• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Bless this Mess
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Sides
  • Desserts
  • Snacks
  • Holidays
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Start Here
  • All Recipes
  • Recipe Filter
  • Cookbooks!
  • Our Story
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Start Here
    • All Recipes
    • Recipe Filter
    • Cookbooks!
    • Our Story
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Bless This Mess > Recipes > Desserts > Cookies > Christmas Cookies

    Thin and Crispy Gingersnap Cookies

    Published: Dec 17, 2021 · Modified: Dec 17, 2021 by Melissa · 4 Comments

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Mail
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    pinterest pin text that reads "crispy gingersnaps" - ginger cookies on a cooling rack
    pinterest pin text that reads "crispy gingersnaps" - ginger cookies piled on a white plate
    pinterest pin text that reads "crispy gingersnaps" - ginger cookies on a cooling rack

    Looking for the perfect classic gingersnaps recipe? Look no further! This recipes yields thin and crispy gingersnap cookies that border on the edge of spicy (in a good way!) and are packed with ginger flavor. These are just like your favorite store bought gingersnaps, but better.

    Gingersnaps Cookie Recipe

    Gingersnap cookies are nostalgic and one of my favorites. I wanted to make a gingersnap cookies that was perfectly crisp without being crumbly, thin, and packed with so much ginger and spices that it boarders on spicy. After many batches we've landed on the perfect cookie.

    This is one of those recipes that you'll make again and again during the holiday season and every gingersnap lover in your life will ask for the recipe.

    Today I'm working with Bob's Red Mill on my annual holiday post for them and I'm so glad to be bringing you this recipe using their products. I use Bob's Red Mill flours exclusively in my home (and developed a whole sourdough cookbook with their flour!). It's a brand I use, trust, and love to support.

    Why this recipe is amazing:

    1. You brown the butter! It adds tons of flavor.
    2. You add the spices to the hot butter which makes them taste amazing with a deeper, stronger, and more pleasant taste.
    3. When the cookies come out of the oven, you flatten them with the bottom of the glass. This does something magical to the texture.

    Enjoy this recipe from my kitchen to yours this winter.

    Ingredients in Gingersnap Cookies:

    • Butter: we add an extra step when it comes to the butter, we brown it on the stove top! This steps helps to ensure that the cookies get crisp by removing some of the water from the butter and it adds a ton of deep flavor to the cookies.
    • Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves, and Black Pepper: these are the spices that give the cookie it's signature taste. You use a whopping 2 tablespoons of ground ginger and the pepper adds a little bit of that spicy heat you are looking for.
    • Molasses: you don't need a lot in this recipe but it helps to add depth of flavor to the cookies and helps make them that classic deep golden brown color.
    • Bob's Red Mill All-Purpose Flour: this high quality flour is the stuff baking dreams are made of. It's a great quality and their wheat is grown in Oregon and Washington.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the difference between a gingersnap and gingerbread?

    Gingersnaps are thin, crispy, and very prominent in ginger flavor. Gingerbread cookies tend to be a soft cookie that are sweeter and have a more balanced flavor between the ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. You can find my amazing soft gingerbread cookie recipe here.

    Why is it called a gingersnap?

    These cookies have been around for hundreds of years. They originated in Germany and they called the cookie "schnappen". This is the word for a snap of the fingers, referring to the snapping sound. They are called gingersnaps because they are so crisp they make a snapping sound when broken and are full of ginger.

    Can I make these cookies with gluten free flour?

    I didn't try it myself but I have great luck using Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1to1 Baking Flour in recipes and I think because these cookies are crisp, they would work great with that flour.

    More Cookie Recipes:

    • Soft Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
    • White Chocolate Gingerbread Blondies
    • Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies (these are a tender and soft cookie)
    • How to Make a Gingerbread House

    If you’ve tried this Gingersnap Cookies recipe or any other recipe on Bless this Mess, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some pictures of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories AND add your photo to your comment so that other can see your creation.

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    scene with ginger snap cookies on a rack and also piled on a plate with milk and festive napkins

    Thin and Crispy Gingersnap Cookies


    • Author: Melissa Griffiths - Bless this Mess
    • Total Time: 40 min
    • Yield: 5 dozen cookies 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    These thin and crispy gingersnaps cookies are just like your favorite ones from the store. They are spiced to perfection and bordering on spicy, crisp, and full of flavor. You will love these!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    •  12 tablespoons butter
    • 2 tablespoons ground ginger
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 ¼ cups brown sugar
    • ¼ cup molasses
    • 1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk
    • 2 ½ cups Bob's Red Mill all-purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup granulated sugar for rolling

    Instructions

    1. In a medium sauce pan, add the butter and melt it over medium heat. When the butter is melted and starts to foam, stir it often. Let it cook 2-4 minutes while stirring until it turns a nutty brown color. Don't walk away from it as it can burn.
    2. Pour the browned butter into a large mixing bowl. 
    3. Add the ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and pepper, and stir to combine. Let the mixture cool slightly, about 2 minutes. 
    4. Add the brown sugar to the butter mixture and stir to combine.
    5. Add the molasses, egg, and egg yolk to the butter mixture and stir to combine well.
    6. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt to the butter mixture and stir to combine well. I'll use my hands to almost "knead" the dough a little at the end if it gets too thick to stir. Make sure it's fully combined.
    7. Cover the bowl tightly and chill the dough for 30 minutes.
    8. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or a baking mat.
    9. Place the reserved granulated sugar in a bowl.
    10. Roll one heaping teaspoon of dough into a ball in your hands (it should be about the size of a large shooter marble, so not huge) and then roll the dough into the sugar to coat the outside.
    11. Place the dough balls on the baking sheet 2 inches apart, roughly 12-15 per baking sheet.
    12. Bake for 20 minutes.
    13. Remove from the oven and use the bottom of a glass drinking cup to press the cookies flat. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack. 
    14. Repeat with remaining dough. 
    15. The cookies will finish crisping up as they cool.
    16. Store leftover fully cooled cookies in an airtight container.

    Notes

    • Don't skip browning the butter. It helps to remove some of the water from the butter which lends to a crispier cookie. 
    • Flattening the cookies when they come out of the oven does something magical to the texture.
    • I do think these cookies would lend well to gluten free baking and though I haven't tired it, I think that the Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1-t0-1 Baking Flour would work well in this recipe.
    • Prep Time: 15 min
    • Cook Time: 20 min
    • Category: dessert
    • Method: bake
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: gingersnaps, gingersnap cookies, how to make gingersnaps, gingersnaps recipe, gingersnap cookies recipe, crispy gingersnap cookies

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @blessthismessblog on Instagram and hashtag it #blessthismess

    I can't wait for you to make this spicy, thin, and crispy gingersnap cookies that will remind you of your childhood and of your grandma. I hope that you make these amazing Christmas cookies soon!

    Related Posts:

    • Homemade Girl Scout Cookies: Thin Mints
      Homemade Girl Scout Cookies: Thin Mints
    • Crispy Ham and Cheese Waffles
      Crispy Ham and Cheese Waffles
    • Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks with a Pretzel Coating
      Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks with a Pretzel Coating
    « The Best Candy For Gingerbread Houses
    My Favorite Sweet Chex Mix »
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Mail
    Craving More

    Take the hassle out of meal planning with: Dinner Made Easy, a FREE 1 week meal plan with full shopping list, easy dinners, nutrition information, serving suggestions for each meal, and more!

    Subscribe Now
    about me

    About Melissa

    Melissa is dedicated to helping parents figure out the nightly questions, "What's for Dinner?!" with her no-fuss approach to cooking. Read more...

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Gary

      May 16, 2022 at 6:51 pm

      Although nothing “ magical” happened after flattening my cookies when they came out of the oven… the recipe still worked fine !

      Reply
    2. Gary

      May 06, 2022 at 7:10 pm

      I really wasn’t expecting these to be so perfect. Every bit as good… or better than Archway ginger snaps, which I usually buy . I needed this type or cookie for a rum ball recipe. Thanks ! Gary D.

      Reply
    3. Katt

      March 14, 2022 at 4:12 pm

      Can you suggest a perfect 'drizzle' to spruce up the tops of these for gift giving? While I love then as is( I've loved gingersnaps since I was a child, the spicier the better!), but think they might benefit by a little decor for taking to a gathering, or presenting...also, would more ginger, or more pepper( or both) make them even spicier? Thanks for any help, AND for the excellent recipe!

      Reply
      • Melissa

        March 14, 2022 at 5:25 pm

        If you want your spice at the next level, I'd add a tablespoon or two of FRESH super finely grated ginger, fresh ginger had such a great zing and a few recipes I looked at in my research used it! Maybe consider using the glaze from my old fashioned iced oatmeal cookies for the top! Here's that recipe: https://www.blessthismessplease.com/old-fashioned-iced-oatmeal-cookies/

    Primary Sidebar

    I’M MELISSA, AND I WANT TO HELP YOU FEED YOUR FAMILY WHOLESOME FOOD.

    As a hobby farmer and mom of five, I’m all about keeping it simple in the kitchen. I want healthy meals that feed my family well, and then I want to get back to my (messy) life. Let’s work together to find something yummy for your dinner table.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Cornbread Salad
    • Overnight Dinner Rolls
    • Divinity Candy
    • One Pot Coconut Chicken and Rice
    Dinner Made Easy

    Get Recipes & More for Free!

    Get my FREE Dinner Made Easy meal plan, exclusive recipes, giveaways, and behind-the-scenes updates! Get my newsletter or a new recipe every day! Unsubscribe if you aren’t into it.

    Subscribe Now

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    SEEN ON

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Tools.
    • Terms Of Service.
    • Accessibility.
    • Bylaws.

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About Us
    • Cookbook FAQ
    • Find A Recipe!

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 blessthismessplease.com. All rights reserved.

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter