Disney Wilderness Lodge Molasses Cookies

Disney shared this recipe for its Molasses Crackle Cookies from Disney's Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World Resort. The result is a soft and chewy molasses cookie packed with warm spices and covered in those beautiful cracks that give the cookies their name.

Are These Really Disney's Molasses Cookies?

Yes! Unlike many of the recipes in my copycat collection, this isn't my recreation of a cookie I've tried at Disney.

This is an actual recipe released by Disney for the Molasses Crackle Cookies from Disney's Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney has shared more than one home version of the recipe over the years. I made the version with 3 cups of all-purpose flour that does not require chilling the cookie dough.

Disney does note that recipes shared for home cooks may be adapted from the larger quantities used in its restaurant kitchens, so there can be some differences from cookies served at the resort.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• An official Disney recipe. There's no need to guess how Disney makes these cookies because the recipe was actually shared by Disney.
• Even better the next day. Like many molasses and ginger cookies, the flavor continues to develop as the cookies sit. I actually think they're even better on day 2—they're softer and the warm spice flavor is even more pronounced.
• Soft and chewy. The centers stay wonderfully soft while the outside develops a pretty crackled sugar coating.
• No chilling required. I made the 3-cup-flour version of Disney's recipe, which can go straight from the mixing bowl to the oven.
• Full of warm spices. Molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves create a rich, cozy flavor.
• Simple ingredients. Everything in the recipe can be found at a regular grocery store.
• Perfect for the holidays. These have all the flavors I associate with Christmas baking and would be beautiful on a holiday cookie tray.

What Are Molasses Crackle Cookies?

Molasses crackle cookies are soft, chewy spice cookies flavored with molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.

Before baking, the cookie dough is rolled in granulated sugar. As the cookies spread in the oven, cracks form across the surface, creating the sugary, crackled appearance that gives the cookies their name.

They're similar to ginger molasses cookies and share many flavors with gingerbread, but they're softer and chewier than traditional cut-out gingerbread cookies.

Tips & Tricks

• No chilling required. The version of Disney's recipe that I made uses 3 cups of flour and doesn't require chilling. Shape and bake the cookies immediately after making the dough.
• Don't skip the sugar coating. Rolling the cookie dough in granulated sugar adds sweetness and helps create the signature crackled exterior. Disney's recipe calls for ½ cup of sugar for rolling, but I found that ¼ cup was plenty. You can reduce the total sugar in the recipe from 2¼ cups to 2 cups if you prefer.
• Don't substitute butter for the oil. Disney's recipe uses canola oil. Changing to butter can affect how much the cookies spread and change their final texture.
• Use regular molasses. I recommend regular unsulphured molasses rather than blackstrap molasses. Blackstrap is much stronger and more bitter.
• Give the cookies room to spread. Leave about 2 inches between the balls of cookie dough on the baking sheet.
• Don't overbake. Molasses cookies are delicious when they're soft and chewy. Remove them when they're set and crackled rather than baking until they're firm.

Ingredients

• Canola Oil: Disney uses canola oil instead of butter in these molasses cookies. It helps create their soft and chewy texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Sugar sweetens the cookie dough and is also used to coat the outside of each cookie before baking.
• Molasses: The star of the recipe! Molasses gives the cookies their deep color, chewy texture, and rich flavor.
• Egg: Adds structure and binds the ingredients together.
• All-Purpose Flour: I made Disney's version that uses 3 cups of all-purpose flour.
• Baking Soda: Provides leavening and helps the cookies spread and develop their crackled tops.
• Ground Ginger: Gives the cookies their signature warm, spicy flavor.
• Ground Cinnamon: Adds warmth and complements the molasses and ginger.
• Ground Cloves: A small amount adds another layer of warm spice.

A Note About Salt: You may notice that there isn't any salt in the ingredient list. That's not a typo! Disney's original recipe does not call for salt, so I didn't add any to my version.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How To Make Disney Molasses Crackle Cookies

Step 1: Mix the oil and sugar. Combine the canola oil and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl.

Step 2: Add the molasses and egg. Mix in the molasses and egg until everything is smooth and well combined.

Step 3: Combine the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.

Step 4: Make the cookie dough. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until a soft cookie dough forms.

Step 5: Shape the cookies. Portion the cookie dough using 2 Tbsp. cookie scoop and roll each portion into a ball. If you don't have a scoop, portion the cookie dough into 2" balls. There's no need to chill the dough first.

Step 6: Roll in sugar. Add granulated sugar to a small bowl. Roll each ball of cookie dough in sugar until the outside is completely coated.

Step 7: Bake. Arrange the cookie dough balls about 2 inches apart on a baking sheet. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, until the cookies have spread and the tops are beautifully crackled.

What Do Disney Molasses Cookies Taste Like?

These cookies have a deep molasses flavor balanced with plenty of warm spice.

Ginger is one of the most noticeable flavors, while cinnamon and cloves give the cookies the cozy flavor you'd expect from a holiday spice cookie. Rolling the dough in sugar adds a little sweetness and creates a slight contrast against the soft, chewy center.

If you like gingerbread, gingersnaps, or chewy molasses cookies, you'll love these. And like most molasses ginger cookies, the flavors and texture develop over time, making them even more flavorful and soft on day 2.

Molasses Cookies vs. Gingerbread Cookies

Molasses cookies and gingerbread cookies contain many of the same ingredients, but they're not quite the same thing.

Traditional gingerbread cookie dough is often rolled out and cut into shapes. The cookies need enough structure to hold those shapes as they bake.

These Disney molasses cookies are meant to spread. Instead of rolling out the dough, you'll shape it into balls and coat each one in sugar. As they bake, they spread into round, soft cookies with crackled tops.

You get many of the warm flavors of gingerbread in a much softer, chewier cookie.

Disney Wilderness Lodge Molasses Cookie FAQs

More Copycat Cookie Recipes

If you love making famous recipes at home, don't miss my growing collection of Copycat Recipes. You'll find official and copycat recipes from Disney Resorts, famous hotels, bakeries, restaurants, and nostalgic grocery-store favorites.

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