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 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's the difference between gingersnaps and ginger cookies? ›

Ginger Snaps are simply a variation of the traditional Gingerbread cookie. They're known for their crisper quality; their “snap” if you will. 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.

Who made the first ginger snap 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.

What is the history of ginger cookies? ›

Chinese recipes were developed during the 10th century and by the late Middle Ages, Europeans had their own version of gingerbread. The hard cookies, sometimes gilded with gold leaf and shaped like animals, kings and queens, were a staple at Medieval fairs in England, France, Holland and Germany.

What do ginger snaps symbolize? ›

Ginger Snaps symbolically portrays the drives of love and aggression as a necessary though problematic source of human interactions. The basic idea behind Ginger Snaps creates some contentious views when related to Freudian theory.

What is the trick to making soft and chewy cookies? ›

How to Make Soft Cookies
  1. Cream your butter and sugar well.
  2. Choose a low-protein flour.
  3. Don't overmix your dough.
  4. Chill your dough.
  5. Use a higher ratio of white to brown sugar.
  6. Don't chill your dough.
  7. Smash your dough and bang the pan.
Feb 19, 2021

How do you make cookies soft and chewy again? ›

Another way to soften cookies is by placing the cookies in an airtight container with a damp paper towel. The paper towel will release moisture and help to soften the cookies without making them too soft or mushy. Another way is to place the cookies in a plastic bag with a slice of apple or a damp tea towel.

How do chewy cookies stay soft? ›

Putting a slice of fresh white bread in the container with the cookies will help the cookies stay soft: fresh bread is moist, and that slice will give up its moisture for the greater good: keeping the cookies from drying out. We recommend white bread so that no flavor is transferred to the cookies.

Are speculoos and gingersnaps the same? ›

Speculoos (or sometimes spelled speculaas) is a Belgian cookie. Imagine a gingersnap on steroids. Bolder and much more aggressive than typical gingersnaps, Speculoos cookies are brimming with dark brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, white pepper, ginger, and cardamom.

Why is ginger snaps so good? ›

Ginger Snaps is a great werewolf movie because it has a unique take on the genre. It follows two teenage sisters who are dealing with the physical and emotional changes that come with the onset of puberty, and how those changes can be exacerbated by a werewolf curse.

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.”

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.

Is gingersnaps a Filipino brand? ›

We've been providing quality apparel for children for over 25 years and our brilliant team has been crafting trendy, global and fashion-forward design season after season. Each garment has its own unique touch and uses premium fabrics that are proudly made in the Philippines.

Why do ginger snap cookies crack? ›

Not enough leavening (it needs to be strong enough to crack the top once it's set) Using a single-acting baking powder (double acting gives extra rise when it gets heated) Not creaming the fat long enough (creaming cuts little air pockets into the fat, which means the leavening has to do less work)

What nationality is ginger hair? ›

Red hair is relatively common in England, Iceland and Norway, too, while Germany, Sweden, Finland, The Netherlands and northern France are all ahead of the global average. Travel south through Europe and red hair becomes very rare. Just 0.57 per cent of Italians have it, for example, according to one study.

Is ginger snaps canadian? ›

Ginger Snaps is a 2000 Canadian supernatural horror film directed by John Fawcett and written by Karen Walton, from a story they jointly developed.

What nationality is the gingerbread man? ›

Overall, the big gingerbread traditions come from Germany, France, the Netherlands and the British Isles. Some English cooks were using sugar instead of honey by the end of the 16th century and molasses by the mid-17th century.

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