Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

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!

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!

Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (7)

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:

Review

Pin Print

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!

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

Pin This Now to Remember It Later

Pin Recipe

Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (11)

Find all the Christmas cookie exchange recipes.

Try these other easy cookie recipes:

Cake mix Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
4 Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
Russian Tea Cakes Recipe
Amazing Chocolate Brownie Cookies Recipe
Easy Raspberry Thumbprint Cookie Recipe
Chocolate Crinkle Cookie Recipe
Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Red Velvet Cookies Recipe
Easy Strawberry Pinch Cookies Recipe

Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (12)

Try these other recipes

Easy Cake

Crock Pot Cherry Dump Cake

Easy Easter

Empty Tomb Rolls

Easy Dessert

S’mores Parfait Recipe

Easy Cupcake

Carrot Cake Cupcakes Recipe

Easy Cupcake

Orange Soda Cupcakes

Easy Slow Cooker

Crockpot Chocolate Lava Cake Recipe

Easy No Bake

Lucky Charms Treats

Easy St. Patrick’s Day

McDonald’s Shamrock Shake Recipe

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 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.

Learn More Now ›

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.

Explore More ›

Should gingerbread cookies be soft or hard? ›

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!

Know More ›

How do you soften gingerbread cookies? ›

There are a few common methods for softening cookies, including microwaving them, heating them in the oven, and placing them in an airtight container with a slice of bread.

Discover More ›

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.

Get More Info Here ›

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.

Show Me More ›

Is the most likely ingredient to provides a chewy texture to a cookie? ›

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.

Get More Info Here ›

How do you make cookies soft instead of crunchy? ›

Remember moisture is the key! White sugar creates crispier cookies and brown sugar creates chewier cookies. Why use melted butter? Melted butter creates cookies with a different texture compared to cookies made with softened or creamed butter.

See Details ›

What cookie ingredient that will rise and be 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.

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.

Get More Info ›

What kind of molasses to use for gingerbread cookies? ›

“Light molasses is the sweetest and mildest out of the bunch because it is made from the first boiling cycle,” she said. “I like to use this type of molasses because it adds moisture to cookies, resulting in a soft and chewy texture.”

Show Me More ›

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.

View Details ›

How do you moisten gingerbread cookie dough? ›

Dry – “Dry” or “Crumbly” dough is a product of over-mixing or using too much of any ingredient during the mixing process. This can be reversed by adding one to two tablespoons of liquid (water, milk or softened butter) to your mix.

What causes cookies to soften? ›

Richness of the dough (butter, oil, egg) as well as the moist, brown sugar used in Anerican chocolate chip cookies, also help make a soft cookie after baking. Leavening plays a role too.

Know More ›

Why did my cookies turn out hard? ›

the more you mix cookie dough. the more the gluten develops and they become hard and dry and an unfavorable texture.

Read The Full Story ›

What determines the moistness of a cookie? ›

Water in the butter will aid in leavening the cookie during baking and any remaining water after baking will contribute to moistness in the cookie's texture. The higher butter cookie has slightly more spread than the low butter and control. The biggest difference is in the flavor and mouthfeel of the cookie.

Why are my cookies fluffy instead of chewy? ›

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. Using too much baking powder. According to the science geeks at Serious Eats—we love you!

Discover More ›