Name: Big Soft Ginger Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons white sugar; 2.25 cups all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons ground ginger; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 0.75 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 0.5 teaspoon ground cloves; 0.25 teaspoon salt; 0.75 cup margarine, softened; 1 cup white sugar; 1 large egg; 0.25 cup molasses; 1 tablespoon water

Prep Time:

20 mins

Cook Time:

10 mins

Additional Time:

5 mins

Total Time:

35 mins

Servings:

24

Yield:

2 dozen

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Have a happy holiday with this soft gingerbread cookie recipe. Subtly spiced and full of festive flavor, you'll come back to these top-rated gingerbread cookies year after year.

stack of well crackled big soft ginger cookies — ZAKIAH

Gingerbread Cookie Ingredients

Great news! You likely have all the ingredients you'll need to make these soft ginger cookies. If not, here's what to add to your grocery list:

· Sugar: You'll need about a cup of sugar for the cookie dough, plus about two tablespoons of sugar for rolling the dough balls.
· Flour: All-purpose flour gives the cookies structure and helps create a tender texture.
· Spices: These soft gingerbread cookies are spiced with ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.
· Baking soda: Baking soda acts as a leavener, which means it makes the dough rise.
· Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
· Margarine: Margarine is great for making perfectly soft ginger cookies with slightly crisp edges. If you'd like, you can substitute butter.
· Egg: An egg adds moisture and acts as a binding agent (it holds the dough together).
· Molasses: Molasses lends warm, cozy, and sweet flavor to these soft gingerbread cookies.

a white plate with a scalloped rim holding molasses ginger cookies topped with sugar — Jennifer Baker

How to Make Gingerbread Cookies

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make this top-rated recipe:

1. Sift the dry ingredients together.
2. Cream the margarine and sugar together. Beat in the egg, then add the water and molasses.
3. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until well-combined.
4. Shape the dough into balls, roll the balls in sugar, and flatten them slightly.
5. Bake in a preheated oven until almost set and cool on a wire rack.

Big Soft Ginger Cookies on a baking rack — Reem Sawalha

How to Store Gingerbread Cookies

Store the (completely cooled) gingerbread cookies in a shallow, airtight container for up to five days. If you're worried about the cookies drying out, add a slice of bread to the container — it'll absorb the dry air and keep them soft.

Can You Freeze Gingerbread Cookies?

Yes! You can freeze baked and unbaked gingerbread cookies.

· To freeze the baked cookies: Arrange the cooled ginger cookies on a baking sheet. Freeze for three hours or up to overnight. Transfer the now-frozen cookies to a zip-top bag or freezer-safe container. Wrap in at least one layer of foil for extra protection. Freeze for up to two months.
· To freeze the cookie dough: Roll the dough into balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover and freeze for about three hours or up to overnight. Transfer the now-frozen cookies to a zip-top bag or freezer-safe container. Wrap in at least one layer of foil for extra protection. Freeze for up to two months. When you're ready to enjoy the cookies, thaw the dough in the fridge overnight. Roll the balls in sugar and bake according to the recipe.

one big soft ginger cookie split in half on a white plate — Christina

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"THESE ARE WONDERFUL," raves one Allrecipes community member. "My husband could not get enough of them. I love the texture: a bit crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside."

"I made these as my 'beginning of autumn' cookie," says katie. "Everyone at work loved them! I also followed the suggestion of replacing the water with orange juice, and it was great! Do be sure you chill the dough before handling though."

"This recipe is wonderful," according to VUCN. "The cookies turn out soft and chewy, as promised. The only thing I did differently was not press down the dough. The unpressed dough results in a more homemade, rustic-looking cookie."

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients

2 tablespoons white sugar
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup margarine, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 large egg
¼ cup molasses
1 tablespoon water

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Set 2 tablespoons sugar in a small bowl; set aside.
Sift together flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt in a bowl.
Cream margarine and remaining 1 cup sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, then stir in molasses and water. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture until well combined.
Use floured hands to shape dough into 24 walnut-sized balls. Roll each ball in the reserved sugar until coated. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets, and flatten slightly with the bottom of a glass.
Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, switching racks halfway through.
Remove from the oven and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

ZAKIAH

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

143	Calories
6g	Fat
21g	Carbs
2g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 24
Calories 143
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 6g	8%
Saturated Fat 1g	6%
Cholesterol 8mg	3%
Sodium 147mg	6%
Total Carbohydrate 21g	8%
Dietary Fiber 0g	1%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg	1%
Calcium 13mg	1%
Iron 1mg	4%
Potassium 71mg	2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.