Chewy and delicious pomegranate orange molasses cookies marry the flavors of pomegranate, orange, and clove flavors which are the perfect things to spice up your holiday baking! The pomegranate molasses gives these an irresistible texture that is magic in every bite.
Why You Should Make this Recipe
I love pomegranate molasses in savory cooking. Since I always have it on hand, I was inspired to make this cookie recipe. After many tests, I found the perfect balance of flavors and textures in this special twist on molasses cookies.
Soft and chewy cookies are the absolute best, and these pomegranate orange molasses cookies are the perfect combination of sweet and tart flavors. The orange adds a blast of citrus to cut through the sweet, giving the molasses cookies a delicious balanced flavor.
This cookie dough is easy to make and can be made way ahead of time if you need it, as it freezes well and bakes as if it were freshly made. If you’re looking for a fun and unique version of a molasses cookie, you’ve found it! Trust me, they’re seriously addictive.
Ingredients
pomegranate molasses – Since pomegranate molasses is on the sour side, it is not typically used in baking recipes. Molasses is the primary sweetener in this recipe, and the balance of orange and cloves in this recipe makes the sourness of the pomegranate the perfect pairing.
orange flavor – you can substitute with orange extract. The orange is a necessary element in this recipe. If you leave it out, the flavor of the cookies will not be balanced.
baking soda – this recipe uses baking soda to help spread the cookies. Do not substitute with baking powder.
Step-by-Step Recipe with Photos
With an electric mixer (link opens in new tab) or stand mixer (link opens in new tab), beat 1/4 cup of unsalted butter with 1/4 cup of dark brown sugar until light in color and texture.
Beat in 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil until well mixed.
Scrape the batter down the sides of the bowl. Then add 3 tablespoons of pomegranate molasses and 1 egg. Beat until it is well mixed.
Sift in 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, mixing in with a spatula halfway through then continuing. Use your hands if necessary.
Cover the dough and chill until firm, about 2 hours.
Heat the oven to 375°F. If the dough was chilling longer than 2 hours, let it come to room temperature for 30 minutes while the oven preheats.
Measure the dough into tablespoon-size pieces and roll each piece to form 1-inch balls.
Roll the balls in a dish with granulated sugar to coat. Put the balls 2 inches apart on lightly greased cookie sheets or a silicone baking mat (link opens in new tab).
Bake until the center surface of the cookies is barely dry, 9 to 10 minutes (don’t overbake). Let cool on the sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack (link opens in new tab) to cool completely.
These cookies will stay fresh if they are stored and covered at room temperature for 1 week. Once baked, the cookies also freeze well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
If freezing unbaked cookie dough, do so after rolling them into balls but before rolling in sugar. They will freeze well for up to 3 months. Let the dough balls sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, then roll them in granulated sugar and bake as directed.
More Pomegranate Molasses Recipes
I love cooking with pomegranate molasses. It adds a beautiful sweet and sour flavor profile to any dish. Try it in these awesome recipes.
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Pomegranate Molasses Cookies
Print Recipe SaveEquipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour 4.5 oz.
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- ½ tsp. ground cloves
- 2 tsp. orange extract or flavor
- ¼ tsp. sea salt
- ¼ cup unsalted butter softened, 2 oz.
- ¼ cup brown sugar packed tight
- 1 Tbs. vegetable oil
- 3 tbsp pomegranate molasses see notes for store-bought
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup Granulated sugar for rolling
Instructions
(Minimum) 2 Hours Before Baking
- With an electric mixer, beat the butter and brown sugar until light in color and texture.
- Beat in the oil until well-mixed.
- Scrape the batter down the sides of the bowl. Then add the pomegranate molasses, orange extract, and the egg. Beat until well-mixed.
- Sift in the flour, baking soda, cloves, and salt, mixing in with a spatula halfway through then continuing. Use your hands if necessary.
- Cover the dough chill until firm, about 2 hours.
To Bake
- Heat the oven to 375°F. If the dough was chilling longer than 2 hours, let it come to room temperature for 30 minutes while the oven preheats.
- Measure the dough into tablespoon-size pieces and roll each piece to form 1-inch balls.
- Roll the balls in a dish with granulated sugar to coat. Put the balls 2 inches apart on lightly greased cookie sheets or a silicone baking mat.
- Bake until the center surface of the cookies is barely dry, 9 to 10 minutes (don’t overbake).
- Let cool on the sheets for 5 minutes.
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
There’s something majorly off with this recipe. I did it as described and it’s not a dough, it’s a soup. I tried adding more flour (1.5 cups total), and even with that nothing would stick together, it was impossible to roll this into balls even after refrigerating. Too bad, I was really excited about it. Are we sure there is enough flour? All the other recipes I looked at have 2.5+ cups flour, I tried 1.5 and it wasn’t enough. I did try to roll this uber sticky mess into balls and in sugar (the sugar was the only thing that helped them stay together), but then they bubbled up and ran completely in the oven (as expected). Could you maybe check your quantities, to confirm they are correct?
Made my own pomegranate molasses and wanted to make cookies with it. This recipe is delicious! Cookies are very light and flavorful. Yum!
I’m so glad to hear it, Amy… thank you for sharing!
You said in your description don’t leave out the orange flavor or cookies will be soapy. Well then, you don’t say when to add the orange extract. With the liquids, I presume. I did and it worked fine. Dough is cooling. Looking forward to the baking.
You put it in at the perfect time… I’ll update the oversight now!
I really like this recipe and it seems perfect for my homemade pomegranate molasses. I’m confused because in the recipe directions step 4 says “Sift in the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt, mixing in with a spatula halfway through then continuing. Use your hands if necessary.” and yet there is no measurement for cinnamon and ginger in the ingredients. Nor in the step by step instructions. Would you please clarify? Thank you!!!
My mistake, Rachel… there is no cinnamon or ginger in the cookies.
Beautiful cookies! Easy and perfect, everything I like about holiday cookies. I was intrigued to taste the pomegranante molasses with the cloves. Was great! Thanks for sharing!
I’m so glad to hear it, Paula… thank you for sharing!
Hello Candice,
I am absolutely loving the combination of pomagranate, orange and cloves here, it is perfect fall treat. I tried these delicious cookies along with my little one, holiday fun baking begins, Yay! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Hi Farrukh… thank you so much for sharing! And glad to hear the little one cooked along with you 🙂
These cookies reminded me of all things fall! They were perfectly soft and chewy. They’ll definitely become a fixed part of the season around here.
I’m so glad to hear it, Marta!
Every year I participate in a cookie exchange and look for something just a little different. I love the pomegranate molasses and orange flavors in this one. I’m mixing a batch for the family first. It’s smells heavenly. Thank you!
I am so glad to hear it, Sandra! These are different than anything I’ve ever had, and I hope it’s the same for you!
You’ve got to try these cookies! I’ve had pomegranate molasses in my pantry for a while now and wasn’t sure what to use them for. You have lots of great suggestions on this post. And these cookies are different than anything I’ve ever had.
I am so glad to hear it, Bernice! They’re definitely different, and I’m all about special, new kinds of flavor combos. Enjoy!