Crispy Gingersnaps | Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (2024)

Tessa’s Recipe Rundown

Taste: The perfect balance of sweet and spice.
Texture: Thin and crispy, these cookies break in half cleanly and have a satisfying crunch to every bite!
Ease: Super simple 30 minute recipe. No chilling required.
Pros: Easy and festive recipe that goes great in every Christmas cookie box.
Cons: None!
Would I make this again? Yes.

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These Crispy Gingersnaps Cookies are the perfect classic, crispy gingersnap cookie.

Crispy Gingersnaps | Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (1)

Typically I enjoy more of a chewy cookie, but every once in a while I want that satisfying crunch and crispness of something sweet.

I tweaked my Chewy Gingersnap recipe (which are included in my cookbook – available on Amazon!) to make them thin and crunchy.

Crispy Gingersnaps | Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (2)

These ginger cookies would also make a great base for ice cream sandwiches!

In fact, my best friend Ashley from Baker by Nature sent me ice cream from Salt & Straw, our favorite ice cream shoppe, as an early Christmas gift.

One of the flavors she sent was for Gingerbread Cookie Dough. I’m thinking I have to make ice cream sandwiches with these ginger snaps and that ice cream!!

Of course, they’re also marvelous on their own with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee or tea.

How to Make Thin & Crispy Gingersnaps

What are Gingersnaps?

A year-round favorite all over the world, Gingersnaps are particularly popular to welcome in the fall and winter holiday seasons! Gingersnaps are perfectly spiced with the most beautiful cracked, sugary tops. While these are mostly enjoyed during the colder months, I actually love them in the fall in Arizona, when the temps are slowly beginning to drop. They’re delicious with a glass of cold milk or even lemonade… and even better used in place of graham crackers for over-the-top s’mores!

Gingersnaps are just what they sound like: a cookie flavored with ginger – plus other spices that we’ll talk more about below. Gingersnaps are typically crunchy or have a brittle texture, thus the “snap”. The spiciness of the ginger and richness of the molasses pairs perfectly with coffee, tea, hot cocoa, or mulled wine.

    What Makes Cookies Crispy and Crackled?

    • A heavy amount of baking soda interacts with the molasses in this recipe to encourage spread.
    • This allows cracks in the dough to develop where moisture escapes, creating that beautiful crackled appearance and crunchy texture.
    • Ensure your baking soda is fresh and active – learn more about that here.
    • There’s also much more granulated sugar than brown sugar in this recipe. White sugar encourages more spread and has less moisture to make for a crisper cookie.
    • Lastly, a longer baking time ensures a crunchy texture all the way through the center of these cookies.

    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.
    • Check out my article on How to Measure Flour for step-by-step instructions.
    • Just take a look at what a difference too much flour can make:

    Crispy Gingersnaps | Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (3)

    How to Make Flavorful Gingersnaps

    • Make sure your spices, especially the ground ginger, are fresh and of high quality.
    • The fresher the spice, the more flavorful it’ll be.
    • While I haven’t tried it, you can also experiment with crystallized ginger, but expect your cookies to be a little more sugary.
    • If you want more SPICE in your gingersnaps, add a tablespoon or two of freshly grated ginger.
    • You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
    • In addition to the spices, the molasses used is also important.
    • Make sure to use unsulphured molasses.
    • Never use blackstrap molasses in baking, it’s extremely bitter.
    • Brer Rabbit or Grandma’s in their ‘mild’ or ‘original’ flavors tend to work best.

    Crispy Gingersnaps | Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (4)

    How to Store Homemade Gingersnaps

    Store the gingersnaps in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days.

    How to Freeze Gingersnap Cookies

    • Scoop out the balls of cookie dough.
    • Place on a baking sheet and freeze until solid.
    • Remove to an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
    • Bake from frozen, reducing the temperature to 325°F and adding a couple minutes onto the baking time.
    • You can also store baked Crispy Gingersnap Cookies in the freezer, in an airtight container or freezer bag, for up to 1 month.

    Crispy Gingersnaps | Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (5)

    More Christmas Cookie Recipes:

    • Easy Cut Out Sugar Cookies
    • Soft Chewy Sugar Cookies
    • Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Icing
    • Turtle Thumbprint Cookies
    • S’mores Cookies
    • Gingerbread Cookies

    Crispy Gingersnaps | Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (6)

    How to Make

    Crispy Gingersnaps

    By: Tessa Arias

    4.94 from 195 votes

    Yield: 28 cookies

    Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

    Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

    Review Print

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    Classic Crispy Gingersnaps are the perfect Christmas cookie! Thin and crunchy with the perfect amount of molasses and spice, this easy homemade recipe takes 30 minutes to make!

    Ingredients

    • 1 1/2 sticks (170 grams) unsalted butter, at cool room temperature
    • 1 1/4 cups (250 grams) granulated sugar, divided
    • 1/4 cup (50 grams) lightly packed light brown sugar
    • 1/3 cup (113 grams) unsulphured molasses (NOT blackstrap)
    • 1 large egg
    • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
    • 2 teaspoons baking soda
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
    • 2 1/4 cups (286 grams) all-purpose flour

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

    • In a large bowl, use an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment to beat the butter, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the molasses and egg and beat until combined. Add in the salt, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and flour, and beat until combined.

    • Place the remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a shallow dish. Scoop the dough into 1 1/2 tablespoon balls and roll in the sugar before placing on the baking sheet, leaving plenty of room for spread. Bake for 15 minutes or until the cookies are spread and the surface looks crackled.

    • Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days.

    Show us!If you make this recipe, be sure to snap a picture and share it on Instagram with #handletheheat so we can all see!

    Recipe Notes

    Be sure to use spices that haven’t been sitting open in your spice cabinet for years! The fresher the spice, the more flavorful it’ll be.

    Photos by Ashley McLaughlin.

    Crispy Gingersnaps | Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    Why are my ginger snaps not crispy? ›

    My general rule is baking soda helps with spread, and baking powder helps with puff. Bake for longer. This is a pretty simple one, but to get that lovely crunchy gingersnap cookie, I increased the bake time slightly. If you want them even more crunchy, bake them for a little longer!

    What makes a cookie crispy? ›

    How to Make Crispy Cookies. While brown sugar keeps your cookies moist and soft, white sugar and corn syrup will help your cookies spread and crisp in the oven. Using more white sugar in your cookies will result in a crispier end product. To achieve a crispy cookie, skip the rest in the fridge.

    Why don't my ginger cookies crackle on the top? ›

    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) Not creaming the fat long enough (creaming cuts little air pockets into the fat, which means the leavening has to do less work)

    What is the difference between ginger snaps and ginger cookies? ›

    Ginger Snaps are simply a variation of the traditional Gingerbread cookie. They're known for their crisper quality; their “snap” if you will.

    Why are ginger snap cookies so hard? ›

    Here are several reasons why your ginger snap cookies might have turned out hard: Overbaking: Cookies can become hard if they are baked for too long. Make sure to bake these cookies for 20 minutes at 300 degrees F. Too little moisture: If you didn't add enough liquid to the dough, the cookies can become dry and hard.

    Why are my crinkle cookies not crinkling? ›

    The signature crinkle effect happens when the cookies spread and crack as they bake. If your cookies aren't crinkling, it might be because the dough is too warm (try chilling it for longer before baking), or the oven temperature might be too low (ensure your oven is correctly preheated).

    What ingredient contributes most to the texture of a crisp cookie? ›

    Fat is a very important ingredient in cookies – it tenderizes, crisps and browns, adds color and a wonderful flavor that is impossible to duplicate. Butter, our fat of choice, ensures good baking results and adds the most desirable taste, texture and appearance.

    What ingredients can affect crispness in a cookie? ›

    Sugar makes cookies browner (by caramelising) and crisper (by absorbing moisture in the dough). Sugar attracts and binds the water (I learnt a new word – hygroscopic!) and hence there's lesser water for gluten formation.

    How do I make my cookies chewy instead of crunchy? ›

    How To Make Cookies Chewy Without Cornstarch
    1. Go heavy on brown sugar. It has more moisture than its granulated counterpart, which means the cookie comes out less crispy. ...
    2. Choose margarine or shortening instead of butter. ...
    3. Use baking powder instead of baking soda. ...
    4. Rest your dough. ...
    5. Shorten baking time.
    May 14, 2023

    Why are my cookies never crunchy? ›

    To make cookies crispy, add less liquid or bake it in the oven for longer to dry out the dough. Generally bake around 13-15min at 180C for a crispy cookie. But if you want a thoroughly crispy cookie – not those just charred on the outside – decrease the temperature to 140C and bake for 30min.

    Why are my gingersnap cookies flat? ›

    The Problem: Your Oven Is Too Hot

    If your cookies repeatedly turn out flat, no matter the recipe, chances are your oven is too hot.

    How to get crinkle top on cookies? ›

    While we found that multiple factors can affect how quickly the top dries out and thus how many cracks are formed (including the temperature of the dough and how rapidly it spreads in the oven), a simple tweak turned out to be key to producing a maximum number of fissures: rolling the balls of dough in granulated sugar ...

    Why is ginger snaps so good? ›

    Because it has some excellent suspense sequences and a rather high amount of blood and gore. The werewolf is really cool looking,the acting by two lead girls(Emily Perkins,Katharine Isabelle)is excellent and the direction is well-handled. "Ginger Snaps" is a pure horror film,that is to be taken seriously.

    Are ginger snaps healthier than other cookies? ›

    The smaller, crispy gingersnaps are a plain, round cookie and a healthier choice when compared to other cookies because they are usually lower in calories. Ginger not only adds delicious flavor to food, but it's also full of nutrients. There are lots of different vitamins and minerals in ginger.

    What are ginger snaps called in England? ›

    Ginger Nut Biscuits and Ginger Snap Cookies, Ginger Snap Biscuits and Ginger Snaps are all exactly the same things. New Zealand and Australia call them Ginger Nut Biscuits, America calls them Ginger Snap Cookies and Britain calls them GInger Snap biscuits (but also Ginger Nuts too!!).

    Why did my ginger snaps go flat? ›

    It most likely is the baking soda- thoroughly whisk all the dry ingredients together before blending in with the wet. Also another fact may be that the other ingredients in the recipe dont “get along” with the corn syrup.

    Why is my gingerbread soft? ›

    To achieve crispy, sturdy gingerbread, Lomas recommends letting the baked gingerbread pieces dry out for a day or two. Don't put the pieces in the refrigerator or keep them in a closed container, as this keeps the moisture in.

    Why aren't my cookies crackly? ›

    Issues with cracking usually derive from the sugar coating, not enough or expired baking powder or baking soda, or the oven temperature isn't hot enough. Solution: Granulated sugar is more effective at drying the surface than powdered sugar.

    Should gingerbread be soft or crunchy? ›

    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!

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