Our favorite ginger LOVES any cookie with ginger in it – go figure!

When Lo wants something with a bit of a crunch we make these classic ginger snaps. For a softer texture, we go for our Ginger Cookies. Either way, he’s sure to eat an entire tray!! That means we ALWAYS make a double-batch.

While we generally save these for fall and the Christmas season, Lo requests his favorite cookie every so often throughout the year. That’s why we like to keep a couple of jars of molasses on hand. You never know when a ginger craving will strike!

Why we think you’ll love it:

  • A cookie classic. The “snap” can refer to the bite of the molasses or the texture of the cookie. Our cookies are chewy with a bit of a crunch and the perfect flavor!
  • A holiday favorite. Ginger flavors are a fall favorite and a classic Christmas cookie – like our Gingerbread Cookies!
  • A snap to make. Like most cookies, the batter is quick and easy, they bake up in about 10 minutes, and are great for storing – perfect for party planning and saving time!
Ingredients for ginger snaps.

Ginger Snaps Ingredients and Substitutions

  • ⅓ cup cinnamon sugar – mix 4 tablespoons granulated sugar with 2 tablespoons cinnamon
  • ¾ cup butter, softened How to Soften Butter Quickly
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar – light or dark brown sugar
  • 1 large egg – Room temperature incorporates better.
  • ⅓ cup dark molasses – We used Brer Rabbit Full Flavor Molasses. Do not use sulfured or blackstrap molasses.
  • 2 cups+ 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour How to Measure Flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon salt omit if using salted butter

How to Make Ginger Snaps

  1. PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place ⅓ cup cinnamon sugar in a small bowl and set aside.
  2. BATTER. In the large bowl of a stand mixer (or use a hand mixer), beat ¾ cup softened butter, ¾ cup granulated sugar, and ⅓ cup brown sugar. Add 1 egg and ⅓ cup molasses and beat until fluffy.
    • In a medium bowl, sift 2 cups+ 2 tablespoons flour, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 tablespoon ginger,1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground cloves, and ½ teaspoon salt.
    • Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
  3. BAKE. Use a small cookie scoop to scoop the dough and roll into 1-inch balls. Roll the balls into the cinnamon sugar mixture.
    • Place the dough balls on the baking sheet and bake for 11-14 minutes, or until slightly cracked on top.
    • Let cookies set on a cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Ginger snaps stacked on a wire rack with a glass jar of milk.
4.97 from 27 votes

Ginger Snaps

Our classic ginger snaps are deliciously chewy with just a bit of a crunch, they're a favorite spiced holiday cookie!
Servings: 24
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 11 minutes
Total: 26 minutes

Ingredients 

  • cup cinnamon sugar
  • ¾ cup butter, softened
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • cup brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • cup dark molasses
  • 2 cups+ 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place cinnamon sugar in a small bowl and set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together. Add the egg and molasses and beat until fluffy.
  • In a medium bowl, sift flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
  • Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
  • Use a small cookie scoop to scoop the dough and roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll the balls into the cinnamon sugar mixture.
  • Place the dough balls on the cookie sheet and bake for 12-14 minutes, or until slightly cracked on top.
  • Let cookies set on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
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Notes

Molasses. We used Brer Rabbit Full Flavor Molasses. Do not use sulfured or blackstrap molasses.
Store the dough, covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for 2 days, or freeze cookie dough balls for up to 3 months. See How to Freeze Cookie Dough for tips
Store in an airtight container on the counter for 7-10 days or freeze for up to 6 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 152kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 22mg, Sodium: 191mg, Potassium: 92mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 188IU, Vitamin C: 0.01mg, Calcium: 18mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Recipe FAQ

Make ahead of time?

Store the dough, covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for 2 days, or freeze cookie dough balls for up to 3 months. See How to Freeze Cookie Dough for tips.

How to store?

Store in an airtight container on the counter for 7-10 days or freeze for up to 6 months. 

This recipe was originally published November 2017.

About Kristyn

Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipes—each one tested in her kitchen—that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!

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4.97 from 27 votes

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Recipe Rating




45 Comments

  1. Anne Lessard says:

    This recepe is AMAZING they are so moist! Thank you!!! 🗻🎄❄️🎁

  2. Chris says:

    4 stars
    The flavor is great, but following the recipe – they turned out super flat. It didn’t say to refrigerate prior to cooking so I’ll try that next time.

    1. Lil' Luna Team says:

      Im glad you liked the flavor! They will puff up in the oven and then flatten as they cool. Chilling the dough prior should help keep them puffier if that is what you prefer.

  3. Ivy says:

    Super good. 👌 love love. Love

  4. Natasha D says:

    5 stars
    These are a family favorite! So delicious!

  5. Clarice says:

    5 stars
    These are so good and easy to make. Everyone loved them

  6. Kristi says:

    5 stars
    Love this recipe

  7. Leah Green says:

    5 stars
    Nothing says holidays more like GINGER SNAPS and these are amazing

  8. Jeanie langdon says:

    5 stars
    So good! I used to make molasses cookies for my Dad growing up and these remind me of those! just right 🙂

  9. Shawntel says:

    5 stars
    Delicious flavor and chewy!!

  10. Melissa M says:

    5 stars
    Easy recipe to follow! I mixed everything by hand. I used a medium cookie scoop which was a bit more than 1″ across, but I got 27 cookies for the two sheets I had prepared and still have some dough leftover! That was a pleasant surprise. I baked for 8 min and was a bit worried they were undercooked due to how soft they were and how they looked on the inside, but they were so tasty and I prefer chewy gingersnaps anyway. I didn’t want to leave them in another 2 min and then they become like rocks. I highly recommend using a cookie scoop for this particular dough as it is stickier than other types of cookie dough and can become difficult to work with.

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Thanks for sharing what you did. And using a cookie scoop is a great idea. I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed the ginger snaps!!

  11. Diane Breault says:

    5 stars
    Everyone loved these! I was out of applesauce so I didn’t add it and also skipped nutmeg but they were still great! Ty!dD

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      You’re welcome! I’m glad to hear they turned out well and were delicious.

    2. Amy says:

      I love these cookies! Perfect recipe. Love that they are not to hard.

      1. Lil'Luna Team says:

        Thank you!! So glad to hear you enjoyed the Ginger Snaps!

  12. Cyndi says:

    5 stars
    These ginger snaps are great! Soft and chewy, they are perfect!

    1. LilLunaTeam says:

      Yay! That makes me so happy! Glad they turned out so perfect!

  13. Julie says:

    5 stars
    These were delicious and so easy to make! I love the softer consistency.

  14. LeAnna says:

    5 stars
    So good! Soft and chewy!

  15. Anna Marie Burke says:

    I’m just making these todAY. i WISH THE RECIPE STAted whether cloves should be whole or ground. Sounds like alot but I’m going with ground. I’ll let you know how they turn out.

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Yes, it was ground. Hopefully, you liked them!

  16. Danielle says:

    5 stars
    These are a family favorite! Such gteat flavor and so soft & chewy!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Happy your family likes them! Thank you!

  17. Natalie says:

    5 stars
    This is my favorite gingersnap cookie recipe! They are so soft & easy to make!

  18. Dana JEWELL says:

    5 stars
    these are the best gingersnap cookies I have ever made! I make about 100 cookies every Monday during swim season for my swimmers. each week I make a different cookie. My only change to ThIs recipe was that I dipped half the cookie in white chocolate. this recipe was one of the few that every student Liked. Hear me correctly, all 100 students liked these ginger snap cookies, that’s unheard of!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Wow, that is unheard of! Dipping in white chocolate is a great idea! Thank you for sharing that!

  19. Olivia says:

    5 stars
    My husbands favorite cookie! Not the tradiTional chocolate chip but gingersnap. This makes a very good soft cookie which will become a favorite.

  20. Misty says:

    5 stars
    These are one of my husbands Favorites too!! Thanks for the wonderful recipe

  21. Joy says:

    5 stars
    These make the perfect dessert for the holiday season!

  22. Sabrina says:

    5 stars
    I’m not ready to give up the holiday season and this is the perfect way to keep it going. These are so delicious and are a fun treat!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      LOL!! I agree 🙂 Thanks!

  23. Anna says:

    5 stars
    These are my favorite holiday cookies! So soft and delicious!

  24. Toni says:

    5 stars
    These were perfect for Santa!!

  25. BecKy Hardin says:

    5 stars
    The perfect ginGersnap. Saving this recipe for sure.

  26. Rachael Yerkes says:

    5 stars
    These are the yummiest cookies!

  27. Kristi says:

    5 stars
    I make these every year to give away and i always have People asking for the reCipe.
    I also get in trouBle if i dont keep some home for my kids to eat. Its my favorite christmas cookie.

  28. Joy says:

    5 stars
    I am not a fan of hard, crunchy cookies, which remind me of gingersnaps, so when I saw these were soft & chewy, I had to try!! They were so good! So soft, the flavors are so comforting, & they were a hit with my family!

  29. 2pots2cook says:

    5 stars
    Truly love your irresistible creations. Added to my Christmas list already several of them and this one is a keeper as well. Thank you so much !

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Thank you so much!! Love to hear that! These are great!

  30. Jodi Jacobson says:

    Hey Lorin I love ginger snaps and Lily too

  31. Camille says:

    I plan on making these cookies today. How many does this recipe yield?

  32. jen+@+Tatertots+&+Jello says:

    They look so good. Can’t wait to try them!

    xoxo

  33. Amy@theidearoom says:

    Gingersnaps are one of my favorites!

  34. Christina says:

    Thank you for the recipe. I will most definitely be trying these. I am like your DH and LUV gingersnaps from the box too.