Chewy Gingersnap Cookies

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Soft and Chewy Gingersnap Cookies infused with molasses, cinnamon, and cloves. These will make the perfect edible gift this holiday!

A stack of chewy gingersnap cookies on a white counter with a blue cloth napkin in the background.

Old-fashioned chewy gingersnap cookies

Gingersnaps are one of my favorite cookies to make around the holidays. Every year I whip up a batch and ship them off to family.

You really can’t go wrong with a ginger cookie. Like with these molasses cookies and salted caramel ginger macarons, they’re so good!

Growing up I would look forward to my godmother’s old-fashioned gingersnap cookies. They were the absolute best!

She would bake them every year for the holidays.

Sometimes she’d wait for me to visit and we’d make them together. I always enjoyed spending time in the kitchen with her.

I’ve made her recipe countless times over the years and it never fails to bring back sweet childhood memories.

The soft chewy texture is exactly what I love most when it comes to cookies and these chewy gingersnaps are exactly that.

They are flavored with molasses, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and brown sugar. The spices are perfectly balanced.

A close up view of chewy gingersnap cookies with crackly tops on a pieces of brown parchment paper.

Chewy ginger cookies

There are a couple of factors that aid the chewy texture of today’s cookies.

A combination of white and brown sugar is used and we all know brown sugar is amazing for creating a chewy texture.

It also adds more molasses flavor which is a bonus. The white sugar isn’t moist like brown sugar so adding some of that helps create a crispness on the outside of the cookie.

Molasses is also a culprit in the chewy factor. I used ¼ of a cup which is just enough liquid to make the cookies spread a bit.

Shortening! My beloved shortening. I am known for adding shortening to my cookie recipes to help keep them soft. I’ve used it in classic snickerdoodle cookies and the results were phenomenal.

However, it works a bit differently in today’s cookies. Yes, they are still soft in the center but the shortening works with molasses to create chewiness.

A close up view of gingersnap cookie dough in a glass bow with a cookie scoop scooping out a piece.
A hand rolling gingersnap cookie dough in white sugar in a glass bowl.
Gingersnap cookie dough balls rolled in sugar lined up on a baking sheet.

I roll my gingersnaps in granulated sugar before baking. This will add to the crispiness of the exterior but does nothing for the soft, chewy center.

I’m all for contrasting textures but you can skip the sugar rolling if you want. Or you can roll them in coarse sugar for more of a crunch!

The great thing about these cookies is they retain their chewy texture for several days so they perfect for giving away as holiday gifts.

The outer appearance of today’s chewy gingersnap cookies reminds me a lot of crackle cookies.

The cracking happens during baking. The cookies will puff up then begin to spread which results in a crackly top.

A close up view of chewy gingersnap cookies broken in half on a pieces of brown parchment paper.

I’ll never stop making these chewy gingersnap cookies loaded with ginger, cinnamon, and molasses. They’ll remain close to my heart.

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A close up view of chewy gingersnap cookies broken in half on a pieces of brown parchment paper.
4.55 from 326 votes

Chewy Gingersnap Cookies

Soft and Chewy Gingersnap Cookies infused with molasses, cinnamon, and cloves. These will make the perfect edible gift this holiday!
Prep Time :15 minutes
Cook Time :11 minutes
Total Time :26 minutes
Servings :36
Author :Jen Sobjack

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup (153 g) vegetable shortening, at room temperature
  • cup (66 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (110 g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup (84 g) unsulphured molasses
  • 2 cups (260 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar, for rolling

Instructions
 

  • In a large mixing bowl, beat together the shortening and sugars until fluffy and blended. Beat in the egg and molasses.
  • In a separate bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients. Stir with a whisk. Slowly stir the dry mixture into the molasses mixture just until dough forms. Cover and chill the dough for at least 2 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 375ºF degrees. Roll the dough into 1-tablespon sized balls, rolls the balls into the remaining sugar, and place them 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 9-11 minutes.
  • Cool the cookies on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Video

Notes

Make ahead tip
  1. The cookies will remain fresh for 1 week stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
  2. The cookie dough can be made up to 3 days in advance. Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature and continue the recipe instructions.
  3. Baked cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months. 
  4. Cookie dough can be rolled into balls and frozen for up to 3 months. Roll frozen dough balls in sugar and bake as directed. You may need to add an additional minute or two to the bake time.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 97kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 51mgPotassium: 61mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 8IUVitamin C: 0.003mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg
*Nutrition Disclaimer
Course :Dessert
Cuisine :American
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Recipe Rating




128 Comments

  1. Mrs. Elkins says:

    5 stars
    I just made these and they’re addictive! So yummy and chewy. I need to triple the recipe so I get a few this time!

  2. Mrs. Elkins says:

    5 stars
    I just made these and they’re addictive! So yummy and chewy. I need to triple the recipe so I get a few this time!

  3. These look GREAT, but can butter be substituted for the shortening? ( I don’t use shortening ). How will that affect the cookies?

    1. Shortening helps to keep the cookies from spreading too much. Using all butter in this recipe may slightly alter the texture of the cookie.

  4. Linda maroney says:

    5 stars
    Have been making these for 3 months now. I add ginger paste and chopped ginger to the sugar butter mixture.. Love these…..

    1. I’m so happy you love the recipe. I love the idea of adding ginger paste and chopped ginger. I’ll have to try it!!

  5. Linda maroney says:

    5 stars
    Have been making these for 3 months now. I add ginger paste and chopped ginger to the sugar butter mixture.. Love these…..

  6. I have made this recipe several times and it’s never failed me, but I made them for a work potluck and they were an absolute HIT so I had to let you know!

    1. Thank you so much for sharing that! So happy they were such a success!!

    1. For the best results, shortening is needed for this recipe. You could try using butter but the texture and spread will not be the same.

  7. Amber@TheRecipesPk says:

    5 stars
    I want to try this recipe. Is there any alternative of vegetable shortening?