These traditional soft and chewy gingersnap cookies are infused with molasses, ginger, and cloves. The signature sugar-crusted crinkled tops are further enhanced with icing drizzled on top.
These cookies are so delicious, you are going to want to make a double batch so you can use it in the gingersnap cheesecake trifle too!
Alright, you ready to get started?! Let’s get baking!
Tools & Equipment to make this copycat potbelly cookie recipe
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- Measuring cups, measuring spoons or kitchen scale
- Stand mixer or handheld mixer
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Large bowl
- Cookie pan
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
- Cookie spatula
- 1 1/2″ or 2″ tablespoon cookie scooper
Instructions on How to Make Soft and Chewy Gingersnap Cookies
This recipe calls for rest time in the refrigerator so you can wait to start the oven.
The first thing you will need to do is cream together the vegetable shortening, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar in a medium bowl.
You can use a stand mixer, handheld mixer or a whisk. Add in the egg and the unsulfered molasses, and combine thoroughly. Make sure you use a spatula to clean down the sides of the bowl to mix back into the mixture.
When measuring the molasses, you will want to spray the measuring cup with cooking spray before you pour in the molasses. This will allow the molasses to slide right out of the measuring cup and you won’t have to clean up any mess or work on scooping out that messy goop!
In a separate large bowl, add the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt and whisk together.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and mix the batter between each addition to incorporate the ingredients thoroughly. Scrape the bowl well and combine any of the batter stuck on the sides of the bowl back into the mixture.
Transfer the cookie dough into a small covered bowl and place it in the refrigerator for at least two hours.
When you are ready to bake the cookies, you will preheat the oven to 375 degrees, line your cookie pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, and measure out your granulated sugar into a small bowl.
Scoop out about two tablespoons of dough per cookie, and roll into balls using your palms. Then, roll your balls in the sugar, making sure that each side is thoroughly covered.
Place balls onto the baking sheet, and lightly press down so that you have a thick 1″ round. This step allows the cookies to have more of the crinkled effect on the tops of the cookies.
I placed six cookies on an 11×17 pan. These cookies spread quite a bit so I feel this is a safe distance between the cookies.
Place the baking sheet into the oven and bake for 9-11 minutes. Cool the cookies on the pan for about five minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to allow cooling the rest of the way.
How to make the icing for the Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies
In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until mixed well. If you need your icing to be smoother, add a splash of milk at a time until you get the correct consistency.
Use a spoon to drizzle icing on top of the cookies. If you prefer to have the whole top glazed. If you prefer more icing on your cookies than what I have shown, you will want to double the recipe as I had just enough to ice all 24 cookies.
Looking for more cookie recipes?
- Soft & Chewy Potbelly Sugar cookies
- Melted Snowman Almond Bark
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Shots
- Classic Peanut Butter Cookies
- Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
- Chewy Chocolate Chip Brownie Cookies
- Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Cookies
Soft and Chewy Gingersnap Cookies with Icing
- Prep Time: 15 minutes + 2 hours rest
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
These traditional soft and chewy gingersnap cookies are infused with molasses, ginger, and cloves. The signature sugar-crusted crinkled tops are further enhanced with icing drizzled on top. These cookies are so delicious, you are going to want to make a double batch!
Ingredients
Cookies
- 3/4 cup (153 g) vegetable shortening
- 1/3 cup (63 g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (110 g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup (84 g) unsulfered molasses
- 2 cups (244 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup (50 mg) granulated sugar, for rolling
Icing:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
This recipe calls for rest time in the refrigerator so you can wait to start the oven.
- Cream together the vegetable shortening, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar in a medium bowl. Add in the egg and the unsulfered molasses, and combine thoroughly, making sure to clean down the sides of the bowl.
- In a separate large bowl, add the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt and whisk together.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and mix the batter between each addition to incorporate the ingredients thoroughly. Scrape the bowl well and combine any of the batter stuck on the sides of the bowl back into the mixture.
- Transfer the cookie dough into a small covered bowl and place it in the refrigerator for at least two hours.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees, line your cookie pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, and measure out your granulated sugar into a small bowl.
- Scoop out about two tablespoons of dough per cookie, and roll into balls using your palms. Then, roll your balls in the sugar, making sure that each side is thoroughly covered.
- Place balls onto the baking sheet, and lightly press down so that you have a thick 1″ round. This step allows the cookies to have more of the crinkled effect on the tops of the cookies. I placed six cookies on an 11×17 pan. These cookies spread quite a bit so I feel this is a safe distance between the cookies.
- Place the baking sheet into the oven and bake for 9-11 minutes. Cool the cookies on the pan for about five minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to allow cooling the rest of the way.
To make the icing:
- In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until all ingredients are combined. If you need your icing to be smoother, add a splash of milk at a time until you get the correct consistency.
- Use a spoon to drizzle icing on top of the cookies. If you prefer to have the whole top glazed. If you prefer more icing on your cookies than what I have shown, you will want to double the recipe as I had just enough to ice all 24 cookies.
Notes
These soft and chewy gingersnap cookies will remain fresh for up to one week in an airtight container, or frozen for up to three months. You can freeze frozen cookie dough balls for up to three months. Roll frozen cookie dough in sugar and bake as directed. You may need to add 1-2 more minutes of baking time.
- Category: dessert
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Soft and Chewy Gingersnap Cookies
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