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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  • Easy Raspberry Thumbprint Cookie Recipe
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  • Red Velvet Cookies Recipe
  • 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? ›

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 cookies soft or chewy? ›

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.

Should gingerbread cookies be hard or soft? ›

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!

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? ›

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.

What gives a chewy cookie is chewy texture? ›

Well, the long and short answer to chewy cookies is it's all about the moisture content. Cookies that are dense and chewy incorporate more moisture into the batter. This can be achieved by making substitutions with wet and dry ingredients, or even just changing the way you incorporate certain ingredients.

What ingredient makes cookies softer? ›

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 an extra egg yolk do for cookies? ›

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 happens if you add more butter to cookies? ›

Too much butter makes cookies turn out just as you'd expect: very buttery. This batch of cookies was cakey in the middle, but also airy throughout, with crispy edges. They were yellow and slightly puffy in the middle, and brown and super thin around the perimeter.

How do you know when soft gingerbread cookies are done? ›

It's harder to tell when gingerbread dough is golden brown as it's darker. If you touch the top of the cookie and it's nice and dry, the cookies are done.

What does molasses do in baking? ›

Molasses serve several purposes in baked goods such as: Sweetening: contributing to sweetness, although with lower intensity than sucrose. Its sweetness decreases as color darkens. Flavor: providing a broad and complex range of flavors, from caramel to bitter notes.

What are the three types of gingerbread? ›

The three distinct types of gingerbread are brown gingerbread, wafer-based gingerbread and honey gingerbread.
  • BROWN GINGERBREAD.
  • WAFER GINGERBREAD.
  • HONEY GINGERBREAD.

How do you make cookies stay soft and chewy? ›

Keep Them Sealed

The key to keeping cookies fresh and soft is to seal them in an airtight container, like a resealable freezer bag. And here's a nifty little trick: add a piece of bread to the bag.

Why put corn syrup in cookies? ›

So, when you mix corn syrup into your cookie batter, all of that moisture will make and keep your baked cookies deliciously tender. The texture of cookies benefits from corn syrup as well. As you combine your ingredients to make your cookie batter, corn syrup will pull some of the surrounding air into your batter.

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.

Does baking soda or powder make cookies chewy? ›

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.

Why do my cookies never turn out chewy? ›

Hard cookies: you are over mixing, baking too long, baking at too high a temperature, or some combination of these. Cakey cookies: not enough brown sugar, too much or too little egg, too much flour, maybe you used baking powder instead of baking soda?

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