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
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
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Sharon Walker
Outstanding!!! Easy ,yummy, will never make another recipe ❤️,
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Sharon! So glad that you like the gingersnap cookies!
Holly
These cookies turned out great! We ate some and I crushed the rest to make a crust for my holiday cheesecake!! SO good!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Holly! Happy Thanksgiving!
Sara
Whipped up a batch of these for an afternoon treat and they did not disappoint! Turned out easy, moist and delicious; exactly what I needed to cure my sweet tooth, indeed!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Sara! So glad that you like the gingersnap cookies.
Kathleen
These gingersnap cookies were fabulous! They came together so easily. We ate some and we froze some for our holiday cookie trays.
Shelby
I love the simplicity of a ginger snap cookie, and these are wonderful. The perfect flavor and crunch. I appreciated your tips for making them!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Shelby! I am so happy that you liked them! Have a nice Thanksgiving.
Justine
These were fantastic! They reminded me of my grandma, I loved them.
Kasandra
I was skeptical about the black pepper but it came out so yummy! Thank you!
Kushigalu
This looks so crunchy and flavorful. Thanks for the recipe.
Noune
Great recipe and they smell amazing. Thanks for sharing this delicious Ginger Snap cookie recipe.
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine!
Caroline
I do love the texture and flavor of gingersnaps – such a classic, so tasty!
Seema Sriram
This is perfect. We are having a cold snap and these cookies will be so good to have for tea.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Seema! Enjoy!
Shadi
Oh wow, these are so delicious and easy to make. My family devoured them.
Juliane
One way to keep holidays special!
Erin | Dinners, Dishes and Dessert
Great cookies and so easy to make!
Allyson Zea
These cookies always turn out so delicious! Thank you so much!
Megan
Wow, this was such a good cookie recipe! Definitely adding these to my holiday cookie boxes this year!
Nikki
Oh my, the addition of pepper and cinnamon sugar takes these gingersnap cookies over the top! They are so delicious!
Min
These are so good! Going to make it again this weekend
Beth Pierce
Thanks! So glad that you enjoyed them!
Beth
One of my favourite holiday cookies. Perfectly crispy on the outside – delicious!
Catalina
Finally I found the recipe for these ginger snaps! I can’t wait to make them!
Sandra
These cookies are perfect for the Holidays! Definitely a must have in my kitchen!
Dorothy Reinhold
This is such a classic holiday treat and this recipe is my favorite. Thanks for sharing it!
Erik
Such a classic cookie, can’t wait to make these again!
Donna Batrone
Nothing beats a classic ginger snap, especially a homemade one!
April
This recipe just took me right back to my childhood. My grandma loved ginger snaps, and always had some in the house to snack on. Love this recipe so much!
Suzy
These taste so much better than store bought! We can’t get enough of them!
Alisa Infanti
I love the use of the larger turbinado sugar! Looks so pretty.
Jen
Yum! We love these cookies here! Such an easy recipe to follow!
Maria
Such a great idea to add black pepper! This seems like a great simple recipe, ideal for a quick snack.
Jessica Formicola
I love anything with ginger, and these ginger snaps look SO amazing! Definitely making a batch of them this week!
Pam Greer
Rolling them in sugar makes such a difference! I love that crunch of sugar!
Natasha
The flavors go well altogether it is such a delicious cookie! The edges are crispy, I actually might bake this for Christmas giveaways too!
Trang
I seriously love ginger snaps year-round! Maybe because it reminds me of Christmas? This was so easy to make and soo delicious.
Dawn Marie Finnegan
I’ve been looking forever for the Best Ginger Snap and THIS IS IT! W O W ! ! ! These were outstanding! Next time I make them I’ll be adding a smidge more clove and black pepper – Otherwise, this is a KEEPER! Thank you for sharing! I’m SO EXCITED!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Dawn Marie! I am so so glad that you liked them! You made my morning with such a fun comment!
Cathy L.
These gingersnaps were really good and easy to make. I loved them, but my husband said he would have liked more heat. Next time, I’ll add a couple of shakes of cayenne pepper to your recipe. It made 4 1/2 dozen 1″ balls. Thanks for a great recipe.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome Cathy! So glad that you liked them and thanks for the tip!
Laura Reese
This is an amazing recipe! The flavors combine to make the perfect cookie.
Natalie
The ultimate holiday cookie! It has all the comforting flavors of fall. I’m excited for all the cookie baking!
Toni
My kids really loved it! A new favorite at my house!
Stephanie
These are my Achilles Heel! Every time I make a batch I just can’t stop eating them!
Krissy Allori
Ginger snaps bring back so many memories of being at my grandparents house. My grandma often made these cookies. Food memories are the best. I need to make these again soon.
Sandra
These look really amazing! I am sure they’ll quickly disappear at my house!
Vikki
Made a batch of these and will definitely be making another one! So flavorful and tasty
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
These Ginger Snap cookies are mouth watering!
Sara Welch
I haven’t had these in such a long time! You’ve inspired me to make these for dessert tonight; so delicious!
Beth
Wow! The black pepper adds a whole different dimension to these ginger snaps! Yum!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Beth! I am glad that you enjoyed them!!
Toni
I really loved how easy this is to make!! Thank you for the recipe!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
Everyone at my house loved it! Tasted SO good!
Jenn
These are some of my favorite cookies, and I don’t care if its the holidays or not, when I want freshly baked cookies, I’m making your amazing Ginger Snap cookies!
Chris Collins
Love ginger snaps so much! You very looks so delicious 🙂
Amena
made them for my colleagues and it was a huge hit. everybody went crazy for them. I did one thing differently, I replaced molasses with honey (same amount)
Beth Pierce
Thanks Amena! So glad that they liked them. I love ginger!
Sharon
I love store brough gingersnaps, the idea of making them at home sounds amazing!
Victoria
Gingersnaps are some of my favorite cookies. I love the chewy texture. Your cookies look like perfection. Bookmarking this recipe for sure.
Tisha
Gingers snaps are one of my favorite cookies! I can eat them any time of the year!
Brittany O'Dell
Can they be made ahead of time and frozen?
Beth Pierce
Yes they can be.
Carrie Robinson
Ginger snaps happen to be one of my all-time favorites! These look perfect. 🙂
Katie
Made these for the family and they were obsessed!
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness
These cookies remind me so much of Christmas! My mom would always buy some around the holiday season. But now I can make it myself?? I am so excited!!
Adrianne
The cinnamon, ginger and cloves combination in these cookies sounds delicious!! I love how festive they are and they look fabulous. I can’t wait to give them a go, cheers!
Veena Azmanov
Super delicious and crunchy and flavorful. Awesome look and definitely best gifting option too.
Anita
I’ll start baking Christmas cookies soon myself, and ginger snaps will definitely be one of the cookies I bake. These are delicious and super easy, perfect even for beginner bakers. 🙂