Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (2024)

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Chewy gingerbread cookies are so soft and delicious. They are much easier to make than traditional gingerbread cookies and no rolling or cutting required. Just drop and go!

Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (1)

Chewy gingerbread cookies

Gingerbread cookies make such a fabulous treat and they are such a classic cookie to enjoy.It seems to me that no cookie exchange would be complete without some gingerbread cookies, right? You might also like Gingerbread Pancakes.

Well I have a little bit of a spin for you. Ready? These are not cut out old fashion gingerbread cookies. They aren’t crunchy either.

These are soft and chewy and super easy to make. Yes! No rolling or cutting. These are drop cookies.

Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (2)

Let’s make soft gingerbread cookies!

These are oh so soft drop gingerbread cookies. They are VERY easy to make and they don’t make nearly the mess in the kitchen that traditional gingerbread cookies make.

Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (3)
Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (4)

Chewy gingerbread cookies ingredients:

  • flour
  • ground ginger
  • baking soda
  • ground cinnamon
  • ground cloves
  • salt
  • butter or margarine
  • granulated sugar
  • egg
  • orange juice
  • molasses
Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (5)

How to make soft gingerbread cookies:

First, Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Next, combine all dry ingredients in a small bowl- flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar.

Add egg, orange juice and molasses, stirring carefully until well combined.

Now it is time to slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Thick dough will form.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoon into sugar. You can also use acookie scoop.

Roll to cover, then place oncookie sheet.

Set cookies about 2-inches apart.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. The cookies will spread out and flatten a bit.

Let cookies cool on cookie sheet for a couple of minutes before removing to wire rack. Don’t skip this step or the cookies could crumble.

Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (6)

Try this soft and chewy gingerbread cookies recipe!

I know there are a lot of ingredients listed in this recipe, but don’t let that turn you away from trying this recipe. You probably have most of these items just sitting in your pantry.

I did have to buy molasses (I used Grandma’s Molasses). If you don’t have orange juice, you can always use water.

The OJ just brings out the ginger flavor a little better. Don’t omit the liquid altogether though – this little bit of liquid is the secret to these super soft cookies.

You know we are big fans of using what we have or can get on sale. 🙂

It helps keep the grocery budget reasonable and feed a large family. By shopping when things are on sale Isave money on groceriesand it really helps our budget.Saving money and feeding a big family can be accomplished.

I cut our grocery bill by 50% off by following these8 Tips for for Saving Money on Groceries by Menu Planning!

Seriously… look at that sugar just begging you to try these gingerbread cookies. 🙂 Go make them today. They are SO amazing!

Tips for makingsoft gingerbread cookies:

If you are still scooping cookies with two spoons, you really need to get yourself somestainless steel scoops!

I have had mine for several years and I use them for all types of baking. I bought the3 packand used the smallest of the 3 scoops for these cookies (and almost all my cookies) and they were just the right size for adults and kids.

The other sizes are perfect for other recipes or meatballs and such. Trust me, they will get lots of use and are well worth the small investment.

You will need astand mixeror ahand-held mixer. Either of these will work but I prefer my stand mixer. It makes everything even easier and definitely gets plenty of use.

Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (8)

Make sure to keep an eye on the cookies. If you cook them too long, they will not be soft.

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. This will help to cookies settle and prevent them from breaking.

I love the cookies warm. They are amazing served this way.

Gingerbread cookies will stay soft for 3-4 days as long as you store them at room temperature in an airtight container. Ours don’t last long though because everyone loves them so much.

HOW TO FREEZE SOFT GINGERBREAD COOKIES.

I like to flash freeze the cookies on a single layer and then put them in an airtight container for the freezer. This helps the cookies not to stick together and preserves their appearance as well.

Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (9)

Try this delicious soft gingerbread cookies recipe!

You won’t buy those store bought cookies anymore after you try this easy recipe! It isn’t just for the holidays but great for year round.

The kids love soft cookies and I love how easy these are. Once you make homemade cookies, you will just how simple and easy it is.

It might sound fancy to make cookies from scratch but it is not hard at all. Give it a try and see how delicious the cookies are.

Plus, you will save money from those store bought cookies. I promise these are much better too!

You can also make gingerbread men or a gingerbread house with this cookie dough. This gingerbread cookies recipe is so easy to use several different ways. The kids love to decorate with royal icing during the holidays and it looks so festive.

Try adding a dusting of powdered sugar. So pretty and tasty too!

Let us know once you try the recipe and how you like it. It is sure to be a hit!

I love recipes that are easy enough for the kids to help but taste amazing. These soft gingerbread cookies are definitely a winner in my book.

The entire family loves them! As you can see, there are so many fun and delicious options to try with these cookies!

Print the best gingerbread cookies recipe chewy here:

Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (10)

Review

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Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies

4.95 from 17 votes

Skip the old fashion Gingerbread cookies. Try this delicious soft and chewy gingerbread cookies recipe today. It wont disappoint!

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Servings 24

Cuisine American

Course Dessert

Calories 113

Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons butter or margarine (softened)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon orange juice
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1/2 granulated sugar (for rolling dough balls in)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F.

  • In a small bowl, combine all dry ingredients – flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Set aside.

  • In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar.

  • Add egg, orange juice and molasses, stirring carefully until well combined.

  • Slowly add flour mixture to butter mixture, thick dough will form.

  • Drop dough by rounded teaspoon into sugar. Roll to cover, then place on cookie sheet. Set cookies about 2-inches apart.

  • Bake at 350F for 8-10 minutes. The cookies will spread out and flatten a bit. Let cookies cool on cookie sheet for a couple of minutes before removing to wire rack.

Recipe Notes

You shouldadd these soft and chewy ginger bread cookies to your holiday baking list!

Nutrition Facts

Calories 113kcal, Carbohydrates 20g, Protein 1g, Fat 3g, Saturated Fat 1g, Cholesterol 14mg, Sodium 99mg, Potassium 68mg, Sugar 11g, Vitamin A 95IU, Vitamin C 0.3mg, Calcium 12mg, Iron 0.8mg

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Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (11)

Find all the Christmas cookie exchange recipes.

Try these other easy cookie recipes:

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Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (12)

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About the Author

Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (21)

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

About Carrie Page
Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should gingerbread cookies be hard or soft? ›

Should gingerbread cookies be hard or soft? Soft gingerbread biscuits are ideal. They ought to be flexible. However, they should still be somewhat elastic, and if you hold them too firmly because you're so excited to eat them, you might even be able to leave your fingerprints on the cookie!

What makes a chewy cookie? ›

Cornstarch helps product soft and thick cookies. Using more brown sugar than white sugar results in a moister, softer cookie. An extra egg yolk increases chewiness. Rolling the cookie dough balls to be tall and lumpy instead of wide and smooth gives the cookies a bakery-style textured thickness.

What type of molasses is best for gingerbread cookies? ›

Choose unsulfured molasses when possible, since sulfur dioxide can leave an unpleasant, chemical-like aftertaste, according to Smith. “Unsulfured molasses is derived from processed mature sugar cane,” she said. “It's rich in flavor with a smoky depth.

Why is my cookies soft but not chewy? ›

Not using enough fat in the dough.

A greater fat ratio (butter, margarine, shortening, etc.) to flour will result in a more tender cookie. Start by adding just a ¼ cup additional to your recipe. Melting the butter before adding it to the sugar will also up the chew factor.

What makes a cookie soft instead of hard? ›

Soft-baked cookies are often made using a solid fat with a higher melting point, which prevents the cookie from spreading while baking. The result is a thicker, softer, chewier cookie. Another simple trick for softer cookies is to use chilled dough.

How do you make cookies more chewy? ›

Double Your Yolks Most cookie recipes call for at least one egg. You can try omitting the white of each egg, which tends to dry out when baked, and replacing it with an additional yolk. Plus, egg yolks have more fat than egg whites, which helps to keep your cookies moist and chewy.

What are 3 factors that contribute to a chewy cookie? ›

The ingredients you use and how you shape your cookies both play an important role in whether your cookies turn out crispy or chewy. The type of flour and sugar you use, if your cookie dough contains eggs, and whether you use melted or softened butter all factor into the crispy-chewy equation, too.

What is the best flour for chewy cookies? ›

Bread flour has a high protein content, which may result in cookies with a chewy texture. It provides more structure than other flours and can give cookies that satisfying, bread-like bite.

Why are my gingerbread cookies 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.”

What is the secret to soft cookies? ›

Baking cookies quickly in a hot oven – at 375 degrees F as opposed to a lower temperature – will make for soft results. They'll bake fast instead of sitting and drying out in the oven's hot air. Ever so slightly underbaking your cookies will give you softer results than cooking them the full amount the recipe says.

Can you soften gingerbread cookies? ›

There are a few common methods for softening cookies, including microwaving them, heating them in the oven, and placing them in an airtight container with a slice of bread.

Is molasses or golden syrup better for gingerbread? ›

Molasses – Essential for that deep, rich, caramel-like gingerbread flavour! It also helps hold the dough's shape. Golden syrup makes a great sub, or treacle. Honey will also work, but the cookies will spread out a touch more and not have the same deep flavour (but still very, very good!).

Can I use dark corn syrup instead of molasses in gingerbread cookies? ›

Dark corn syrup is a combination of corn syrup and a specific type of molasses, which means it's dark and sweet like regular molasses. You can use it as a one-for-one swap.

Are gingerbread cookies always hard? ›

Keep in mind that the longer the cookies bake, the harder and crunchier they'll be. For soft gingerbread cookies, follow my suggested bake times. Allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet. Transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.

Why did my gingerbread cookies come out 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.”

Do gingerbread cookies harden as they cool? ›

Gingerbread Cookies are done when they are set and begin to brown slightly at the edges. They will harden further as they cool, so avoid overbaking so you don't end up with hard, crunchy gingerbread! Underbake slightly to achieve soft, slightly chewy gingerbread cookies.

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