Molasses Cookie Balls
By: Roni | Posted in: 1 WWP, 2 WWPP, Cookie Ideas, Dessert Ideas | 45 Comments
I made these on a complete whim this morning. A few days ago I caught this Molasses Cookie recipe post on Black Book Kitchen Diaries and the seed was planted. Molasses cookies! I couldn’t get them out of my head. I thought about them for days.
Of course I "Roni-fied" the recipe. I wanted to see how far I could stretch the idea of a cookie without butter or sugar (inside the cookie at least) and I’m happy to say these came out delicious! They, of course, didn’t spread and crack like traditional molasses cookies but the flavor was perfect. I know I’ve said this before but they are sweet without being too sweet (always my goal) and the touch of sugar crystals on the outside make them have more of an authentic feel.
Here’s what I did. 
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1/2 cup applesauce (122g)
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup of molasses (84g)
- 1/4 cup honey (85g)
- 2 1/2 cups whole whole wheat white flour (300g)
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp of salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- About 1 tbsp of your favorite sugar for rolling (white, raw, organic, even splenda crystals should work)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium bowl, mix together the oil, applesauce, egg, honey, and molasses on medium speed until well mixed and smooth.
In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger.
Add the flour mixture to the molasses mixture and mix thoroughly forming the dough. It will be thick.
Pinch a small amount of dough (enough to make a ball around 3/4 of inch in diamter) and roll the dough into small rounds. Roll the balls in a little sugar.
If you find the dough is starting to get hard to work with pop the bowl in the fridge in between batches. It helps to keep it cool.
Place cookies on baking sheets sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake for 10 minutes. Here’s a little before/after.
Here’s the best part… 2 cookies for a point! Not too shabby.. huh? :)
Little Guy came home from school, had one, and said, “MMMMmmmm MMMMMmmm these are AWESOME!” and I’m not even exaggerating. It made me so happy. :) The husband liked them, but he won’t eat any. *eye roll* I’ve given up on him. :)
| Servings | Amt per Serving | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 2 cookies | ||
| Calories | Fat | Fiber | WWPs |
| 65 | 2g | 1g | old: 1 new: 2 |
| Sugar | Sat Fat | Carbs | Protein |
| 3g | 0 | 11g | 2g |
Other ideas you may enjoy... |
Digg it | It's del.icio.us | Stumble This | 45 Comments » © 2007-2012 by Roni
Perfect timing! I’ve been going through my cabinets trying to use up stuff and saw a bottle of molasses that I never use. I’ll have to try this recipe this weekend. Thanks!
OH! Good Lord! Those look DIVINE! (and I can eat a package of molasses cookies!) I may have some restraint issues with these! lol
I absolutely LOVE molasses and can’t wait to give these a try. They sure are pretty, too, Roni.
These look delicious but some people in my family don’t like whole wheat flour. Do you think you could use 1/2 and 1/2 ww flour? Do I need to change any of the proportions?
Thanks for another good one Roni!
I meant to say 1/2 all purpose and 1/2 whole wheat flour.
Thanks again Roni!
I’m sure you can but I’d try 100% they probably wouldn’t even notice. Especially if you use the whole wheat white. But I’m sneaky like that. ;)
I’ll have to try it out and if they don’t notice, I’ll let you know!
This are delicious! I just made them. I was a little worried they’d be too “healthy” for my coworkers, but they are so delicious I don’t think they’ll even know they’re healthy. This is definitely a new favorite! Thanks!
*These are delicious. Yikes, late night grammar.
OMG You made them SO fast! LOL
Glad you liked them. I was hoping someone would test the recipe for me! Let me know what your co-workers think! :)
Hey Roni! I wanted to share a tip with you when it comes to molasses cookies — add 1/2 to 1 tsp. ground black pepper. It sounds crazy but it gives them that little tangy warmth that makes it taste like the holidays. It’s sort of like adding salt when you use sugar — seems odd but makes the sugar pop. The black pepper makes the cinnamon and ginger much better. Thanks for the healthy spin, I’ll have to give these a whirl.
Between these and all the other treats you have made recently – I see baking in my future! The great thing is – I plan on freezing variety packs of treats – that way I can pull a pack out and we can enjoy multiple types of treats…not just one!
Thanks for putting the RONI-SPIN on these – This is my husbands favorite kind of cookie! Can’t wait to see his reaction… :O)
Annalisa -Interesting! I will totally try that!
Kim – Great idea! I’m baking more now to prepare for the holidays. I want a variety of healthy options in my pocket when I host thanksgiving and travel for Christmas! :)
It’s not printing right for me :(
Thanks for the heads up! Try it now.. let me know. :)
Yes, it worked now, thank you
thank you so much
I love you recipes
Such a pretty photo and tin for the cookies!
I love holiday time!
These look delicious and I think I’d eat the entire batch in 2 days. Then again, if 10 cookies are 5pnts, I can totally enjoy it guilt free!
I just had to tell you–I’m at work right now and my coworkers are devouring the cookies! Each of them has told me “I could eat the whole box of these!” And they really are. I’m glad I left some at home for myself :)
I told someone that they were healthy and they looked at me like I was an idiot and said, “Yeah, right…” I guess the secret’s safe with me!
OMG.. That’s so awesome! Thanks for letting me know!!
I made some similar cookies that I saw on mckmamas website completely on a whim. My husband liked them. I had to use flax seed and water instead of an egg because I was out. They were moist and fabulous. I’ll try these next week.
This recipe isn’t too sweet and uses maple syrup and molassas as sugars. I didn’t have the sucanant so I used regular sugar. I also flattened them out after basically putting them in balls like yours. These don’t spread at all.
http://mycharmingkids.net/2010/10/grandma-florences-ginger-cookies/
These look amazing! I will try making these!! :) Thank you
Yum! I love molasses. These look like gingerbread cookies but better.
I really want to make these tonight, they look soooo good. But I only have whole wheat flour and white flour… do you think I could use a combo of those?
Oops, just noticed that someone else asked a similar question… that’ll teach me to read the comments *after* I comment! ;) And again, thanks for all your work, love love love your recipes. I’ll be first in line for your cookbook when it comes out. :)
Im learning to love molasses…but Im always a fan od things rolled in sugar!
Did these stay soft? I love soft molasses cookies. When I make the recipe I have, I store them in a container with a slice of bread to keep them soft. Some people put an apple in the container instead of bread, and I hear that works, too. I think my boys might like making these with me…I’ll let you know when we try it.
They are still soft! I just have them in that tin so I’m surprised. They even seem more cake like now. It’s weird. I had 3 with breakfast. :)
I made them last night with all whole wheat flour and they turned out GREAT, very soft. And 4-year-old approved… I even put one in his lunch today and two in mine. ;)
I can not wait to try this recipe. I have a chocolate recipe that the cookies turn out about the same.
I think some frosting would be good on these… just kidding!
This recipe looks great. I’m starting to look for “lite” cookie recipes to make for holiday presents.
Made these today with 1/2 reg. flour and 1/2 whole wheat. The dough didn’t get stiff enough to form balls so i spooned them onto the sheet, sprinkled w/sugar and baked. I got 43 cookies and they are delish!! Thx for this and all your other fab recipes!!!
Made these tonight. YUMMY! Only problem, I don’t think I made enough. :). Thankfully they were real easy.
made these – My 5 year old said – “hhhhmmmm mom, deliscious! Can you make them again?”
On the pregnancy front – congrats on another boy – My firstborn was born 7/05 and my 2nd was 2/10 – I am so happy with them…they are such a joy and i couldnt imagine my family an other way….congrats again!
I made these last night! So yummy, but I think mine turned out bigger than the ones in the picture (oops). My boyfriend ate three straight out of the oven. It’s morning here in Australia and I intend on having one with a cup of coffee.
Roni- thanks for putting together such great websites. I have been a lurker for a while now, but just wanted to say “great job”!
I have all of these ingredients on hand! Looks like we’ll be having cookies for dessert this week!
Made them, kids LOVED them – and my kids are PICKY!! So doing them for my Christmas cookie bake.
Roni- how many cookies does this make?
Sorry! You should get about 60.
Hi, Roni
I saw these and they look delicious! I have one question..it says 2 cookies for 1 point, but then in the little box it says 2 points?
thank you!
Brenda
Totally a typo. I just recalculated to make sure!
Thank you for telling me! now I can make these and enjoy them. I can’t wait!! Thanks for all you do! It makes following ww so much easier.
Brenda
Ok! I just had to share! I baked these and brought them to our Christmas tea last night. These were delicious!! I had some left over so I put them in a baggie in the freezer. My husband and kids all loved them too.
thank you Roni!
FYI-I made the mckmama’s too and didn’t like them. They hardened really quickly…and there was something else that was just ‘off’ about them. I just can’t remember since it’s been a year.
I’ll try making these next week. I love molasses cookies and try every recipe I can find!