Gingersnap Cookies

These scrumptious Gingersnap cookies are bursting with the flavors of ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and fresh cracked black pepper.  Top off these tasty morsels by rolling the cookie dough balls in cinnamon sugar to add a bit more tasty goodness and texture.  I love to serve them at holiday parties and include them on Christmas cookie trays with snowball cookies and peppermint thumbprints.

Can you believe how fast this year has gone? Now we are deep in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.  This is the time of year for all things sweet, especially cookies.  These easy Ginger Cookies will quickly become one of your favorite holiday cookies. Gingersnaps are delightful little treats that are crispy on the outside with soft and chewy centers. They are super easy to make, and you can prepare the dough in less than 15 minutes. These ginger snap cookies are perfect for a holiday cookie exchange.

How do you make Ginger Snaps?

Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground black pepper in a medium bowl. Next, using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a handheld electric mixer on medium speed in a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This will take several minutes. Then reduce the speed to low and add the egg and molasses mixing just until combined. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture mixing just until combined, scraping down the bowl and beaters when needed. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.

In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and cinnamon. Using a 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop for even proportions, roll the ginger snap dough into 1-inch balls using your hands. Then roll each cookie dough ball through the sugar.  Place on parchment-covered baking sheets with at least 2 1/2 inches between each cookie.  Bake in a preheated oven for 10 -11 minutes. Let the cookies cool for about 5 minutes before moving the gingersnaps to a wire rack to cool.

Tips for making the best Gingersnap Cookies

• Always preheat your oven and load the cookie tray on the middle rack in the center.
• Refrigerate the ginger snap dough while you are not working with it and in between batches.
• For optimal taste, fresh spices are always the best.  If you have a local spice shop, pay them a visit.  I have found that dried ground ginger, as opposed to fresh ginger, works best in these cookies.
• Use a 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop for equally proportioned cookies Roll the ginger snap dough into balls that are about 1 inch to get perfectly sized cookies.
• For best results, use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. It promotes even baking and browning, reduces spreading, and eliminates sticking.
• Do not load the dough onto hot or warm cookie sheets, as this will increase the spread.
• Leave at least 2 1/2 inches between the cookies so they can spread and so the heat can flow around them.
• If you have time, do a test run with one or two cookies.  It really helps to establish baking time.

Other holiday treats to try!

Gingersnap Cookie Recipe

An old-fashioned chewy Gingersnap cookie recipe seasoned with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and a touch of black pepper. Before baking, they are rolled in cinnamon sugar to give them a little more flavor and texture. These are a holiday baking must!  

5 from 54 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: dessert cookies

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 30 cookies

Calories: 115kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

Ingredients

• Gingersnap Cookie Recipe
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ⅛ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• ¾ cup butter softened
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup molasses
• 1 egg

Cinnamon Sugar

• 1/4 cup sanding or granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cover baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
• Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground black pepper in a medium bowl. Set the bowl aside for a few minutes. 
• Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a handheld electric mixer on medium speed in a mixing bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This will take several minutes.
• Reduce the speed to low and add the egg and molasses mixing until combined.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients mixing just until combined, scraping down the bowl and beaters when needed. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and cinnamon. Using a 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop, roll the ginger snap dough into 1-inch balls using your hands and roll each cookie dough ball through the sugar.  Place on the prepared baking sheets with at least 2 1/2 inches between each cookie. 
• Bake for 10 -11 minutes. Let the cookies cool for about 5 minutes before moving the gingersnaps to a cooling rack.

Video

Notes

• Always preheat your oven and load the cookie tray on the middle rack in the center.
• Refrigerate the ginger snap dough while you are not working with it and in between batches.
• For optimal taste, fresh spices are always the best.  If you have a local spice shop, pay them a visit.  I have found that dried ground ginger, as opposed to fresh ginger, works best in these cookies.
• Use a 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop for equally proportioned cookies Roll the ginger snap dough into balls that are about 1 inch to get perfectly sized cookies.
• For best results, use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. It promotes even baking and browning, reduces spreading, and eliminates sticking.
• Do not load the dough onto hot or warm cookie sheets, as this will increase the spread.
• Leave at least 2 1/2 inches between the cookies so they can spread and so the heat can flow around them.
• If you have time, do a test run with one or two cookies.  It really helps to establish baking time.

Nutrition

Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 134mg | Potassium: 61mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg

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