Soft and Chewy Amish Gingersnap Cookies Recipe - Amish Heritage (2024)

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Amish Ginger Cookies Take me Back to my Childhood (Amish Church Cookies)

Soft and chewy Amish gingersnap cookies are an amazing mixture of molasses, spices, and simple pantry ingredients.

There's so much delight in every bite, and they take me back to my childhood, toSunday church dinner. There was an older lady in church who would frequently make these and bring them for Sunday dinner.

Soft and Chewy Amish Gingersnap Cookies Recipe - Amish Heritage (1)

And I was always happy to see them on the platter because they were one of my favorites. That's why I name them "Amish church cookies" because I associate them with Amish church dinners.

Old-fashioned Gingersnap Cookies

You may think of gingersnap cookies as being crispy, crunchy cookies with a snap to them. And if you like them like that, you can bake them longer to make them crispy.

But I prefer soft and chewy cookies. I don't mind a bit of a crispy edge, but I like the centers nice and soft.

And if you bake these molasses cookies for only about eight minutes, they should stay soft.

Sometimes my mom put a piece or two of bread into the container with the cookies to help keep them soft. But my cookies usually stay soft without any bread.

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Molasses

There are lots of different brands of molasses to choose from, and they vary in taste. Some brands have a stronger flavor, are more bitter, etc.

I prefer mild-tasting molasses. And I would not recommend using blackstrap molasses for baking.

Mild-flavored Brer rabbit molasses is good for cookies. Although I tend to use whatever I have on hand. And sometimes I add a bit of light syrup to produce a milder flavor.

King syrup is technically syrup and not molasses. But I like to use it for baking shoofly pies, molasses crinkle cookies, etc. Most times I use a combination of King Syrup and Golden Barrel baking molasses (one of my favorites) to create a beautifully light molasses flavor.

Soft and Chewy Amish Gingersnap Cookies Recipe - Amish Heritage (2)

How to Make Amish Ginger Molasses Cookies

I use my kitchen aid mixer for everything, but you can use whatever mixer you have. (Most of the Amish obviously mix the batter with an old-fashioned hand beater until it's too stiff, and then they finish mixing by hand.)

To make these molasses ginger crinkle cookies, mix the oil and sugar in a bowl. Add eggs and molasses and mix well. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until well combined, scraping sides and bottom to get it all incorporated.

Now you can use a cookie scoop or your hands to make balls.

I dipped some of mine into a bowl of sugar before baking, for extra sparkle. It makes them look neat. But, if you prefer, you can bake them without.

Place the dough balls onto a greased cookie sheet and bake for about 8 minutes at 350 degrees.

Soft and Chewy Amish Gingersnap Cookies Recipe - Amish Heritage (3)

Gingersnap Cookies with Fresh Ginger

I discovered that you can use raw ginger instead of ground ginger to make these Amish gingersnap cookies.

After I already had some ingredients mixed, I discovered that I was out of ground ginger.

So I googled it, to see if I could use raw ginger, and sure enough. You need to use more of it, but I zested ginger root into my batter, and you can't tell the difference.

Amish Ginger Snap Christmas Cookies

I love making these ginger cookies for Christmas as they are a wonderful and tasty addition to cookie platters.

But I like to create festive-looking Christmas cookies, so I dip my Amish gingersnap cookies halfway into melted white chocolate.

Not only does it make them look lovely, but it also adds great flavor.

After the cookies are cooled, melt some white chocolate. (I recommend using a small, deep dish since you want the chocolate deep enough to dip the cookies into.)

Dip half of each cookie into the white chocolate and put on some sprinkles, to create festive Christmas cookies.

Place the cookies onto parchment paper to dry.

Soft and Chewy Amish Gingersnap Cookies Recipe - Amish Heritage (4)

Can I Freeze Gingersnap Cookies?

Yes, you can freeze these soft gingersnap cookies. I always freeze any cookies that we won't eat within about two or three days.

As soon as they are cool, place the cookies into an airtight container. Put a piece of parchment paper between the layers to keep them from sticking together.

And you can freeze them for up to several months. Thaw and enjoy your still-fresh-tasting gingersnap cookies.

More Amish Cookie Recipes

Amish Monster Cookies

Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

Snowtop Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Date Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

Sand Tart Cookies

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Recipe

If you get to try this recipe for Amish gingersnap cookies, I would love it if you left a comment and star rating below.

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Soft and Chewy Amish Gingersnap Cookies

These soft and chewy Amish Gingersnap Cookies are an amazing blend of flour, sugar, molasses and spices. So delicious!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 minutes mins

baking in batches 16 minutes mins

Total Time 49 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine Amish

Servings 48 cookies

Calories 134 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/2 c. oil I use canola oil, but you can use whatever you prefer for baking
  • 2 c. sugar
  • 1/2 c. light or Brer Rabbit molasses
  • 2 large eggs
  • 4 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. cloves
  • 1 tsp. ground ginger
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 3 1/2 - 4 c. flour

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°.

  • Mix sugar and oil in a mixing bowl. Add molasses and eggs, mix well.

    1/2 c. oil, 1/2 c. light or Brer Rabbit molasses, 2 large eggs, 2 c. sugar

  • Add remaining ingredients, and mix until everything is well incorporated. I tend to go with the lesser amount of flour because I don't like fat cookies.

    4 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. cloves, 1 tsp. ground ginger, 2 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. salt, 3 1/2 - 4 c. flour

  • Roll into balls and dip them into a bowl of sugar, if desired.

  • Place on greased cookie sheets and bake for about 7 - 9 minutes.

  • Cool on a wire rack.

  • Store in an airtight container and freeze any cookies that you won't eat within a couple of days.

Notes

If you want to create a festive Christmas cookie dip half of it into melted white chocolate and put on some sprinkles.

You can find the Brer Rabbit molasses on Amazon (link in the blog post) or at Walmart in the syrup section. I used about 1/3 c. of Brer Rabbit and filled the remaining 1/2 c. with Log Cabin All Natural Table Syrup, also purchased at Walmart. But feel free to use your favorite kind of molasses.

*Nutrition facts are approximate.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 134kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 2gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 157mgPotassium: 61mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 12IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Amish church cookies, Amish Gingersnap Cookies Recipe, Soft and chewy Amish Gingersnap Cookies

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Soft and Chewy Amish Gingersnap Cookies Recipe - Amish Heritage (2024)

FAQs

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 nationality are ginger snaps? ›

These early ginger cookies originated in Europe and came with the German, Dutch, and English settlers to America. Gingersnaps were named from the German or Middle Dutch word snappen, meaning "to seize quickly."

What ingredient makes cookies 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.

What is the secret to making cookies soft and 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 is the difference between Ginger Snaps 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.

What is the difference between Ginger Snaps and ginger biscuits? ›

A gingersnap, ginger snap, ginger nut, or ginger biscuit is a biscuit flavored with ginger. Ginger snaps are flavored with powdered ginger and a variety of other spices, most commonly cinnamon, molasses and clove.

Who invented gingersnap cookies? ›

Gingersnaps have been enjoyed for centuries. In fact, the early versions of these spiced cookies were likely invented by medieval monks in Germany as early as the 13th century. The recipes were passed down through the generations and found their way to America with the early colonists.

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.”

Why are my ginger snaps soft? ›

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.

Why are my gingersnap cookies flat? ›

If your cookies repeatedly turn out flat, no matter the recipe, chances are your oven is too hot. Here's what's happening. The butter melts super quickly in a too-hot oven before the other ingredients have firmed up into a cookie structure. Therefore, as the butter spreads so does the whole liquidy cookie.

How do bakeries make their cookies so soft? ›

What do manufacturers put in cookies to make them soft forever? Brown sugar is a humectant that keeps baked goods soft. Manufactured baked goods have piles of pectins and lignans and other water-holding chemicals added to keep them from drying out.

How do bakeries keep their cookies soft? ›

Corn Syrup (Light)

Light corn syrup is sometimes used in specialist cakes and confectioneries to help keep baked products soft and doughy for longer.

What makes cookies softer butter or oil? ›

Indeed, cookies made with butter are usually softer and more tender than those made with oils. And last but not least, butter in cookies helps achieve that perfect texture. That's because butter melts at a lower temperature than other fats, allowing cookies to spread evenly while baking.

What makes cookies chewy and not hard? ›

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.

Why do my cookies get hard after they cool? ›

Cookies begin losing moisture through evaporation from the moment that they come out of the oven. So it's totally normal for them to harden up a bit. Yet, this is why you need to store them in an airtight container once they completely cool or they will continue to lose moisture.

What makes cookies turn out hard? ›

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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