Easy Ginger Cookies {Soft, Crispy, Chewy}

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Quick, easy old fashioned, traditional ginger cookies recipe, made with simple ingredients. Packed with fresh ginger, cinnamon, molasses. Crispy but soft and chewy on the inside! Perfect for Christmas holidays.

Easy Ginger Cookies on Rustic Wood Background.

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A big thanks goes out to my husband's colleague, Clare, who was kind enough to share her recipe with me that I am now sharing with all of you. They are soft and chewy on the inside but crispy and crunchy on the outside. They have a warm spiced flavor. Similar to these cookies, my Molasses Cookies and these Cinnamon Cookies also have incredible aromatic spices like cinnamon, nutmeg cloves. Please note that these are not Gingersnap Cookies, which are firm, crisp and can typically snap.

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Key ingredients
Variations
How to make easy spiced ginger cookies?
Tips and techniques
Recipe FAQs
Storage
More cookie recipes
Recipe

Key ingredients

Butter- For this recipe you need both salted and unsalted.
Sugar- Granulated works best to sweeten this baked good.
Ginger- This needs to be freshly grated for best flavor profile.
Egg- Be sure they are large and at room temperature.
Molasses- Adds a nice color and flavor.
Flour- Thickens the dough for premium texture.
Ground spices- This includes cinnamon and nutmeg.
Baking soda- Acts as a rising agent.

Ingredients for recipe in separate bowls on rustic wood background.

Variations

For triple ginger flavor- Use 3 sources of ginger in my recipe. Add ¼ cup roughly chopped crystallized ginger. Also, mix in ¼ teaspoon ginger powder and finally, add ½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger.
Add zest- Lemon and ginger pair wonderfully. Mix in 1-2 teaspoon lemon zest in the dough.
For super crunchy texture- These cookies are only crunchy on the outside. If you want to make them super crunchy, you can flatten the dough balls, prior to baking and also bake for a little longer. They will become firmer and even more crunchier as they cool down.
To make big cookies- Use a large cookie scoop to make large dough balls. Just remember you will have to bake them for longer too.
Instead of rolling them in plain boring granulated sugar- Consider rolling them in Homemade Cinnamon Sugar (2 Ingredients).
Decorate them- By drizzling melted chocolate on them once they cool completely. You can also make them thumbprint style and fill the centers with melted chocolate, jam, sprinkles, frosting and even edible flowers (homemade or store-bought). Here is my tutorial on How to Make Fondant Flowers and follow this tutorial on How to Make Royal Icing Flowers (Sugar Flowers). Finally, check out this tutorial on Easy Wafer Paper Flowers.
Pack them as a homemade gift for Christmas holidays- They are a perfect addition to my Christmas Cookie Boxes. These are some Food and Cookie Packaging Ideas to help you along.
Add chocolate flavor- By mixing in some mini chocolate chips in the dough. I don't recommend adding cocoa powder because that will dry out the dough. Another option is that once they cool, you can dip them halfway in melted chocolate.

How to make easy spiced ginger cookies?

Butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar being creamed together in glass bowl.

1. Cream butter and sugars- Until light and fluffy.

Eggs and molasses added to creamed mixture.

2. Add remaining wet ingredients- This includes egg and molasses.

Wet ingredients being mixed together in glass bowl.

3. Mix- Until a thick dough begins to form.

Dry ingredients added to wet ingredients in glass bowl.

4. Add all the dry ingredients- This includes spices, ginger, baking soda, and flour.

5. Mix- Until you have a crumbly mixture.

Hands being used to knead cookie dough in glass bowl.

6. Knead with your hands- To combine into a smooth dough.

7. Form dough- Into small balls.

Dough balls being rolled in bowl of granulated sugar.

8. Coat in sugar- Then bake and enjoy.

Whole and Partially Eaten Cookies on Rustic Wood Background.

Tips and techniques

Use both, salted and unsalted butter- Because that creates the best flavor profile. It's not too sweet and not too salty and is very balanced.
If the dough is too soft to roll into balls- Chill in the fridge for 30-40 minutes to make it easier to handle.
There is no baking powder in this recipe. Only baking soda is used and that helps to create the crackly appearance. Do not replace baking soda with baking powder.
Adjust the amount of spices- Based on your preference.
Both, granulated and brown sugar, are required- In this recipe to create the perfect texture. Don't replace one with the other.
All ingredients must be at room temperature- So that they blend together evenly.
Gluten free option- I have tried Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 gluten free blend and it works well in this recipe.
Line cookie tray- To prevent cookies from sticking to the pan.

Spiced Swedish Cookies With Yellow Chocolate Drizzle on Rustic Wood Background.

Recipe FAQs

Are gingersnaps and molasses cookies the same thing?

They have similar spiced flavors but the key difference is texture. Gingersnaps are crispy cookies that can snap while the other two are usually soft and chewy

What can I use instead of molasses (substitute)?

I don't recommend any substitutions because the flavor and texture will change because molasses has a very deep and rich flavor. Typically, maple syrup and honey are considered to be a good replacement but I did not enjoy that substitution.

How to make chewy cookies?

This chewy texture generally comes from molasses and brown sugar, which are two crucial ingredients in this recipe. Also, be sure not to over mix the dough.

Spiced Thumbprint Cookies With Fondant Flower Decoration.

Storage

Room temperature- Store in a cookie jar for up to 3 days.
Refrigerate- Store in a sealed container for up to 1 week.
Freeze- Place in a sealed container for up to 1 month. Thaw and enjoy.
Make ahead- These can easily be made ahead of time by following the instructions above.

Recipe