Nana's Heavenly Soft Gingersnap Cookies
Discover the warmth of home with Nana's Heavenly Soft Gingersnap Cookies— a delightful twist on the classic recipe that outshines any store-bought version. Bursting with the rich flavors of molasses, cinnamon, and the zing of crystallized ginger, these cookies are soft in the center with a lightly crisp exterior. Nana insists on using coarsely chopped ginger for a delightful texture, and her secret to perfection is to bake them just right— eight minutes is all you need! Ideal for cozy gatherings or a sweet treat with tea, each bite takes you back to cherished family moments. Follow these tips for irresistibly soft cookies every time, and impress your friends and family with the true taste of love baked into each one.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
11
Ingredients
Ingredients
butter
3/4 cup (softened)
sugar
1 cup (for dough)
molasses
1/4 cup (none)
egg
1 (none)
baking soda
2 teaspoons (none)
flour
2 cups (none)
ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon (none)
ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons (none)
salt
1/2 teaspoon (none)
crystallized ginger
1/2 cup (coarsely chopped)
extra sugar
1 cup (for rolling)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, sugar, molasses, and egg. Beat the mixture until it is smooth and creamy.
3
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ground cloves, ground cinnamon, and salt. Once well combined, gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until fully incorporated.
4
Carefully fold in the coarsely chopped crystallized ginger, mixing until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
5
Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour. This will help firm up the dough for rolling.
6
After chilling, scoop out the dough and form 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in the extra sugar until fully coated.
7
Place the sugar-coated balls on a greased cookie sheet, ensuring they are spaced at least 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
8
Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes. Keep an eye on them, as even a minute can make a difference; you want them to have a soft center.
9
Once baked, remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the recipe name?
The recipe is for Nana's Heavenly Soft Gingersnap Cookies.
What makes these cookies unique?
They are a delightful twist on the classic recipe, featuring a soft center with a lightly crisp exterior and the zing of crystallized ginger.
What is Nana's secret to the perfect texture?
Nana insists on using coarsely chopped crystallized ginger for texture and baking them for exactly eight minutes.
What are the primary flavors in these cookies?
The cookies are bursting with rich flavors of molasses, cinnamon, and crystallized ginger.
What temperature should the oven be set to?
The oven should be preheated to 375°F (190°C).
How much butter is needed?
You will need 3/4 cup of softened butter.
What is the first step in mixing the dough?
Combine the softened butter, sugar, molasses, and egg and beat the mixture until it is smooth and creamy.
How should the dry ingredients be prepared?
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ground cloves, ground cinnamon, and salt before folding into the wet mixture.
When should I add the crystallized ginger?
Carefully fold in the coarsely chopped crystallized ginger after the wet and dry ingredients are fully incorporated.
Do I need to chill the dough?
Yes, cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Why is chilling the dough necessary?
Chilling helps firm up the dough, making it easier to roll into balls.
How large should the dough balls be?
Scoop out the dough and form 1-inch balls.
What should the dough balls be rolled in?
Roll each ball in extra sugar until they are fully coated.
How should the cookies be spaced on the sheet?
Place them at least 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
Should the cookie sheet be greased?
Yes, place the sugar-coated balls on a greased cookie sheet.
How long do the cookies bake?
Bake them for exactly 8 minutes to ensure they have a soft center.
How should the cookies be cooled?
Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
How much flour is required?
The recipe calls for 2 cups of flour.
How much baking soda is used?
The recipe uses 2 teaspoons of baking soda.
What spices are included in the dough?
The dough includes ground cloves and ground cinnamon.
How much molasses is needed?
The recipe requires 1/4 cup of molasses.
What is the preparation for the ginger?
The crystallized ginger should be coarsely chopped.
How much extra sugar is needed for rolling?
You will need 1 cup of extra sugar for coating the dough balls.
What are the tags for this recipe?
Tags include cookies, gingersnap, dessert, holiday, soft cookies, and family recipe.
What occasions are these cookies best for?
They are ideal for cozy gatherings or as a sweet treat with tea.
How much salt is in the recipe?
The recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
How much cinnamon is used?
The recipe requires 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon.
How many eggs are in the recipe?
One egg is used in this recipe.
Is there a secret to the bake time?
Yes, keep a close eye on them because even a minute can change the softness of the center.
What is the texture of the exterior?
The exterior is lightly crisp while the center remains heavenly soft.