irish and English…..maaaaaybe??
Ok, these cookies! Pinning! I love molasses, though I don’t use it a lot lot, but definitely use it. I even love molasses on buttered bread or fish n brewis (local dish). I’m so excited to think about the holidays and these would hit the spot for sure!
OMG, Robbie is SO cute!! He doesn’t look to impressed your taking his pic, though, lol 😀 Have a lovely weekend!
Oh, I curl with a guy from Newfoundland, so I know all about your unique sayings! Haha! Oh my gosh, and the Newfoundland accent! He can turn it on and off, but man I love listening to him talk in that accent. Anyways, cookies. The holidays are more or less here, and that means it’s time for cookies! I don’t think I’ve ever tried molasses on buttered bread, but now I want to go into the kitchen and give that a shot. I can see how it would be delicious! I hope you had an amazing weekend, Dawn! I was traveling last week, so I’m trying to get back into the swing of things now. 🙂
Huge molasses fan, but always seem to forget about it, too. Nothing like that flavor. Now I gotta say Robbie rocked it, nice job! I guess truth be told “kiss my grits” is one that always stuck in my head, but my dad would say the “Slower than molasses in January.” one often too and he is from San Francisco, go figure!
Yeah, I have no idea why I forget about molasses…but I’m glad I stumbled across that jar in my pantry. These cookies turned out quite well! Sounds like your Dad had some Southern roots in there somewhere! 🙂 Thanks so much, Kevin!
Robbie looks so cute in that costume. These cookies look so perfect and delicious. Love it!
Thank you so much, Kushi! Robbie loved his costume this year…he didn’t want to take it off! 🙂
Great cookies. Why are they orange? I assumed there was pumpkin/squash/sweet potatoes in them. Doesn’t molasses make everything dark brown? Maybe I’m thinking blackstrap molasses? When I moved to Dallas for my first job, I felt like I was in a foreign country! The accent, the sayings, oh my. Great post, and beautiful cookies.
Hey Mimi! I’d say these cookies turned out more light brown than orange. Molasses does indeed turn a batter/cookie dough brown…but it all depends on how much you use. I only used 1/3 cup of molasses here compared to say 3/4 cup which is what I use when making gingerbread. Thus the lighter color! Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!
Robbie is looking so cute David. And the cookies are simply awesome. 🙂
Thank you so much, Puja! 🙂
That’s amazing that your grandma is 100! I’ll admit, I have not heard a few of these sayings… Can you tell that I’m not from the south?! Ha.
It’s funny how our tastebuds change as we get older. I used to hate black licorice-tasting things like molasses, but now I kinda like it. I don’t think I’ve ever made molasses cookies before, but right now they sound pretty good to me!
And I love the Robbie Halloween picture! Babies in Halloween costumes are too adorable.
Hey, you have to be from the country to know some of these sayings…but I totally remember my Grandma saying several of them when I was a kid. Especially the one about being madder than a wet hen! Thanks so much, Nicole! We had a blast dressing Robbie up for Halloween this year. He didn’t know what was happening, but we certainly still enjoyed it. 🙂
David, your recipes are sure taking a decidedly Southern turn. Like you, I have a jar of molasses in my pantry that I rarely use. This looks like a great way to use it up. Thanks for the recipe.
Hey, what can I say? I just go through these phases where I miss the South. So I make up for it with Southern recipes. 🙂 These cookies are the bomb, though. Chewy and molassesy…just like the ones grandma made when we were kids.