Old Fashioned Cinnamon Snaps – Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies Recipe

Cinnamon Snaps are a soft molasses cookie that’s big on flavor. The combination of butter and Crisco gives a perfectly soft interior and slightly crisp exterior that reminds you of an old fashioned molasses cookie recipe.

Old Fashioned Cinnamon Snaps Recipe

There’s one important detail that you need to know. These are Grandma’s Cinnamon Snap Cookies. And you know if there’s a grandma involved, then they have to be amazing.

Actually, these belong to my friend Maryann’s Grandma Clemons. When I was visiting, Maryann let me flip through a cookbook of all her Grandmother’s recipes, and I made sure to leave with a handful that I wanted to try. And these Molasses Snaps made the shortlist.

The second thing  you need to know about these Molasses Crinkle Cookies is that they are super soft in texture. There’s nothing better than a soft molasses cookie.

Molasses Crinkle Cookies

Let me take two steps back…

First, I’m talking about THE Maryann. She’s the beauty behind several of my favorite recipes including Make Ahead Ham and Quiche, Sweet Cornbread and Tuscan White Bean Soup.

Second, her family sat down and created a cookbook of ALL Grandma’s recipes. This is utterly fantastic. If you have a mom, dad, aunt or grandma who is the world’s best cook, then you need to start a family project just like this. Have your loved one write down their recipes, compile them all, and create your own family cook book. Maryann’s family even put in their favorite memories to go along with each recipe.

Ingredient List for Molasses Cookies with Shortening

• Butter, softened
• Crisco (shortening)
• Brown Sugar
• Large Egg
• Molasses
• All Purpose Flour
• Baking Soda
• Ground Cinnamon
• Salt
• White Sugar (for rolling)

How to Make Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies Recipe (Snap Cookies)

Step by Step Instructions

1. Cream butter, shortening, brown sugar, egg, and molasses.
2. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
3. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, and mix until just incorporated.
4. Roll mixture into 1-inch balls and roll in sugar.
5. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 8-9 minutes.
6. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Storage Instructions

Let cookies cool to room temperature. Store in an airtight container on the counter.

For the full recipe steps and ingredient amounts for Grandma’s Molasses Crinkle Cookies, scroll to the recipe card at the  bottom of this post. 

What is Molasses?

Molasses is a by-product that comes from the process of making sugar.

What does molasses taste like?

Take one big whiff of molasses, and you’ll realize it has a unique smell and flavor. While molasses is sweet, it also has smoky and bitter notes to it.

What is Blackstrap Molasses?

Blackstrap molasses is a special molasses that goes through even more processing to produce a more concentrated, thicker, denser molasses. It is not interchangeable in a recipe. Only use blackstrap molasses if the recipe specifically calls for it.

Does Molasses have any health benefits?

Molasses contains several minerals including calcium, iron, selenium and copper. It also contains a lot of sugar, so be wary.

Molasses is sticky. How do I get molasses to come out of my measuring cup?

Here’s a helpful hint. Spray the inside of your liquid measuring cup with nonstick cooking spray before using.  This allows the molasses to come out quickly and easily. This also works great for honey.

What is a snap cookie?

It’s really super simple. A snap cookie is a cookie recipe that is very quick and easy to make, so easy that you can make it in the snap of a finger. Typically, snap cookies refer to ginger snaps or some type of German cookie flavored with either ginger, molasses and/or cinnamon.

Recipe FAQs

• Looking for a soft molasses cookie?  Look no farther, because these molasses crinkle cookies are super soft.
• These Cinnamon Snap Cookies are also called Molasses Crinkle Cookies.
• These Molasses Snap Cookies call for both butter and Crisco (shortening).  Be sure to follow the instructions. This is what gives these Molasses Sugar Cookies such an amazing texture.
• Crisco is a brand of shortening. It’s fine to use generic if desired.  Crisco has shortening sticks that make measuring super easy.
• Love molasses? Try our Chocolate Chip Molasses Bars.

More Old Fashioned Cookie Recipes

Pride of Iowa Cookies

French Buttercreams

Chocolate Nut Cookies

Grandma’s Three Layer Chocolate Bars

Fudge Nut Bars

Dainty Logs

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies