Chewy Gingersnaps Cookies
Chewy Gingersnaps AKA Ginger Snaps were a childhood favorite. Those crinkled Molasses Cookies were spiced with cinnamon, ginger & cloves.
Scroll down for all sorts of delicious holiday cookies, plus my tips for making perfectly crackled and Chewy Ginger Cookies! And if you’re planning ahead for Christmas, check out the Best Edible Gifts from my kitchen. Plus, scroll to the bottom to see more delicious ginger cookie recipes.

Why You Must Make
- If you love boxed gingersnaps, you’ll go crazy for this homemade version.
- The triple dose of spices, molasses, and sugar coating make these super flavorful.
- They’re soft and chewy, not to mention irresistible!
- I’ve had to give away this molasses cookie recipe dozens of times!!! They’re one of my most requested recipes.
Ingredient Notes

- Kitchen Staples – Butter, Sugar, Brown Sugar, Flour, Salt, Baking Soda
- Egg – I use large eggs in all my recipes. PRO-Tip: Have at room temperature for easier blending.
- Molasses (affiliate links in blue) – Mild molasses is key.
- Spices – Ground Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves; Replace if they’ve been in your pantry for decades. Spices will lose flavor over time.
How to Make

- Make the cookie dough, cover, and chill (overnight if possible). Use a medium cookie scoop and roll dough balls in sugar.
- Bake as directed, cool, and dig in!
Expert Tips
- The original recipe called for shortening, but I’ve always made these gems with butter. The flavor is much better. But butter has changed over time. There is more water in some of the less expensive brands, which then causes the cookies to spread.
- PRO-Tip: Use a European-style butter or, at the very least, a name-brand vs. a generic brand. Less expensive brands tend to have a higher percentage of water and less fat. The cookies won’t be as puffy if you don’t use good-quality butter.
- Chill the dough well before rolling it into balls. I chilled this batch of dough overnight, and the cookies baked up perfectly.
- Pro-Tip: Use a Medium Cookie Scoop (affiliate link) and then roll the dough balls between your palms if needed to make round dough balls. Having evenly sized dough balls ensures they’ll all be done baking at the same time.
- PRO-Tip: Place dough balls on a cold baking sheet. Allow used baking sheets (I use Half Sheet Pans; affiliate link)t o cool thoroughly before baking another batch, or your cookies will spread. Line your pans with Parchment Paper so they don’t stick, plus for easy cleanup.
- If your cookies are still too flat, add a couple of tablespoons of extra flour to your dough.

Frequently Asked Questions
Both are spiced cookies, but ginger cookies are rolled into balls, then baked. Gingerbread dough is rolled flat, then cut into shapes before baking.
Gingersnaps have a crackled exterior because they form a crust across their tops before they finish rising. Once they rise, the upward motion cracks the surface.
There are a few reasons that cookies spread. First, the dough may have gotten warm. Make sure to have your dough well chilled. Also, if the cookie sheets are warm when you add the dough balls, they will start to spread before they start to bake. The oven temperature may be off as well, so get an oven thermometer to see if your oven needs an adjustment.

You May Also Like
- Gingerbread Snowflake Cookies by Grumpy’s Honeybunch
- Triple Ginger Cookies
- Best Gingerbread Recipe
- Amish Sugar Cookies
- Cranberry White Chocolate and Crystalized Ginger Cookies
- Old Fashioned Butterscotch Cookies Recipe
- Plus How to Host a Cookie Exchange
- More of the Best Cookie Recipes
Chewy Gingersnaps Recipe
These chewy gingersnaps are a childhood favorite and my most requested recipe!
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup molasses
- 1 egg
- 2 ¼ cup flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon cloves
- Granulated sugar
Instructions
- Cream (mix) together butter and brown sugar. Mix in molasses and egg till well combined.
- Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour (I usually chill overnight).
- Preheat the oven to 375º.
- Scoop out dough with a medium-sized cookie disher (about 1 ½ tablespoons of dough).
- Roll dough balls in sugar and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Cool on a baking sheet, then remove the cookies to a cooling rack.
Notes
To avoid flat cookies, make sure to chill the dough for about an hour before baking.
Make sure that the rack in your oven isn't right next to the element of the bottom of your cookies can get dark. Also, use a light-colored baking sheet (sliver) instead of a dark one. Make sure to check your first batch a couple of minutes early so they don't overbake. You may still need the full baking time depending on your oven.
Use mild molasses for the best flavor.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
18Serving Size:
2 cookiesAmount Per Serving: Calories: 114Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 208mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 1gSugar: 14gProtein: 2g
My mom would buy the occasional box of gingersnaps for us girls to munch on when we were growing up. It didn’t take long before there were only crumbs remaining. It was my best friend’s mom who introduced me to homemade, chewy gingersnaps. Well, maybe not her mom, but HER.
Mary had a tendency to get in a bit of trouble. I remember being addressed as “Elizabeth,” and sent home after she took a pair of scissors to her blue jeans to mimic those raggedy demins fashionable in the late 1970s. I’m sure her mother wasn’t thrilled when we raided their deep freeze and ate more than our fair share of frozen gingersnaps. That stash was certainly being stored for some future occasion.
They tasted incredible even cold and rock hard. I finally had my mom ask her dear friend, and Mary’s mother, for the ginger cookies recipe. I bake up at least a double batch each year to add to my holiday goodie boxes. Check out more of my Best Cookie Exchange Recipes.

83 Comments on “Chewy Gingersnaps Cookies”
These gingersnaps look absolutely perfect! I love that beautiful crinkle on top, and a chewy texture is exactly how a gingersnap should be. Such a wonderful holiday classic that never goes out of style!
These are some of the best gingersnaps I’ve ever made. I love that deep flavor, and their texture is perfect!
These cookies are delicious! The best chewy gingersnaps I’ve ever made! The recipe was very easy to follow.
These are great but the nutrition info is very off.
Hi, Dani, yes it will vary depending on the size of your cookies.
I am my own worst critic, especially when it comes to baking (aren’t we all?). This is the second time I have made these, and I just had to share my reaction.
*Stands over cookie sheet, looming with fear*
“I really hope I didn’t mess this batch up…”
*Takes bite of cookie, almost falls to the ground*
“MMM! OH MY GOD. WOW. WOW. MMM!”
If my reaction doesn’t tell you that this is, hands down, the BEST gingersnap recipe out there, then I don’t know what does. A truly exceptional recipe — and don’t worry if your cookies come out flat! They’re just as good. I am completely obsessed. You are a cookie wizard. Thank you! I can’t wait for my friends to try them. 🙂
Oh, I’m delighted you love these as much as we do! I make them for my neighbors every Christmas and I’d be in deep trouble if I didn’t! Thanks so much for letting me know, Julian!
i don’t have a mixer , Can i just mix by hand
Yes, mixing by hand works well, too. Hope you enjoy these, Cheryl!
Are these good to make in advance and then freeze?
Yes, I do this every year!!! Hope you enjoy them, Jade.
These are so good and easy to make. Just tried out the recipe today. I think I may add an extra dash of each of the spices next time as I like a lot of flavor. Will be making again in two more weeks and maybe for a third time before the holidays. Thanks!
I’m so glad you’re a fan, too, Tami! My neighbors would revolt if they didn’t get a Christmas delivery!!!
These ginger cookies are delicious! I came across this post and decided to bake them. I followed the recipe and left the dough in the fridge overnight. I also added an extra dash of each
spices to enhance the flavors and they turned out perfectly yummy. I baked them for an extra 2 minutes and it gave them the best crisp on the outside and so soft and chewy on the inside. Highly recommended these and easy to make.
I’m so glad you loved these, too, Crystal!! They’re a must make for the holidays—my friends would be disappointed if they didn’t get a delivery 🙂