Soft and chewy ginger cookies are packed with ginger, molasses, and cinnamon spice, for the most warm and cozy cookie ever. These holiday cookies are so soft and chewy and stays soft for days, making it the best make ahead cookie recipe to bake. Plus, they are so easy to whip up, that even the kids will love to help.
We are starting Christmas cookie season early this year, because why not? I don't know about you, but I have been in need of some major cookie therapy lately with all that has been going on. Plus, it's never too early to start thinking about the cookies that you want to include in your holiday cookie box this year. These soft and chewy ginger cookies definitely make the cut. Some of my other favourite Christmas cookies that I am planning to include are Christmas sugar cookies, jam-filled thumbprint cookies, soft and chewy white chocolate cranberry cookies and chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies.
Ingredients in Soft Ginger Molasses Cookies
- all-purpose flour
- baking soda
- ground ginger
- ground cinnamon
- ground cloves
- molasses
- butter
- sugar - both granulated sugar and brown sugar.
- egg
- vanilla extract
- salt
- sugar coating - I used coarse sugar because I like the texture on the outside of these cookies. You could also just use granulated sugar.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, hand mixer (or stand mixer), cookie scoop, half sheet baking pan, and silicone mat.
How to Make the Best Soft and Chewy Ginger Cookies
- Combine dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars using a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg and beat until incorporated. Then add molasses and vanilla and beat on low until combined.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients: Gradually add in the dry ingredients and beat until just combined.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic cling wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours, up to overnight.
- Shape and coat with sugar: Transfer coarse sugar into a small bowl. Then, use a cookie scoop to scoop out 1-2 tablespoons of cookie dough at a time, and roll into 1-inch ball. Roll the cookie ball into the bowl of sugar to fully coat it. Place on a parchment paper or silicone mat lined half sheet baking pan, spaced 2-3 inches apart. You will need to bake in multiple batches, or freeze some uncoated cookie balls to bake later.
- Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes in a 350 F preheated oven, until the edges are set. Remove from oven and allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet. Then, transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool down completely.
PRO TIP: If the cookies have a dome to them and are not very crinkled (this can happen if your cookie dough has been chilled for too long), gently press down on them using the back of a spatula so flatten them out a bit and create the crinkle effect. Do this just before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool down completely.
Storing Tips
- How to store: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- How to freeze: Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. You an also freeze the rolled cookie balls that have not been coated in sugar for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, simply allow it to defrost in the refrigerator, then roll in sugar and bake.
More Cookie Recipes
- Soft and Chewy White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
- Jam-filled Thumbprint Cookies with Almond Glaze
- Christmas Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
- The Best Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Cookies
- Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Heart Cookies
- The Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Did you make this recipe? I would greatly appreciate a comment and rating below, letting me know what you thought of the recipe. You can also snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.
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Soft and Chewy Ginger Cookies
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 24-28 cookies
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Soft chewy ginger cookies packed with ginger, molasses, and cinnamon spice is the most warm and cozy cookie ever. These holiday cookies stay soft for days.
Ingredients
- 2 + ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- ½ tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup butter, softened to room temperature
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Sugar Coating:
- ¼ cup coarse sugar or granulated sugar
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars using a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add the egg and beat until incorporated. Then add molasses and vanilla and beat on low until combined.
- Gradually add in the dry ingredients and beat until just combined.
- Cover the bowl with plastic cling wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours, up to overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a half sheet baking pan with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Transfer coarse sugar into a small bowl. Then, use a cookie scoop to scoop out 1-2 tablespoons of cookie dough at a time, and roll into 1-inch ball. Roll the cookie ball into the bowl of sugar to fully coat it. Place on the lined baking tray, spaced 2-3 inches apart. You will have to bake in multiple batches, or freeze some uncoated cookie balls to bake later.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until the edges are set. Remove from oven and allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet. Then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool down completely. If the cookies have a dome to them and are not very crinkled (this can happen if your cookie dough has been chilled for too long), just before transferring to a wire cooling rack, gently press down on them using the back of a spatula so flatten them out a bit and create the crinkle effect. Then, transfer to the cooling rack to cool down completely.
Notes
Equipment used: measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, hand mixer (or stand mixer), cookie scoop, half sheet baking pan, and silicone mat.
How to store: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
How to freeze: Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. You an also freeze the rolled cookie balls that have not been coated in sugar for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, simply allow it to defrost in the refrigerator, then roll in sugar and bake.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (+2 hours chill time)
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: soft and chewy ginger cookies, ginger molasses cookies, soft ginger molasses cookies, christmas cookies, ginger christmas cookies
Andrew says
I made these for christmas this year. My first time making cookies from scratch. The recipe was easy to follow and the tips were great. I baked these for 8 1/2 minutes. They turned out to be ginger pillows in your mouth. Great recipe!
★★★★★
Joanna says
Easy to make, next time I will reduce the baking sodastream by half, just a bit too much for me. Perhaps a bit more spice as well.
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Thanks for sharing Joanna!
Heather says
Thanks for this recipe; so yummy! I adjusted it for high altitude (I'm at 4500ft). Posting here in case it helps someone else! They turned out perfect! : )
-Added 2T flour
-Decreased to 1tsp baking soda
-Added 2T(approximately) extra butter
-Added 1T (approximately) extra molasses
-Added large splash soy milk (a few Tablespoons?)
-Increased oven temp to 375
-Baked 8 to 9 minutes
★★★★★
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Thank you for sharing Heather!!
Reeta Young says
Delicious! And easy to make. Love them! Would definitely make again.
★★★★★
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Thank you Reeta!
Stephanie says
These cookies are wonderful! Easy to make. Soft and melt in your mouth. I used large crystal sugar which really made them great.
If I were to make the dough and roll then freeze, how early would you recommend thawing the dough in the fridge prior to rolling in sugar and baking?
★★★★★
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Thank you so much! I would recommend allowing them to thaw in the fridge overnight until fully defrosted.
Jenna Kavanaugh says
These cookies turned out absolutely PERFECT! And are nothing short of amazing. So easy and SO good. Make the peanut butter blossoms as well another 5 star recipe!!😊
★★★★★
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Thank you so much Jenna!! That makes me so happy to hear!