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 origin of ginger snaps cookies? ›

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's the difference between a gingerbread cookie and a Gingersnap cookie? ›

The main differences are that gingersnaps are typically rolled into balls, while gingerbread is rolled out and cut into shapes. Gingersnaps are also baked slightly longer, which is where they get their snappy crispiness. Gingerbread is typically a little chewier.

Why are ginger snap cookies so hard? ›

Here are several reasons why your ginger snap cookies might have turned out hard: Overbaking: Cookies can become hard if they are baked for too long. Make sure to bake these cookies for 20 minutes at 300 degrees F. Too little moisture: If you didn't add enough liquid to the dough, the cookies can become dry and hard.

How do you make cookies soft and chewy again? ›

How to Soften Cookies in the Microwave: Place the stale cookies on a microwave-safe plate and cover them with a damp paper towel. Microwave them in short bursts of 10-15 seconds until they become soft. Be careful not to overdo it, as the cookies can become too soft or lose their texture.

How do chewy cookies stay soft? ›

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. You might think that the bread trick works because the cookies absorb moisture from the bread.

Are ginger snaps healthier than other cookies? ›

The smaller, crispy gingersnaps are a plain, round cookie and a healthier choice when compared to other cookies because they are usually lower in calories. Ginger not only adds delicious flavor to food, but it's also full of nutrients. There are lots of different vitamins and minerals in ginger.

What is ginger Snaps ethnicity? ›

Her exact ethnicity is unknown. She might be of Indian or Middle Eastern descent, for in the Thanksgiving book, she wears a blouse similar to Indian/Middle Eastern attire.

Why is ginger snaps so good? ›

Because it has some excellent suspense sequences and a rather high amount of blood and gore. The werewolf is really cool looking,the acting by two lead girls(Emily Perkins,Katharine Isabelle)is excellent and the direction is well-handled. "Ginger Snaps" is a pure horror film,that is to be taken seriously.

Why do ginger snap cookies crack? ›

A heavy amount of baking soda interacts with the molasses in this recipe to encourage spread. This allows cracks in the dough to develop where moisture escapes, creating that beautiful crackled appearance and crunchy texture. Ensure your baking soda is fresh and active – learn more about that here.

What is another name for ginger snap cookies? ›

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.

Why can't you buy ginger snaps in California? ›

It is based on a lawsuit in CA with regards to small amounts of lead found in the ginger. Some of the companies pulled the products in CA and do not sell them anymore. The lead is a naturally occurring element in the ground Ginger does absorb some of it. Although not nearly enough to have any affect on humans.

Why do my ginger snap cookies go flat? ›

If you use too much butter, the cookies will end up flat and greasy. And if you use too little flour, the amount of butter and sugar will be proportionally too high, meaning the cookies will spread for the aforementioned reasons.

What is going on with Nabisco ginger snaps? ›

In announcing the settlement with the maker of Oreo and Chips Ahoy cookies, California Attorney General Kamala Harris on Friday said testing revealed that a serving of the ginger snaps contained lead levels up to nine times the threshold requiring a warning under California's Proposition 65.

How to soften hard gingerbread cookies? ›

simply put the cookies inside a dish that you can seal with a lid. then add a slice of bread to the dish for simplicity purposes. I just added one cookie and half a slice of bread here. let it sit overnight.

Can you soften ginger? ›

The harder and older it is the longer it will take to soften and the taste won't be as good! Cook the ginger in 350ml / 1.5 cups of water on medium-low heat (simmering) for about 50-60 minutes until the ginger is between soft and al dente. Cook it open for the first 15 minutes before you close the pot with a lid.

Do gingerbread cookies harden when they cool? ›

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!

How do you make boxed cookies softer? ›

Adding rum to your cookie mix results in soft and chewy cookies with a ton of extra flavor.

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