By Alexandra EmanuelliView →
AMERICAN HISTORY
Joe Froggers Are the Centuries-Old Cookies I Can't Stop Eating
★★★★★
5.0 (260)|(2 Reviews)Historic 200-year-old Massachusetts sea-captain cookies spiced with dark molasses, ginger, cloves, and a splash of rum.
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By Sara Bir (Recipe Developer)•Published April 12, 2026
⏱ 1 hr 38 mins (incl. chill)
Simply Recipes / Sara Bir🔥 190 kcal
WHY MAKE THIS
- Chewy centers with sugar-sparkled crackly edges.
- Rich historic American molasses flavor.
AMERICAN HISTORY
Joe Froggers Are the Centuries-Old Cookies I Can't Stop Eating
Created in Marblehead, Massachusetts in the late 1700s by freedman Joe Brown: large chewy molasses cookies made with dark rum and sea water that stayed fresh for months aboard seafaring schooners. Spiced with ginger and cloves with chewy edges. Difficulty: Easy.
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time12 mins
Total Time1 hr 38 mins (incl. chill)
Servings16 servings
Scale Recipe:
📱Keep Screen Awake While Cooking
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups flour & 1 1/2 tsp ginger & 1 tsp cloves & 1 tsp nutmeg & 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup butter, softened & 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup dark molasses & 1/3 cup dark rum or water & 1/4 cup milk
- Granulated sugar for rolling
Directions
1
Cream butter and add molasses
Beat butter and sugar. Beat in molasses, rum, and milk. Stir in flour, spices, and baking soda. Chill dough 1 hour.
2
Roll large cookies
Roll large golf-ball-size rounds; roll in sugar. Place 3 inches apart on parchment sheets.
3
Bake chewy
Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 10–12 minutes until edges are set.
💡 CHEF'S PRO TIPS
- Dark unsulfured molasses gives these cookies their deep color and distinctive caramel bite.
Nutrition Facts
Per ServingCalories190 kcal
Protein2g
Carbs36g
Total Fat5g
Sodium: 110mg
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 2g
Community Reviews & Ratings
2 cooks have shared their thoughts on this recipe
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Sarah M.★★★★★
This has completely replaced my normal avocado toast! The beans blend so well you cannot even tell, and I stay full until lunchtime!
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David K.★★★★★
Great trick for adding protein without cooking eggs on busy mornings. Added a pinch of red pepper flakes and lemon zest—delicious.
