These Cardamom Ghee Molasses Cookies are my go-to treat year-round. They are soft, chewy, and have just a little crackle crunch on the exterior. They’re spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger and have that perfect chewy molasses cookie texture. Pair them with a hot cup of tea for maximum enjoyment.

Side view of small brown cookies on a baking sheet covered in sugar.

Why this Recipe Works

Ginger and spices like cinnamon and cardamom are a scrumptious match, and create that warm, rich spiced flavor in recipes.

They are perfect if you are looking for a non-chocolate option. The recipe is inspired by my travels to India and flavors found in my Persian heritage, with the cardamom and ghee (clarified butter). And the flavors pair together perfectly.

They’re easy to make and take just 45 minutes from start to finish.

Perfectly pairs with bitter black tea like Persian tea, or chai.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Ingredients to make cookies laid out on a marble countertop.

ghee – a clarified butter that is cooked for 15 minutes for added nuttiness. It adds a wonderful nutty flavor into these cookies. You can buy it at the grocery store or make your own with this ghee recipe.

molasses – I use blackstrap molasses but you can use any variety of molasses.

baking powder – if you only have baking soda, add a teaspoon of lemon juice and you can substitute with 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. You need the acid to help the baking soda react as a leavener.

How to Make this Recipe

Preheat to 375F. Mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the egg, butter, both sugars, and molasses in a large bowl.

Side by side photos of wet and dry mixtures for cookies.

Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined.

Roll 1-tbsp sized balls of dough and place on a flat surface. (Freeze the one’s you don’t want to use today on a baking sheet, and store in a sealed container in the freezer. Let them defrost at room temperature for 30 minutes before you roll them in the sugar.)

Roll in raw or turbinado sugar and place on parchment-lined baking sheets ~2-inches apart.

Side by side photos of brown cookie dough mixture and balls of cookie dough balls in sugar.

Note: You can freeze the cookie on a baking sheet after rolling them into balls. Let them come to room temperature, then roll in sugar and bake.

Bake 4 minutes. Rotate pan. Bake another 4-6 minutes, until cookies are puffed and cracked. Cool on wire racks.

Small brown cookies on parchment paper covered in sugar.

Satisfy your sweet tooth with these cookie ideas, and be sure to check out all the sweets I have to offer.

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Cookies on a baking sheet.

Cardamom Ghee Molasses Cookies

5 from 8 votes
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Cardamom Ghee Molasses Cookies are my go-to tea cookie. They're spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger and have that perfect chewy texture.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Resting Time30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Middle-Eastern
Diet: Kosher, Vegetarian
Servings: 2 dozen
Calories: 905kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • ¾ tsp ground cardamom
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup ghee room temperature
  • cup turbinado sugar
  • cup molasses
  • ¼ cup dark brown sugar packed
  • turbinado sugar more for rolling

Instructions

  • Preheat to 375F.
  • Mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and salt in a medium bowl.
  • Whisk the egg, butter, both sugars, and molasses in a large bowl.
  • Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined.
  • Roll 1-tbsp sized balls of dough and place on a flat surface. (Freeze the one’s you don’t want to use today on a baking sheet, and store in a sealed container in the freezer. Let them defrost at room temperature for 30 minutes before you roll them in the sugar.)
  • Roll in raw or turbinado sugar and place on parchment-lined baking sheets ~2-inches apart.
  • Bake 4 minutes. Rotate pan. Bake another 4-6 minutes, until cookies are puffed and cracked.
  • Cool on wire racks.

Notes

You can freeze the cookie on a baking sheet after rolling them into balls. Let them come to room temperature, then roll in sugar and bake.
Molasses does not need to be refrigerated after opening. It will keep longer in the refrigerator, but the viscosity will be unusable in baking.

Nutrition

Calories: 905kcal | Carbohydrates: 202g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 649mg | Potassium: 1527mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 102g | Vitamin A: 120IU | Calcium: 405mg | Iron: 10mg
Did you try this recipe?I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a Review to let us know how it came out, if you have a successful substitution or variation, or anything else.

10 Comments

  1. I’m looking forward to making this recipe, but you call for soda yet soda isn’t listed with a measurement in the ingredients. How much soda is used? Thanks!

  2. Would it be possible to replace the regular flour with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1to1 Baking Flour? Was happy to see the recipe calls for ghee. Since we have gluten free and dairy free family members.
    Thank you so much!

    1. Hi Maryann,
      In theory, yes. However, I have never made the substitution myself. If you try it out, please report back and let me know how it goes!
      Also, just an FYI that ghee isn’t dairy-free, just lactose free <3

      1. Thank you, Candice! I will definitely let you know how they come out. Yes, we are aware that ghee is not dairy free. For my granddaughter, ghee is fine.
        Appreciate your reply!
        Maryann

          1. Good Morning, Candice
            I promised I would let you know how the gluten free flour worked. I did use the Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1to1 Baking Flour and the cookies came out perfectly. Everything else I did the same. I did freeze the balls as you suggested and baked them the day I planned to use them. That also worked out perfectly. I liked the outside crunch with the turbinado sugar and the soft interior.
            I will definitely make them again but might change the spices. As much as I love cardamom, I’m not sure some of my family members did.
            Happy New Year!
            Maryann

          2. So glad to hear it, Maryann. I’d love to hear your spice combinations! Hubby likes it best with cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon… more of a classic take.

          3. 5 stars
            Hi Candice
            I used Bob’s Red Mill 1to1 Baking Flour and the cookies came out perfectly.
            I, also, froze the rolled dough in balls as you suggested and baked them the day I planned to use them. I loved the crunchy exterior from the turbinado sugar and the soft interior of the cookie.
            I will definitely make these again. As much as I love cardamom, next time I think my family will prefer a slight change to the spices.
            Thank you for your help. Happy New Year!
            Maryann

5 from 8 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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