Irresistible Banana Molasses Cookies: A Spiced, Soft, and Chewy Delight

Banana Molasses Cookies offer a delightful twist on a classic treat, boasting a wonderfully soft and pillowy texture. This is achieved through the perfect combination of sweet, ripe bananas and a harmonious blend of warm, inviting spices. Far from just satisfying a sweet tooth, this molasses cookies recipe delivers a unique and rich flavor profile, elevating the traditional cookie experience to new heights. If you’re searching for a comforting and flavorful baked good, these spiced banana cookies are an absolute must-try.

The inclusion of ripe bananas in this banana cookie recipe isn’t just for flavor; it also provides natural sweetness and abundant moisture, allowing you to potentially reduce the amount of refined sugars without compromising taste. The deep, rich notes of molasses perfectly complement the sweetness of the bananas, while a thoughtfully chosen array of spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves enhances the overall aroma and warmth. The result is a batch of exquisite molasses crinkle cookies that are not only incredibly tasty but also wonderfully fragrant, filling your home with the enticing scent of freshly baked goodness. They are an ideal treat for any occasion, especially during the cooler months when their warming spices truly shine.

Spiced Banana Molasses Cookies: A Seasonal Favorite

These Spiced Banana Molasses Cookies are a truly special creation, expertly blending the inherent sweetness of ripe bananas with the distinctive, rich flavor of molasses. The combination yields a cookie with an incredibly soft and tender texture, making them an instant favorite among cookie connoisseurs. Unlike many other cookie varieties, these banana molasses cookies offer a sophisticated depth of flavor that is both comforting and exciting, making them perfect for cozy evenings or festive gatherings.

The process of baking these delectable cookies is surprisingly straightforward and incredibly rewarding. With just a few common pantry ingredients, anyone can easily whip up a batch of these fresh-baked delights. For those with specific dietary needs, this recipe is quite adaptable. You can easily incorporate whole wheat flour for a more wholesome and fiber-rich option, or explore vegan alternatives for butter and eggs to create a plant-based version that’s just as delicious. The versatility of this recipe ensures that almost everyone can enjoy these scrumptious treats.

While banana recipes are wonderful year-round, molasses-based treats truly come into their own during the winter months, often starring in holiday classics like Gingerbread Cookies. These Banana Molasses Cookies offer a delightful seasonal twist, allowing you to savor the unique flavor of bananas combined with warm spices throughout the colder season. If you’re a fan of our other popular recipes like Banana Bread Cookies or Soft Ginger Molasses Cookies, you’re sure to adore this exciting new addition to your baking repertoire!

Why You’ll Adore This Banana Cookie Recipe

There are countless reasons why these Banana Molasses Cookies are destined to become a beloved staple in your kitchen. From their incredible flavor to their user-friendly preparation, every aspect of this recipe is designed for maximum enjoyment.

• Prep Them in Advance: One of the greatest advantages of this recipe is the flexibility it offers for advance preparation. The cookie dough can be easily chilled in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days before baking. In fact, many bakers find that the flavors in these cookies become even more pronounced and wonderfully melded after the dough has had a day or two to rest in the fridge. This makes them an excellent choice for entertaining, as you can do much of the work ahead of time.
• Basic Pantry Ingredients: You’ll be pleased to discover that this recipe relies on simple, everyday ingredients you likely already have on hand. Beyond the essential molasses and ripe bananas, the rest of the list comprises common pantry staples such as all-purpose flour, fragrant vanilla extract, reliable baking soda, and a selection of classic warming spices. This accessibility ensures you can whip up a batch whenever a craving strikes, without needing a special trip to the grocery store.
• Simple Recipe Steps: This isn’t a complicated baking project. The process for these cookies involves minimal fuss: a straightforward mixing of ingredients, a period of chilling to enhance flavor and texture, a quick roll into dough balls, and then baking to golden perfection. Fewer steps mean less time spent on preparation and, crucially, fewer dirty dishes to wash up afterward. The instructions are also clear and easy to follow, making this a fantastic recipe to involve children in the kitchen, turning baking into a fun and engaging family activity.

Essential Ingredients for Your Banana Molasses Cookies

Crafting the perfect Banana Molasses Cookie begins with selecting high-quality ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that sought-after soft, chewy texture and rich, spiced flavor. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need:

• Butter (½ cup, room temperature): Unsalted butter at room temperature is crucial for achieving a smooth, creamy base when mixed with sugar. It contributes richness and helps create a tender crumb in your cookies. Ensure it’s softened, not melted, for best results.
• Brown Sugar (¾ cup): Brown sugar is key for both flavor and texture. Its molasses content adds to the deep, caramel-like taste and contributes significantly to the cookies’ signature chewiness and moistness.
• Ripe Bananas (2-3): The star ingredient! You’ll need very ripe bananas, ideally with plenty of brown spots on their peels. These bananas are naturally sweeter and softer, providing essential moisture and intense banana flavor without the need for excessive added sugars.
• Molasses (¼ cup): This is where the cookies get their distinctive dark color, robust flavor, and incredible chew. Molasses is a natural humectant, meaning it helps the cookies retain moisture, keeping them soft and fresh for longer. Use unsulphured molasses for the best taste.
• Large Egg (1): The egg acts as a binder, helping to hold the dough together and providing structure. It also contributes to the rich flavor and aids in achieving a perfectly chewy texture.
• Vanilla Extract (1 teaspoon): A staple in most cookie recipes, vanilla extract enhances and complements all the other incredible flavors, adding a layer of aromatic depth to the cookies.

• All-Purpose Flour (2 ½ cups): This provides the primary structure for your cookie dough. Ensure you measure your flour correctly, preferably by weight or by spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling it off, to avoid dense cookies.
• Baking Soda (2 teaspoons): A leavening agent that reacts with the acidic components (like molasses and brown sugar) in the dough, helping the cookies to puff up and achieve a soft, airy texture as they bake.
• Ground Cinnamon (2 teaspoons), Ground Ginger (1 ½ teaspoons), Ground Cloves (1 teaspoon): This trio of warm spices is what truly brings the “spiced” element to these cookies. Cinnamon adds sweetness, ginger provides a gentle heat, and cloves offer a pungent, aromatic note, all harmonizing beautifully with the banana and molasses.
• Salt (½ teaspoon): A small amount of salt is crucial for balancing the sweetness and enhancing all the wonderful flavors in the cookies, making them more pronounced and well-rounded.
• Powdered Sugar (for dusting): After baking and cooling, a light dusting of powdered sugar adds a beautiful finishing touch and an extra hint of delicate sweetness. This step is optional but highly recommended for both presentation and taste.

How to Make Delicious Banana Molasses Cookies

Follow these detailed steps to create a batch of perfect Banana Molasses Cookies that are sure to impress.

Dough Preparation

1. Cream Wet Ingredients: Begin by combining the softened room-temperature butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Use the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until the mixture is light, creamy, and smooth. This creaming process incorporates air, which contributes to the cookies’ tender texture.
2. Add Liquid Flavors: Next, add the mashed ripe bananas, rich molasses, the large egg, and fragrant vanilla extract to the creamed butter and sugar. Continue to mix on medium-low speed until all these wet ingredients are thoroughly combined and incorporated into a cohesive mixture. Don’t overmix; just ensure everything is uniform.
3. Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, and salt. Whisking ensures these ingredients are evenly distributed, preventing pockets of leavening agents or spices in your cookies.
4. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the whisked dry ingredients to the bowl of wet ingredients in the stand mixer. Mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are just combined with the wet mixture. Be careful not to overmix the dough, as this can lead to tough cookies. Mix only until no streaks of flour remain.

Chill the Dough

The dough for these Banana Molasses Cookies will be quite sticky immediately after mixing. It is absolutely essential to chill it to make it easier to handle and to enhance the flavors. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or for an even richer flavor, up to 3 days. The longer chilling time allows the spices and molasses to meld more deeply, resulting in a more complex and satisfying taste experience.

Assemble for Baking

1. Prepare Oven and Sheets: When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This prevents sticking and ensures even baking. Set the prepared baking sheets aside.
2. Scoop and Space: Using a medium-sized cookie scoop (about 1.5 to 2 tablespoons), scoop out portions of the chilled cookie dough. Place the dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. This spacing allows the cookies to spread without touching each other.

Bake to Perfection

1. Bake Cookies: Carefully place the baking sheets into the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes. Look for visual cues: the cookies should appear slightly cracked on top, and the edges should look set. It’s important to remember that the centers will still be very soft when you remove them from the oven, as they will continue to firm up as they cool. Avoid overbaking if you want to maintain a soft, chewy cookie.
2. Cooling Process: Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a solid 2 to 3 minutes. This crucial resting period allows the cookies to set slightly, preventing them from breaking when you transfer them. After this initial cooling, gently transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Finishing Touch

1. Dust with Powdered Sugar: Once the cookies have cooled completely on the wire rack, give them a beautiful finish by dusting them generously with powdered sugar using a fine-mesh sieve or a powdered sugar duster. This adds an elegant touch and a subtle extra layer of sweetness. Serve these delightful cookies and enjoy every spiced, chewy bite!