Gingersnap Cookies
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Gingersnaps are the best! The combination of spices with a hint of sweetness is so nostalgic and comforting, not to mention your kitchen will smell amazing! You can’t top Grandma Jean’s recipe, they’re the perfect gingersnap cookies.
![a few gingersnaps stacked on top of each other.](https://www.jocooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/gingersnaps-1-10.jpg)
Easy Gingersnap Cookies Recipe
I got this recipe for gingersnap cookies a few years ago and eagerly wait for every Christmas to make these cookies. You know these cookies are going to be good because this is Grandma Jean’s recipe!
No, Grandma Jean is not my grandma, but she is a friend’s grandma who said that I must try her recipe; and boy am I glad I did! They are the perfect gingersnap cookies, no doubt about that. So seeing that Christmas is approaching, I urge you to make these cookies and eat as many as you can, they’re so good!
Why Make These Gingersnaps
- Easy To Make
- Simple Ingredients
- Christmas Classic
Gorgeous and perfectly round gingersnap cookies, that both look and taste amazing. Perfectly soft, sweetened, and spiced! With simple ingredients and a quick bake time, these cookies are what family traditions and holiday memories are made of!
Ingredient Notes
![overhead shot of all the ingredients needed to make gingersnap cookies.](https://www.jocooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/gingersnaps-ingredients.jpg)
- Flour – I used trusty all purpose flour.
- Salt – Salt is imperative to baking to balance the flavors, don’t skip it!
- Baking Soda – The baking soda will act as the leavener to our ginger snaps.
- Spices – We are using a combination of ground ginger, ground cinnamon and ground cloves!
- Sugar – I used granulated sugar, nothing fancy. Brown sugar can be substituted.
- Margarine or Butter – The recipe calls for butter or margarine, normally I always pick butter over margarine.
- Egg – I use large eggs whenever I bake, it helps bind everything together.
- Molasses – Molasses is going to give us that dark, deep, rich flavor and color. Honey and maple syrup both have a close enough consistency to molasses that they can be used as substitutes, but they lack that distinct molasses taste, so you might want to add more spices.
How To Make Gingersnap Cookies
![process shots showing how to make gingersnap cookies.](https://www.jocooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/gingersnaps-process-shots.jpg)
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two cookie sheets or line them with parchment paper.
- Make Cookie Dough: Sift the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and ginger together in a medium sized bowl. In another bowl, mix the 1 cup of sugar and the butter together well. Add the egg, molasses and dry ingredients; mix well.
- Form Cookies: Place the sugar in a small bowl. Form into 1-inch balls using a small cookie scoop. Roll the balls into the sugar.
- Bake and Cool: Place rolled cookies onto the prepared cookie sheets and transfer the cookie sheets to the oven. Bake for about 13 to 15 minutes. Let the cookies cool for 3 minutes on the cookie sheets, then transfer to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
![side by side photos of gingersnaps before and after baking on a baking sheet.](https://www.jocooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/gingersnaps-process-shots-2.jpg)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are My Cookies Dry?
This is a cake like textured cookie, so be sure to not over bake! If anything, under-bake them just a tiny bit as they’ll continue to bake for a couple minutes once you’ve removed them from the oven! Also big cookies take longer to cook than small ones so keep that in mind as when following the instructions!
Can I Make The Cookie Dough Ahead Of Time?
Yes you can! The dough will last in the fridge for about 2 – 3 days in an airtight container. You have the option of preparing the cookies and placing in storage until you’re ready to serve them OR prepare the dough and store until you’re ready to bake the day of!
How To Serve
These gingersnap cookies are so versatile! You can have them for dessert, with your morning coffee, take them to a party, give them as a gift, or just keep a stash of it all to yourself to eat whenever you like! Whichever option you choose, I promise you won’t be disappointed!
![gingersnaps on a baking sheet fresh out of the oven.](https://www.jocooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/gingersnaps-1-8.jpg)
Tips
- Whatever you do, don’t over bake these little babies! If you do they will dry right out.
- When storing in an airtight container, place an apple slice in with the cookies to keep them moist.
- I truly recommend picking up molasses, it is what makes this cookie!
- While some cookies dough need chilling time in the fridge, there’s no need to chill this cookie dough. Keep in mind that if you chill the dough the cookies will spread less when baked.
![overhead shot of a bunch of gingersnaps cookies.](https://www.jocooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/gingersnaps-1-12.jpg)
Storing Gingersnaps
Your gingersnap cookies will last in the fridge for about 2–3 days in an airtight container. Keep an apple slice in the container to ensure the cookies stay moist!
Freezing
You can definitely freeze these gingersnaps! Just bake them, cool them and store in a freezer bag or airtight sealed container. They will last in the freezer for up to 6 weeks and you can just pull them out as needed!
![Grandma Jean's Ginger Snaps closeups of gingersnaps cookies piled together.](https://www.jocooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/gingersnaps-1-11.jpg)
More Great Recipes To Try
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![a few gingersnaps stacked on top of each other.](https://www.jocooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/gingersnaps-1-10-750x750.jpg)
Gingersnap Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 cup sugar
- ¾ cup butter (or margarine)
- 1 large egg (at room temperature)
- ¼ cup molasses
- ½ cup sugar (for rolling cookies)
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two cookie sheets or line them with parchment paper.
- Make Cookie Dough: Sift the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and ginger together in a medium sized bowl. In another bowl, mix the 1 cup of sugar and the butter together well. Add the egg, molasses and dry ingredients; mix well.
- Form Cookies: Place the sugar in a small bowl. Form into 1-inch balls using a small cookie scoop. Roll the balls into the sugar.
- Bake and Cool: Place rolled cookies onto the prepared cookie sheets and transfer the cookie sheets to the oven. Bake for about 13 to 15 minutes. Let the cookies cool for 3 minutes on the cookie sheets, then transfer to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
Equipment
Notes
- Whatever you do, don’t over bake these little babies! If you do they will dry right out.
- When storing in an airtight container, place an apple slice in with the cookies to keep them moist.
- These cookies have a cake-like texture.
- While some cookies dough need chilling time in the fridge, there’s no need to chill this cookie dough. Keep in mind that if you chill the dough the cookies will spread less when baked.
- Your gingersnap cookies will last in the fridge for about 2–3 days in an airtight container. Keep an apple slice in the container to ensure the cookies stay moist!
- You can definitely freeze these gingersnaps! Just bake them, cool them and store in a freezer bag or airtight sealed container. They will last in the freezer for up to 6 weeks and you can just pull them out as needed!
Nutrition Information
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.