Molasses Date Cookies

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza – 2021

Well, it’s that time of year again. I’m baking, baking, baking galore! The first one I’m presenting is Molasses Date Cookies. This is a fantastic cookie for fall or holiday baking. It’s sweet and delicious. Even those who don’t enjoy dates or who have never tasted dates love these cookies. 🙂

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John begged me to bake cookies again this year. We skipped last year because of his stroke and moving to North Dallas. I got rid of so much stuff when we moved, but I did manage to save my really large stainless steel mixing bowls so we fired up the oven on October 1st and got started again.

This year I have 16 cookies that I made for our regular distribution. Plus, a cake, muffins, two kinds of sweet breads and about four other kinds of cookies that I made for trays to give out to special friends. So far we’ve baked over 3,000 cookies and have another 1,000 to 1,500 to go.

Molasses Date Cookies really are phenomenal. These luscious goodies have that vintage flavor of molasses but with dates added. That perks up the flavors and sweetness even more. My pictures show four batches, so remember that when you’re looking at amounts. If your family has nut allergies, this is a great recipe for them. If you have gluten intolerance, simply switch the regular flour to a gluten free flour like Cup4Cup. Either way, these cookies will be enjoyed by all. Enjoy the holidays.

Molasses Date Cookie are fantastic for holiday baking. 🙂

I used three cups of dates in each batch, but you can increase that amount if you really love dates.

Every bite is so delicious.

Here’s what I did.

I used these ingredients.

(Remember this is for four batches).

Place Crisco shortening, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, molasses, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.

Add soured milk or buttermilk.

Mix with an electric mixer until thoroughly mixed.

I was trying to use up dates that were whole (not chopped) like I usually buy them. I chopped them in sixths or eighths depending on size. The dates will be gooey rather than hard, tough and hollowed out in the middle.

Please note the bad dates in the above right. They are hard and hollowed out in the middle. If you come across those in the bags, discard.

Add UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour. (Bleached flour toughens baked goods). Add chopped dates.

Stir ingredients until thoroughly combined.

Using a small cookie scoop, drop cookie dough onto greased cookie sheets.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes, or until done.

Every bite will knock your socks off!

These cookies are great for Christmas or holiday parties.

This vintage recipe is a keeper!

Here’s the recipe.

MOLASSES DATE COOKIES

(My own concoction)

Molasses Date Cookies

Teresa Ambra

Molasses Date Cookies are wonderful for holiday baking. These scrumptious cookies are filled with molasses and dates and are rich and sweet. This vintage recipe will have your family and friends wondering why you haven't made these amazing cookies for the holidays before! Every mouthwatering bite is guaranteed to please. You may find you want to make these cookies more often then just for the holidays!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Cookies, Brownies and Bars, Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 72

Calories 101 kcal

Equipment

• 4 18x26" cookie sheet pans
• 1 large mixing bowl
• 1 electric mixer
• 1 wooden spoon
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• 1 spatula
• 1 small cookie scoop

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2/3 cup Crisco shortening no substitutes
• 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar packed
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg beaten
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 4 1/2 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (Bleached flour toughens baked goods)
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1 tsp. ground cloves
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 2/3 cup sour milk or buttermilk (add 1 ½ tbsp. white vinegar to 2/3 cup milk and let stand for 5-10 minutes)
• 3 cups dates chopped

Instructions

 

• Cream shortening, sugars, egg, molasses, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves and soured milk with an electric mixer until smooth.
• Stir in flour and dates with a wooden spoon until completely combined.
• Scoop cookie dough with a small cookie scoop and place onto greased baking sheets or baking sheets sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes, or until done.
• Rotate cookie sheets on racks every eight minutes while baking. Yield: 5-6 dozen cookies.
• Cool completely.

Notes

NOTE: I was making four batches at a time and the stirred mixture looked too moist. I added an extra ½ cup of flour per batch which made it 5 cups of flour (per batch) to get the correct texture. But for a single batch 4 1/2 cups should be fine.

 

NOTE: My cookies took about 16 minutes to bake.

 

^© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

 

Nutrition

Calories: 101kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 57mgPotassium: 95mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 9IUVitamin C: 0.03mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg

Keyword cookie, dates, dessert, molasses

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

A lot of people are so surprised at how wonderful Molasses Cookies taste. Add some dates and they’re even better!

While we used small cookie scoops, you can use a large one if you want whopper sized cookies.

Molasses Date Cookies are rich and sweet. Every bite goes down oh, so, well.

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Soft Molasses Sandwich Cookies

Ginger Crinkles

Date Squares

Molasses Date Cookies

Teresa Ambra

Molasses Date Cookies are wonderful for holiday baking. These scrumptious cookies are filled with molasses and dates and are rich and sweet. This vintage recipe will have your family and friends wondering why you haven’t made these amazing cookies for the holidays before! Every mouthwatering bite is guaranteed to please. You may find you want to make these cookies more often then just for the holidays!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Cookies, Brownies and Bars, Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 72

Calories 101 kcal

Equipment

• 4 18×26" cookie sheet pans
• 1 large mixing bowl
• 1 electric mixer
• 1 wooden spoon
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• 1 spatula
• 1 small cookie scoop

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2/3 cup Crisco shortening no substitutes
• 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar packed
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg beaten
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 4 1/2 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (Bleached flour toughens baked goods)
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1 tsp. ground cloves
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 2/3 cup sour milk or buttermilk (add 1 ½ tbsp. white vinegar to 2/3 cup milk and let stand for 5-10 minutes)
• 3 cups dates chopped

Instructions

 

• Cream shortening, sugars, egg, molasses, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves and soured milk with an electric mixer until smooth.
• Stir in flour and dates with a wooden spoon until completely combined.
• Scoop cookie dough with a small cookie scoop and place onto greased baking sheets or baking sheets sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes, or until done.
• Rotate cookie sheets on racks every eight minutes while baking. Yield: 5-6 dozen cookies.
• Cool completely.

Notes

NOTE: I was making four batches at a time and the stirred mixture looked too moist. I added an extra ½ cup of flour per batch which made it 5 cups of flour (per batch) to get the correct texture. But for a single batch 4 1/2 cups should be fine.

 

NOTE: My cookies took about 16 minutes to bake.

 

^© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

 

Nutrition

Calories: 101kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 57mgPotassium: 95mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 9IUVitamin C: 0.03mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg

Keyword cookie, dates, dessert, molasses

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!