Gingersnap Cookie Recipe

Whether you call them Gingersnaps, Ginger Snaps, Ginger Doodles, Ginger Biscuits, or Ginger Nut, this Gingersnap Cookie Recipe is the BEST! They’re great any time of the year or especially during Thanksgiving and Christmas time!

This vintage recipe makes about 60 cookies and costs about $3.01 to make. This works out to only $0.05 per cookie.

They are perfect for arranging a cookie tray along with a variety of holiday classics such as these Peppermint Patties, Buckeye Candies, Pecan Snowball Cookies, and Christmas Divinity Candy.

Once fall hits, I like making batches and batches of these ginger snap cookies to have in my cookie jar from September all the way through Christmas. To dress these ginger snaps up for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I like to dip half of each cookie in white chocolate and cover them in festive sprinkles. My kids LOVE helping me with the sprinkles!

These Gingersnaps are a vintage recipe that will give you all the feels of your childhood as you bite into the soft and chewy cookies. The cookies are bursting with the perfect combination of cinnamon, cloves, brown sugar, and molasses.

Package them in a cute bag or tin to deliver to friends and neighbors or make them for your family to enjoy. Either way, you can never go wrong when making Gingersnaps!

Are ginger snaps and molasses cookies the same thing?

They are very, very similar with just 1 major difference. Ginger Snaps are nice and crisp; hence the “snaps” and molasses cookies are soft and chewy. You can easily make this recipe into molasses cookies by simply baking the cookies for just 9 minutes.

Are gingerbread cookies the same as ginger snaps?

They are very similar. Gingersnaps are a bit crisper, the dough is a little wetter, and ginger snaps are rolled in sugar before baking. Whereas gingerbread is a slightly drier dough, it can be rolled out and cut into shapes, and the dough is not rolled in sugar before baking.

Are ginger snaps good for acid reflux?

Some people say that ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties in these cookies help soothe inflammation of the esophagus, one of the main contributors to acid reflux. Ginger can also reduce nausea.

How long do gingersnaps stay fresh?

Appropriately stored in an airtight container, gingersnaps can stay fresh at room temperature for two to three weeks. You can also freeze them for up to six months.

How to make this Gingersnap Cookie Recipe:

STEP ONE: First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

STEP TWO: Next, mix the dry ingredients. Set this bowl aside.

STEP THREE: Now, in a large bowl, combine the wet ingredients with a handheld mixer until light and fluffy. Slowly add in the flour mixture.

STEP FOUR: Then, place ¼ cup of sugar into a pie plate. Scoop the cookie dough one at a time and roll it into a dough ball. Coat the dough balls in the sugar.

STEP FIVE: Place the sugar-coated dough balls on the baking sheets and bake for about eleven minutes.

STEP SIX: Cool completely before serving.

Cook’s Tools – Ginger Snaps:

baking sheets
silicone baking mat OR parchment paper
mixing bowls
whisk
handheld mixer OR stand mixer
cookie scoop
pie plate
wire rack

How much will this Gingersnaps recipe cost to make:

RECIPE COST: $3.01

PER SERVING COST: $0.05

NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have.

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour – $0.43
2 teaspoons baking soda – $0.02
½ teaspoon salt – $0.01
1 ¼ teaspoon ground ginger – $0.14
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon – $0.04
¼ teaspoon ground cloves – $0.11
1 cup dark brown sugar – $0.48
¾ cup vegetable shortening – $1.08
¼ cup molasses – $0.54
1 large egg – $0.10
¼ cup granulated sugar – $0.06

More Holiday Cookies:

Cut Out Sugar Cookies
Christmas Wreath Cookies
Pecan Snowball Cookies
Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies
Soft Gingerbread Cookies
Pink Macarons
Hanging Gingerbread Cookies
Peppermint Bark Cookies
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Gingerbread Cookies with Orange Glaze
Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
Orange Cranberry Shortbread Cookies

5 from 7 votes

Ginger Snaps

Author Jillian - a Food, Folks and Fun original!

Recipe Cost $ 3.01

Serving Cost $ 0.05

Prep Time 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time 11 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 21 minutes minutes

Equipment

baking sheets
silicone baking mat or parchment paper
mixing bowls
whisk
handheld mixer OR stand mixer
Cookie scoop
pie plate
wire rack

Ingredients

FOR THE COOKIES:

▢ 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
▢ 2 teaspoons baking soda
▢ ½ teaspoon salt
▢ 1 ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
▢ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
▢ ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
▢ 1 cup dark brown sugar
▢ ¾ cup vegetable shortening
▢ ¼ cup molasses
▢ 1 large egg

FOR THE COATING:

▢ ¼ cup granulated sugar

Instructions

Move the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silpats. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl add in the dark brown sugar, vegetable shortening, molasses, and the egg.
Beat with a hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the flour to the sugar mixture and mix on low speed until combined and no flour streaks remain about 1-2 minutes.
Place 1/4 cup of granulated sugar into a pie plate. Use a 1 1/2 teaspoon scoop to scoop the cookie dough, and then roll the cookie dough into balls between your hands. Place the cookie dough balls into the pie plate and shake gently until the dough is coated in sugar.
Place the dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 11 minutes.
Cool the cookies on the cookie sheets for 5 minutes, and then move them to wire racks to cool completely.

Notes

Makes about 5 dozen cookies.
Leftover cookies can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
This dough also freezes well. Just scoop the dough onto a cookie sheet and pop the cookie sheet into the freezer until frozen solid, about 1 hour. Then, place the frozen dough in a freezer bag. When you’re ready to bake the cookies, roll the dough into the sugar and add 6-7 minutes to the baking time.

Nutrition

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Jillian

I’m Jillian, the creator behind Food Folks and Fun. I have over 30 years of experience cooking for others. There’s nothing I love more than cooking for my family. Food is love, and cooking isn’t just putting a meal on a plate: It’s putting a little part of myself into that meal.

I love ginger snaps! These cookies look perfect for Christmas!
Reply
I can’t stop eating these! I love ginger snaps!
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I love all things ginger — especially cookies! How fun and festive to decorate them, too. And where or where did you get that adorable milk bottle for Santa?
Reply
As a Brit then the name is Ginger nuts and I love em! I swear I used to eat them by the whole packet as a kid, can1t wait to try these!
Reply
Such an easy recipe and they look perfect. And the post is so thorough.
Reply
Love the step by step too
Reply
1. So glad that it came in handy!
  Reply
YUM! These are some of my faves!
Reply
How can you store baked cookies longer than 4days. I’d like to bake them in advance
Reply
1. Hi Shirley,
  When you place the baked and cooled cookies into an airtight container, Place 2-3 pieces of white bread on top of the cookies. This will slow down the drying out process.
  Reply
Can I replace the shortening with butter?? Thx
Reply
1. Yes, you can. The cookies will just spread a little more.
  Reply
Just tried these, they are AMAZING! PERFECT in every way. Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Reply

Jillian Wade | Food Folks and Fun is a participant of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This costs you nothing, but it helps keep this blog running on butter…lots of butter!

Gingersnap Cookie Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between ginger snaps and ginger cookies? ›

Introduced in colonial times, the main differences between Gingerbread and Ginger Snaps are a longer bake time for an extra crisp and the use of molasses versus sugar. Molasses was used as substitute for sugar as it was the more affordable alternative to sweetening.

Tell Me More ›

Are ginger snap cookies good for acid reflux? ›

No. There is no scientific evidence that ginger has any use for alleviating acid reflux. While it is considered safe to use long-term for nausea, if you suffer from acid reflux regularly, talk to your doctor or healthcare provider. They can devise a medical treatment plan that is best for you.

Learn More ›

Why do ginger snap cookies crack? ›

There are 5 factors that make these gingersnap cookies crispy and slightly chewy, with a beautiful crackled exterior: Rolling the cooking dough balls in granulated sugar creates those cracks. Cracks form when the exterior dries out faster than the interior.

Read On ›

Are ginger snap cookies healthy for you? ›

In conclusion, ginger snaps cookies are not only delicious but also have some nutritional benefits. They contain important nutrients like iron, calcium, and fiber. Ginger, the key ingredient in these cookies, is known for its various health benefits, including aiding digestion and reducing inflammation.

Explore More ›

Why are my ginger cookies so hard? ›

“There are some gingerbread recipes that are hard right after baking and need to sit for a few days to soften. Molasses and honey hardens gingerbread, but as the sugar absorbs moisture, it will get softer.”

Know More ›

Why are my ginger snap cookies flat? ›

Check your oven

If your oven is too hot, the fat melts faster than the cookie can set, and you end up with pancake cookies. Always preheat your oven and invest in a good oven thermometer. Even new ovens can be incorrectly calibrated, so check the actual temperature every time you put a pan in the oven.

Show Me More ›

Can you eat too many ginger snaps? ›

Ginger is safe to eat daily, but experts recommend limiting yourself to 3 to 4 grams a day — stick to 1 gram daily if you're pregnant. Taking more than 6 grams of ginger a day has been proven to cause gastrointestinal issues such as reflux, heartburn and diarrhea.

Discover More ›

Does ginger aggravate GERD? ›

Small doses of ginger can relieve gastrointestinal irritation. Ginger may reduce the chance of stomach acid backing up into the esophagus. Ginger can also reduce inflammation. This can reduce the symptoms of acid reflux.

Read The Full Story ›

What are the side effects of ginger snap cookies? ›

Added Sugar

Eating 2 ounces of gingersnaps boosts your sugar intake by 11.3 grams, while gingerbread cookies contain 10.9 grams of sugar per serving. This sugar increases the level of acidity in your mouth, which dissolves the enamel covering your teeth and contributes to tooth decay.

View Details ›

Why didn't my ginger snaps crack? ›

The oven isn't hot enough. (it needs to set the top before the middle's fully risen) 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)

What is another name for ginger snap cookies? ›

A gingersnap, ginger snap, ginger nut, or ginger biscuit is a biscuit flavored with ginger. Ginger snaps are flavored with powdered ginger and a variety of other spices, most commonly cinnamon, molasses and clove.

Get More Info Here ›

Do ginger snap cookies expire? ›

Unopened commercial gingersnap cookies can last up to 2-3 months past the date printed on their package, thanks to the added preservatives. Once opened, they should be consumed within 1-2 weeks for the best taste and texture, but you will usually have up to a month before noticing a stale flavor.

Show Me More ›

Do ginger snaps help your stomach? ›

Will ginger candy soothe an upset stomach? Yes it can but make sure it contains real ginger and not too much sugar (since sugar can make stomach issues worse). Other natural ingredients that can help include chamomile, mint, aloe vera, and more.

Gingersnap Cookie Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (2024)