Molasses is the essential ingredient in gingerbread cookies, providing the chewy texture and almost burnt sugar flavor that characterizes the treat. But with so many varieties ― light versus ...

According to The Cook’s Thesaurus, an online cooking encyclopedia, molasses is the brownish-black, thick, syrupy liquid left behind after granulated sugar is extracted from sugar cane.

Molasses makes a dynamic addition to both sweet and savory dishes due to its sweet, bitter, earthy flavor. Here are some creative ways to use this ingredient.