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.

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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:

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    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.

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    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

    4.94 from 195 votes

    Yield: 28 cookies

    Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

    Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

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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!

    How to make cookies more crispy? ›

    Use a higher ratio of white to brown sugar

    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.

    Why didn t my ginger snaps crack? ›

    Let's review a few reasons why you're cooked may not have crackled on top: You put the cookies in the oven before preheating. A hot preheated oven is important for getting a crackle top on your cookies. You didn't whip the butter and sugar long enough.

    Why are my ginger snap cookies flat? ›

    Check your oven

    If your oven is too hot, the fat melts faster than the cookie can set, and you end up with pancake cookies. Always preheat your oven and invest in a good oven thermometer. Even new ovens can be incorrectly calibrated, so check the actual temperature every time you put a pan in the oven.

    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).

    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.”

    What makes a cookie crispy? ›

    Using lower-moisture sugar (granulated) and fat (vegetable shortening), plus a longer, slower bake than normal, produces light, crunchy cookies. That said, using a combination of butter and vegetable shortening (as in the original recipe), or even using all butter, will make an acceptably crunchy chocolate chip cookie.

    Why are my cookies not crispy enough? ›

    I recommend baking your cookies for a bit longer at a lower temperature to achieve the texture you're looking for. You can also play around with the type of pan you're using. A darker, non-stick baking sheet will speed up your baking process and help you get a crispier cookie. A note: crispy cookies do not equal burnt.

    Why are my cookies soft instead of crispy? ›

    Q: Why are my cookies not crisp enough? They are underbaked. Lower your oven temperature and bake longer but at a lower temperature. Using too much flour or the wrong kind of flour.

    How to get crackly cookies? ›

    Instead of simply placing a smooth ball of cookie dough on your baking sheet, use your hands to split the ball in half, and then gently squeeze it together. You'll want the split side facing up when the cookies go into the oven.

    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 ...

    What's 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.

    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? ›

    Light corn syrup is another ingredient that you can add to cookie dough that will help it stay softer longer. The corn syrup you buy at the grocery store is not the high-fructose corn syrup that soft drinks are made with; it's a sugar that is liquid at room temperature and helps other sugars say liquid at high heat.

    How do you know when ginger cookies are done? ›

    So how do you know that they're done? Here's how to tell if gingerbread cookies are done: They'll be firmly set. They'll be a lovely medium-brown color.

    Why is my gingerbread soft? ›

    Baking at too high of a heat.

    To ensure even cooking, with crisp edges and soft centers, bake at a lower heat. Follow this tip: Bake gingerbread cookies at a reasonable 325°F in order to prevent them from burning before they are cooked through.

    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!

    Why are my ginger snaps puffy? ›

    Q: Why are my cookies so puffy and cakey? Whipping too much air into the dough. That fluffy texture you want in a cake results from beating a lot of air into the room temperature butter and sugar, and it does the same for cookies. So don't overdo it when you're creaming together the butter and sugar.

    Why is my gingerbread crunchy? ›

    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.

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