Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (2024)

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This vintage old fashioned ginger snap cookies recipe makes the most delicious spiced cookies that are crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. Perfect for Christmas cookie swaps, gift giving or any time of the year!

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (1)

My blogger friends and I are sharing some of our favorite Christmas cookies. Be sure to check out the other four delicious cookie recipes at the end of this post!

Inspiration for Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies

These cookies are quite famous with my husband’s family. My mother-in-law has been making them for family gatherings and church bake sales for decades! She even brought them to Florida each year when she’d visit her other two sons and their families during the holidays.

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (2)

I don’t know where the original recipe came from, but we have this tattered old copy that my husband estimates is at least 50 years old. When we got married, our favors for the guests at our winter wedding were bags of homemade ginger snaps!

Ginger Snap Cookie Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup of vegetable shortening
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup molasses (I used blackstrap molasses)
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (3)

How to Make Ginger Snap Cookies

The first step is to cream the vegetable shortening and sugar. I used these pre-measured sticks of shortening which made the job a lot easier!

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (4)

I recommend using an electric hand mixer to cream the shortening and sugar. It comes out light and fluffy. You can still do it by hand if you don’t have a mixer, though.

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (5)

After you add the egg and molasses, sift the flour, baking soda and spices into the wet ingredients. I like to use my vintage sifter.

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (6)

Mix the wet and dry ingredients together with a wooden spoon until thoroughly combined.

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (7)

Roll the dough into about 1 1/2 inch balls.

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (8)

Roll the balls of dough in sugar.

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (9)

Spread the dough balls about 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (10)

Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on a metal rack. They are done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (11)

I love the crackle texture of these dairy free ginger snap cookies! It’s easy to make small batch ginger snap cookies, too. I only baked one sheet of fifteen cookies and refrigerated the extra dough to make more later.

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (12)

Grandma’s spice cookies came out so good! My husband gave me the ultimate compliment and said they tasted very much like his mom’s cookies.

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (13)

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (14)

Print Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies

This vintage old fashioned ginger snap cookies recipe makes the most delicious spiced cookies that are crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. Perfect for Christmas cookie swaps, gift giving or any time of the year!

Prep Time30 mins

Cook Time12 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Christmas cookies, Cookies, ginger snaps

Servings: 45 cookies

Calories: 55kcal

Equipment

  • Electric hand mixer

  • Mixing bowl

  • Measuring cups and spoons

  • Wooden spoon

  • Sifter

  • Cookie Sheet

  • Parchment paper

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup vegetable shortening
  • 1 cup granulated sugar plus 1/4 cup extra for coating
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground ginger

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  • Cream vegetable shortening with an electic hand mixer. Add sugar gradually and cream until light and fluffy.

  • Add egg and molasses and mix until smooth.

  • Sift flour, baking soda and spices into the wet mixture and stir well.

  • Roll dough by hand into 2 1/2 inch balls.

  • Roll dough balls in sugar.

  • Place about 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

  • Bake cookies for 12 minutes. They are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

How many calories in a gingersnap cookie?

There are approximately 55 calories in one old fashioned ginger snap cookie.

Can you use ginger snap cookies for nausea?

Yes! Gingersnap cookies are a good snack to combat nausea related to pregnancy or motion sickness. Ginger is well known to be a natural remedy that can help ease an upset stomach.

What to do with leftover ginger snap cookies?

Ginger snap cookies make great gifts! Put leftover ginger snap cookies in a tin and share them with family, friends or neighbors. What about ginger snaps for teachers? Send some extra ginger snaps to school with your children as a token of appreciation. They also freeze well for up to two months. Wrap gingersnaps in plastic wrap and store them in the freezer in an airtight container lined with aluminum foil.

I’m really looking forward to baking and hosting a cookie swap party this year! Besides these Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies, I’ll also be making my Holiday Coconut Apricot Bars. Oh, how I love Christmas cookies!

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (15)
Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (16)

More Christmas Cookie Recipes

These chocolate-dipped Christmas tree cookies decorated with white chocolate, pistachios and freeze-dried raspberries look impressive but are very easy to make. Your family and friends will love to receive these cookies as homemade Christmas gifts – that’s if you can bear to give them away in the first place!

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (17)

This Chocolate No Bake Cookie Recipe makes a quick irresistible chocolaty treat.

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (18)

Christmas Magic Cookie Bars are rich, yet delicious with a buttery graham cracker crust layered with chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut flakes then topped off with red and green m&m, baked to golden perfection, they make for the perfect holiday treat.

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (19)

This festive Peppermint Snowball Cookie Recipe is a light buttery cookie from scratch. With a hint of peppermint extract, then rolled in crushed candy canes and confectioners’ sugar. It’s like Christmas in every bite.

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (20)

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (21)

Related

Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between ginger snaps and ginger cookies? ›

The basic difference between two is that the Gingerbread cookies have comparatively soft texture than the ginger snaps. The ginger snaps are dry and hard, so they 'snap'. This is due to longer time for baking and use of molasses instead of sugar.

Why are my ginger snaps soft? ›

Measure Your Flour Correctly to Ensure Gingersnaps are CRISPY! To avoid ending up with Gingersnaps that are thick and chewy instead of perfectly crispy, make sure to measure your flour accurately with a digital scale. It's all too easy to accidentally add too much flour if you're using cups.

Why do my ginger snaps go flat? ›

If you use too much butter, the cookies will end up flat and greasy. And if you use too little flour, the amount of butter and sugar will be proportionally too high, meaning the cookies will spread for the aforementioned reasons.

Are ginger snaps healthier than other cookies? ›

Most ginger snaps are lower in fat and sugar than other types of cookies, and you'll also get a good dose of certain vitamins and minerals, as well.

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.”

Why is ginger snaps so good? ›

Ginger Snaps is a great werewolf movie because it has a unique take on the genre. It follows two teenage sisters who are dealing with the physical and emotional changes that come with the onset of puberty, and how those changes can be exacerbated by a werewolf curse.

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)

Do ginger snaps settle your stomach? ›

Will ginger candy soothe an upset stomach? Yes, ginger in ANY form will do that.

Are ginger snaps and molasses cookies the same? ›

Gingersnaps typically have a crisp, snappy texture and a spicier, more pronounced ginger flavor, while molasses cookies are soft with a deeper, rich molasses flavor.

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

What is the secret ingredient to keep cookies soft? ›

If you enjoy your cookies soft and chewy, chances are likely the recipe contains a common ingredient that serves a very specific purpose. No, it's not granulated sugar, nor the butter. It's not the egg, all-purpose flour, or even the vanilla extract. The simple, yet oh-so-necessary component is cornstarch.

Can you eat expired ginger snaps? ›

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.

Can dogs eat ginger snaps? ›

Dogs cannot eat ginger snaps. Feeding your dog ginger snaps can upset your dog's stomach or lead to long-term health issues.

Why are ginger cookies called snaps? ›

These early ginger cookies originated in Europe and came with the German, Dutch, and English settlers to America. Gingersnaps were named from the German or Middle Dutch word snappen, meaning "to seize quickly."

What is the difference between ginger snaps and spiced wafers? ›

The difference is that their ginger snaps contain "ginger" while their spiced wafers contain "spices". Never having had the ginger snaps, I'd suspect the spiced wafers are also crisper.

What is another name for ginger snaps? ›

The gingersnap is also known as a "ginger nut," especially in the U.K. It's a sweet, brittle cookie that's flavored with plenty of ginger and often other spices like cinnamon, cloves, or nutmeg, and baked in small rounds.

What is a substitute for ginger snaps? ›

*If you don't have gingersnaps, you can use graham crackers, but add in a 1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon, 3/4 tsp ground ginger and a pinch of black pepper to give them some spice!

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