Soft Ginger Cookies Recipe AKA "Gingerdoodles" - Lauren's Latest (2024)

4.70 from 110 votes

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December 16, 2018

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These soft-baked Ginger Cookies, or Gingerdoodles, are the quintessential Christmas cookie! Chewy, buttery, and full of warm spices that everyone will love.

Soft Ginger Cookies Recipe AKA "Gingerdoodles" - Lauren's Latest (1)

Ginger Cookies

Well friends, here is my beloved Ginger Cookies Recipe aka Gingerdoodles. I made a much spicier, gingery-er version last year but only a few people like their chewy gingersnaps with a big fat punch in the face…or throat. So I made a simmered down version of that cookie that my husband so lovingly calls Gingerdoodles.

Main Ingredients Needed

Okay, let’s jump right into the ingredients list because once you start to smell those delicious spices, you’re going to want these cookies like NOW. So here’s what you’ll need:

  • Butter –for softness and flavor.
  • Sugar –this not only goes inside of the cookie but on the outside.
  • Brown Sugar –feel free to use dark brown sugar here if you looooove that molasses taste.
  • Egg –for a chewy texture.
  • Vanilla –for flavor of course. This helps balance out all of those strong spices.
  • Molasses –a staple in any gingerbread-esque recipe.
  • Cinnamon –this smell really puts me in the holiday spirit.
  • Cloves –for that pungent, warm taste.
  • Nutmeg –nutty and slightly sweet.
  • Ground Ginger –it wouldn’t be a ginger cookie recipe without ginger!
  • Salt –to help balance out and bring out the flavor.
  • All-Purpose Flour –for structure.
  • Baking Soda –to help the cookies rise while baking.

I have to confess that molasses is not something I typically have on hand. I usually just make gingerbread cookies and cake with it and then save it in my cupboard for next year. But, they are a classic recipe and I promise this one won’t disappoint. But, in case you don’t have any molasses or ginger is not your thing, try my Christmas Sugar Cookies, Actually Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies or check out this big list of 50 Christmas Cookies. Surely there is something there you will swoon over.

Soft Ginger Cookies Recipe AKA "Gingerdoodles" - Lauren's Latest (2)

How to Make Ginger Cookies

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Stir in egg, vanilla, and molasses. Whip 1-2 minutes or until it turns a light brown color. Stir in remaining ingredients and mix until dry ingredients are just combined.

Soft Ginger Cookies Recipe AKA "Gingerdoodles" - Lauren's Latest (3)

  1. Roll a heaping tablespoon of dough into a ball and coat in granulated sugar. (This is a great step to involve your kids in the kitchen).Place on silicone baking mat, lightly greased cookie sheet or parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.

Soft Ginger Cookies Recipe AKA "Gingerdoodles" - Lauren's Latest (4)

  1. Bake 7-9 minutes or until outside looks cooked but inside is still soft and gooey. Cool 5 minutes on cookie sheet before transferring to a cooling rack.
  2. Serve warm or at room temperature. Store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Soft Ginger Cookies Recipe AKA "Gingerdoodles" - Lauren's Latest (5)

Leftovers

This section is for IF you have any leftover Ginger Cookies. They taste so good, they’ll go fast.

Store in an airtight container (Ziploc) at room temperature for up to a week.You can extend their shelf life by keeping them in the fridge for an extra week or the freezer for up to 3 months!

Make-Ahead

Ginger Cookies are a great make-ahead recipe. Simply follow the recipe and stop before you roll the ginger cookie dough into sugar. Freeze the doughat this point for up to 3 months.

When ready to bake, take the cookie dough out of the freezer and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then pick up where the recipe left off by rolling the dough in sugar and baking.

Soft Ginger Cookies Recipe AKA "Gingerdoodles" - Lauren's Latest (6)

Variations

As I have had this Ginger Cookies Recipe up for a couple of years now I’ve gotten a ton of comments telling me how you all have tweaked this recipe to make it your own. So here are some variations that readers like you have loved:

Candied Ginger.I believe this was mixed into the dough and then rolled in sugar and baked.

Dipped in White Chocolate and Sprinkles.This was to dress it up a bit and make it look more festive. Plus chocolate is always good.

Icing.A simple mixture of powdered sugar, cinnamon, and milk. Skip the sugar coating if you do this one.

Soft Ginger Cookies Recipe AKA "Gingerdoodles" - Lauren's Latest (7)

More Christmas Recipes to Love!

  • Gingerbread Cookies That Actually Taste Good
  • Spicy Gingerbread Cookies
  • Gingerbread Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

These are pretty fabulous warm, but just as chewy and delicious cooled. Add some nog and you got yourself a very festive treat!

Printable recipe card below 🙂 Happy Holidays friends!

Soft Ginger Cookies Recipe AKA "Gingerdoodles" - Lauren's Latest (8)

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4.70 from 110 votes

Soft Ginger Cookies Recipe AKA "Gingerdoodles"

These soft baked Ginger Cookies, or Gingerdoodles, are the quintessential Christmas cookie! Chewy, buttery and full of warm spices that everyone will love.

servings 36 small cookies

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 minutes mins

Total Time 28 minutes mins

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  • Cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Stir in egg, vanilla, and molasses. Whip 1-2 minutes or until it turns a light brown color. Stir in remaining ingredients and mix until dry ingredients are just combined.

  • Roll a heaping tablespoon of dough into a ball and coat in granulated sugar. Place on silicone baking mat, lightly greased cookie sheet or parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.

  • Bake 7-9 minutes or until outside looks cooked but inside is still soft and gooey. Cool 5 minutes on cookie sheet before transferring to a cooling rack.

  • Serve warm or at room temperature. Store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 84kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 88mg | Potassium: 47mg | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 85IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.5mg

Course: Cookies, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: ginger cookies, ginger cookies recipe, ginger molasses cookies, soft ginger cookies

Soft Ginger Cookies Recipe AKA "Gingerdoodles" - Lauren's Latest (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between ginger snaps and ginger cookies? ›

Ginger Snaps are simply a variation of the traditional Gingerbread cookie. They're known for their crisper quality; their “snap” if you will.

Why don t my ginger cookies crackle on the top? ›

Not enough leavening (it needs to be strong enough to crack the top once it's set) Using a single-acting baking powder (double acting gives extra rise when it gets heated) Not creaming the fat long enough (creaming cuts little air pockets into the fat, which means the leavening has to do less work)

How long do ginger cookies last? ›

How Long do Gingerbread Cookies Last. After you have baked your gingerbread cookies and they are decorated perfectly, they will last for 4-6 weeks. Gingerbread is a fairly dry type of cookie which extends it's shelf life. Less moisture means the cookies will be more resistant to mold.

Why are my ginger cookies so hard? ›

Keep in mind that the longer the cookies bake, the harder and crunchier they'll be. For soft gingerbread cookies, follow my suggested bake times. Allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet.

Why do ginger cookies crack? ›

Forgetting to chill the dough.

Chilling it for at least two hours or overnight gives the ingredients a chance to absorb one another, making it a whole lot easier to roll out the dough without it cracking.

Why are my ginger biscuits soft? ›

Molasses and honey hardens gingerbread, but as the sugar absorbs moisture, it will get softer.” Cookbook author and ”Great American Baking Show” winner Vallery Lomas likes a gingerbread cookie that's packed with flavor.

Should gingerbread cookies be soft or crunchy? ›

Should gingerbread cookies be hard or soft? Soft gingerbread biscuits are ideal. They ought to be flexible. However, they should still be somewhat elastic, and if you hold them too firmly because you're so excited to eat them, you might even be able to leave your fingerprints on the cookie!

Why are my cookies crunchy instead of soft? ›

Sugar dissolved in baking forms a syrup as the dough heats up. Different types of sugars affect the texture because they absorb different amounts of water. Remember moisture is the key! White sugar creates crispier cookies and brown sugar creates chewier cookies.

What is the secret to soft cookies? ›

Baking cookies quickly in a hot oven – at 375 degrees F as opposed to a lower temperature – will make for soft results. They'll bake fast instead of sitting and drying out in the oven's hot air. Ever so slightly underbaking your cookies will give you softer results than cooking them the full amount the recipe says.

What is the secret to making cookies soft and chewy? ›

Cornstarch gives the cookies that ultra soft consistency we all love. Plus, it helps keep the cookies beautifully thick. We use the same trick when making shortbread cookies. Egg yolk: Another way to promise a super chewy chocolate chip cookie is to use an extra egg yolk.

How do you make cookies soft and chewy vs hard and crisp? ›

While brown sugar keeps your cookies moist and soft, white sugar and corn syrup will help your cookies spread and crisp in the oven. Using more white sugar in your cookies will result in a crispier end product. To achieve a crispy cookie, skip the rest in the fridge.

How do you know when ginger cookies are done? ›

Toothpick Test – This is one of the most common ways to check cookie doneness, and it can be used for many other desserts as well. Insert a toothpick into the centre of a cookie. If it comes out with a few moist crumbs clinging to it, the cookies are done.

Can you freeze homemade ginger cookies? ›

Shortbread, biscotti, gingerbread, and drop cookies like chocolate chip or oatmeal are all examples of sturdy cookies that hold up well once frozen. "They can stand up to the cold temperatures and won't be damaged when you mindlessly rummage through your freezer," says Jason Schreiber, baker and cookbook author.

Can you eat old gingerbread? ›

Also, gingerbread like any other bread turns stale quite fast. Eating it after 1–2 week with tea shouldn't be a problem. The issue is rather that the bread after longer time would become so stale that you would have a hard time eating it.

Why are ginger cookies called snaps? ›

These early ginger cookies originated in Europe and came with the German, Dutch, and English settlers to America. Gingersnaps were named from the German or Middle Dutch word snappen, meaning "to seize quickly."

What is the difference between ginger snaps and spiced wafers? ›

The difference is that their ginger snaps contain "ginger" while their spiced wafers contain "spices". Never having had the ginger snaps, I'd suspect the spiced wafers are also crisper.

What is another name for ginger snaps? ›

The gingersnap is also known as a "ginger nut," especially in the U.K. It's a sweet, brittle cookie that's flavored with plenty of ginger and often other spices like cinnamon, cloves, or nutmeg, and baked in small rounds.

What is a substitute for ginger snaps? ›

*If you don't have gingersnaps, you can use graham crackers, but add in a 1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon, 3/4 tsp ground ginger and a pinch of black pepper to give them some spice!

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