I told you I would wait until fall actually started before I pulled out the pumpkin recipes and I ALMOST made it! I’m just two days early. But as a blogger, I feel like I should deliver these cookies to you now, so you can make them the second fall descends upon us on Wednesday. See how nice I am? And trust me, these are the most perfect “welcome autumn” celebration cookies. Also, welcome to my sugar dreams.
Besides pumpkin, what does fall have me craving? Those big soft molasses cookies from Starbucks. You know the ones, right? Heaven. And lots of ginger, too. So, why not combine both for a Molasses Ginger Cookie? I knew I wanted a soft cookie over a crispy one and I found the most perfect recipe.
But the cookies needed something more. Something a bit more pumpkin-y. If I’m going fall, I’m going all the way. So I decided to whip up a sweet pumpkin dip. I know, I know, let’s dip the sugary cookies into more sugar? Shush. Sometimes you need a little sweet fix, especially alongside a mug of strong black tea. Or coffee.
Molasses Ginger Cookies (makes 1 dozen large cookies):
- 2 1/4 C all-purpose flour
- 2 t ground ginger
- 1 t baking soda
- 3/4 t ground cinnamon
- 1/2 t ground cloves
- 1/4 t salt
- 3/4 C (1.5 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 C sugar, plus 2 T sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 T water
- 1/4 C molasses
Making the cookies is simple enough and will take you no time at all.
Just combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt and whisk together.
Then cream together the butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy.
Then add in the egg and combine.
Now for the fun part. Mix in the water and molasses.
Now we’re talking. That’s some pretty batter!
Then stir the dry ingredients into the buttery molasses batter. With a pink spatula if you have one.
And form little balls with the batter. How big they are depends on how big you want the cookies to be. I wanted large ones (like Starbucks!) so I used about 1.5 T of dough for each. And ended up with 1 dozen cookies.
And roll the dough balls around in some more sugar because um, why not? Plus, it makes the cookies prettier and adds some crunch!
I made sure to spread them out on the cookie pan (isn’t it the worst when you bake cookies and they turn into one giant cookie?!). I fit six cookies per cookie tray.
And bake them at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. I wanted them to stay nice and soft.
And they did! I checked them at 8 minutes and ended up giving them another 2.
I let them cool a bit (but not a lot because I wanted WARM cookies!) and whipped up come sweet pumpkin dip.
Sweet Pumpkin Dip:
- 16 oz. light cream cheese
- 1 can pumpkin
- 1 C powdered sugar
- 1 t cinnamon
- 1 t ginger
Mix together the cream cheese and pumpkin.
An electric mixer is a good idea here. But not totallyyy necessary.
Add in the powdered sugar and spices and mix well. Then pop in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. And voila.
Now get your cookie on!
And get your dip on, too.
Then put it all together.
And dip it!
I mean, come on.
Once you start, you won’t be able to stop.
Which is why you should probably wait to make these for a party.
Otherwise, you’re just asking for trouble. And a plate full of molasses ginger cookies will suddenly disappear.
What? I mean, did someone say sugar overload? Hellooo, I’m going to go run around the block a few times. BRB.
Back. And I need another cookie.
Seriously though, these cookies will have your entire kitchen smelling like fall. They were different than my beloved Starbucks molasses cookies. They weren’t as chewy. But they’re incredibly soft, with a hint of ginger, which is exactly what I was craving.
And the sweet pumpkin dip is out of this world. I made a HUGE batch, which means I’ll be dipping all kinds of otherwise healthy foods in it. The perfect veggie dip? Or how about as a sandwich spread? Apples? I’m going to smother the heck out of an apple with this. I might also just eat the dip with a spoon. All I know is, I’m thrilled to have a bowl of this in my fridge as we speak.
Fall, I’m welcoming you with open arms. And sweatpants with elastic waistbands. Come on, when a chill hits the air you need to indulge a little bit.
What’s your favorite fall indulgence?
[Sues]
I feel like I just ate this. I also feel like it was amazing. In fact I may just go and check the fridge for some left overs. So good!
I want that cookie! And that dip looks amazing! I think my favorite fall indulgence is pumpkin pie… but that pumpkin dip may be my new favorite fall treat. Can’t wait to try it!
Oh. my. goodness. Looks fantastic. I love pumpkin (and ginger, and molasses.) I love that you made a dip to accompany the cookies.
I will definitely be thinking about these cookies and that pumpkin dip on Wednesday. Definitely the perfect way to welcome fall!
You could just serve that pumpkin dip on its own. Honestly. Seriously. Really you should.
Cookies AND dip – that just sounds incredible. Who needs pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving when there’s something like this on the table?
I’m glad you didn’t wait! These cookies look marvelous…and you’ve made a pumpkin dip?? OMG. After reading the recipe, do you serve the dip with a spoon? Cause I’d eat that all by itself!
mmmm! Gotta love a good giant cookie. And I bet they smelled awesome baking. ah! Favorite fall indulgence- starbucks pumpkin spice & crustless pumpkin pie. Amazing
Oh those look great! I love the idea of a dip for a cookie!
What a great recipe. I love these kind of cookies! It’s never too early to start introducing fall recipes
Magda
i’m excited for lots of pumpkin foods this fall! these cookies sound amazing, can’t wait to try them!
ooh the dip totally takes this up a notch! what a good call. pumpkin bread, chais and candy corn are my fall indulgences. can’t wait for that last one 😉
Yum! I LOVE pumpkin cookies – these look delicious! I plan on whipping up my pumpkin chocolate chip cookies soon.
Annnnnnd now I want some pumpkin dip 🙂
Laura
Pumpkin cheesecake is definitely my fall indulgence. This pumpkin dip looks so good…maybe as a spread for a panini? Yum!
pumpkin dip?! I may have found my next guilty pleasure. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Pumpkin is DEFINITELY one of my favorite fall flavors. I get so excited when pumpkin starts making its way back into my daily coffee! I think dipping cookies in something other than chocolate is a stroke of genius and the flavor combination you have here sound amazing. Definitely dip apples into that stuff! YUM!
Wow! The cookies look great and the dip takes your recipe to a whole nother planet. You can pipe me on board :-). I hope you are having a great day. Blessings…Mary
I can see all of the possibilities with that pumpkin dip and I’m sure it is fantastic with a crisp tart apple, yum! I love anything pumpkin, crisps and cinnamon for fall.
great idea, serving these cookies at a party, all I can imagine right now is the smell from these filling the house… yuuummm…. I love fall!!!
I personally decided it was fall as soon as I saw winter squash at the farmer’s market. Which was two weeks ago. case closed, end of story.
This dip sounds fantastic! What I STUFFED it inbetween the cookies. Like a molasses pumpkin oreo. Moan.
Total swoon. These cookies & pumpkin dip sound amazing, and the photos are great!
My favorite fall indulgence… that’s tough. Any baked good with tons of cinnamon and other warm spices; pumpkin treats; and apple crisp. Oh, how could I almost forget apple cider doughnuts?! Ok, pretty much any fall-themed sweet is my favorite indulgence :).
Wow! can I just say drool?? I want to dip EVERYTHING in that pumpkin dip!! So glad you found my blog! yours is great!
you’re feeding all my autumn cravings with just one cookie! the pumpkin dip/icing is such a brilliant idea!
Oh my…I need to make these soon. I love ginger molasses cookies with a serious passion. The pumpkin dip sounds pretty tasty too!
I could take a bath in that dip – looks delicious!
These sound delicious! I’m going to make them for my book club next month! I might have missed a link somewhere, but could you provide a briefer version of your recipes for printing? I love the pictures, but I printed this out and it took 16 pages!
OH MY LANTA.
Ginger and Molasses is my favorite favorite cookie…i have never ONCE considered making them. I will wonder no more on boredom baking day… i pretty much have everything except molases. and taht would just give me more and more reason to make molasses cookies, right?
Wowsa! That looks so good!!! I kind of want to make the sweet pumpkin dip to go on top of waffles, is that strange?
mmmmm pumpkin bread here i come! but my favorite fall indulgence is warm apple pie with haagan daz 5 vanilla ice cream!
wow. that looks amazing. i’m almost scared to make them b/c i know a food massacre would follow
Those sound amazing! I need that pumpkin dip!
What a fantastic idea – the cookies alone sound addicting and then in that pumpkin dip – mmmm! I’m already looking forward to breaking out my pumpkin too 🙂
Pumpkin dip sounds amazing!
My fave fall indulgence is warm apple cider :).
those definitely look like my kind of cookies! i’m in love with all of these fall flavors. a pumpkin dip is a really creative combo…you are so right, these are dangerous w/o a party!
that dip looks so good! i made pumpkin oatmeal to celebrate the start of fall this morning! 🙂
Looks delish! Can’t wait to try. PS: I don’t think your feed page is working…I can’t get you in my google reader.
wow what a great pairing! my favorite fall treat is apple crumb pie 🙂
Wow. Great recipe!
I made these, I was in such a rush, I FORGOT the baking soda!, They didnt spread, but came out chewy and great. Pretty tasty mistake!
Thanks for the recipe!
Wow, cookies dip, and lots of pumpkin. I like this recipe.
try the dip in a sandwich wrap with spinach, thinly sliced green apples, and shredded carrots.
Those cookies look amazing. I think I’m going add this to my holiday cookie list.