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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  • Amazing Chocolate Brownie Cookies Recipe
  • Easy Raspberry Thumbprint Cookie Recipe
  • Chocolate Crinkle Cookie Recipe
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  • Easy Strawberry Pinch Cookies Recipe
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

What is the trick to making soft and chewy cookies? ›

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 makes cookies soft or chewy? ›

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 makes gingerbread cookies hard or soft? ›

Molasses and honey hardens gingerbread, but as the sugar absorbs moisture, it will get softer.” Cookbook author and ”Great American Baking Show” winner Vallery Lomas likes a gingerbread cookie that's packed with flavor. “I want to taste a lot of the spices ― especially ginger,” she said.

What factors cause a cookie to be crisp soft and chewy? ›

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 secret ingredient to keep cookies soft? ›

Cornstarch Is The Secret To Soft And Chewy Cookies.

What gives a chewy cookie is chewy texture? ›

Chewy cookies

Sugar dissolved in baking forms a syrup as the dough heats up. Different types of sugars affect the texture because they absorb different amounts of water. Remember moisture is the key! White sugar creates crispier cookies and brown sugar creates chewier cookies.

What to add to cookie mix to make them soft? ›

Brown Sugar

Adding moisture to your cookie dough can help make it softer and chewier, and stay soft for longer. That's why I use much more brown sugar than granulated sugar in this recipe. Learn how to DIY your own brown sugar and how to keep it soft in your pantry here.

Which ingredient is mentioned as contributing to a softer consistency in baked goods? ›

Overall, shortening in baking provides goods with an element of formation and texture that oil can't. The high fat content in shortening contributes to the moistness of goods providing them with a softer, fluffier texture.

What does adding egg yolk to cookies do? ›

A cookie made with extra egg yolk (or, in this case, only egg yolk), will be lighter and chewier than a cookie made with whole eggs. The cookies will also have a richer flavor thanks to the added fat in egg yolk.

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

Introduced in colonial times, the main differences between Gingerbread and Ginger Snaps are a longer bake time for an extra crisp and the use of molasses versus sugar. Molasses was used as substitute for sugar as it was the more affordable alternative to sweetening.

How to stop gingerbread from going soft? ›

Comments for gingerbread for houses getting too soft

My suggestion would be to bake them again in a low temperature oven to dry them out. I would start at 250 or 275 F. for about 40 min. Remember, when it cools it hardens.

How to tell when gingerbread cookies are done? ›

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.

How do you make cookies soft and chewy vs hard and crisp? ›

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.

What makes a cookie more soft? ›

For soft cookies, use: Brown sugar, as it has a high moisture content and retains moisture better than white sugar. Also, when combined with eggs, brown sugar can prevent spreading (taller cookies tend to be softer and fluffier). Shortening instead of butter or in addition to butter.

What does brown sugar do in cookies? ›

Brown sugar, meanwhile, is dense and compacts easily, creating fewer air pockets during creaming—that means that there's less opportunity to entrap gas, creating cookies that rise less and spread more. With less moisture escaping via steam, they also stay moist and chewy.

What is the trick to soften hard cookies? ›

Another way to soften cookies is by placing the cookies in an airtight container with a damp paper towel. The paper towel will release moisture and help to soften the cookies without making them too soft or mushy. Another way is to place the cookies in a plastic bag with a slice of apple or a damp tea towel.

Why are my cookies fluffy and not chewy? ›

Using the wrong type of flour (or just too much flour).

Using too much flour will make your cookies too cakey, so try reducing the flour amount by two tablespoons. Avoid using cake flour instead; try a mix of all-purpose flour and bread flour for a more dense and chewy texture.

Does baking soda or powder make cookies chewy? ›

Baking soda is generally about three times stronger than baking powder, so adjust your recipe accordingly. Baking soda and baking powder can produce cookies with different textures. Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies.

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