Ina Garten’s Crispy Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe – Perfect Spice

Ina Garten’s ginger snap cookies transport your taste buds to a world of warm, spicy comfort with their irresistible aroma.

These classic treats blend sweet and zesty flavors that dance across your palate with memorable intensity.

Crisp edges give way to a soft, tender center that melts in your mouth.

Rich molasses and vibrant spices create a complex profile that elevates this beloved dessert beyond ordinary cookies.

Each bite carries nostalgic memories of cozy kitchen moments and cherished family gatherings.

Fragrant ginger and warming spices intertwine to produce a sensory experience that feels both familiar and exciting.

The simple ingredient list belies the sophisticated taste waiting to delight you: Chef Garten’s secret awaits.

Why People Can’t Resist Ina Garten Ginger Snap Cookies

• Craft Cozy Comfort Cookies: These ginger snap cookies deliver a warm, nostalgic experience that hugs your taste buds with rich, spicy flavors perfect for chilly afternoons.
• Customize Your Crunch: Choose between soft, tender centers or crispy, snappy textures by adjusting baking time, giving you complete control over your ideal cookie consistency.
• Effortless Baking Magic: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, even novice bakers can create professional-quality cookies that impress family and friends without requiring advanced culinary skills.
• Quick Crowd-Pleasing Treat: These gingersnaps come together in under 30 minutes, making them an ideal last-minute dessert for unexpected guests or spontaneous sweet cravings.

Everything That Goes Into Ina Garten Ginger Snap Cookies

Main Ingredients:

• All-Purpose Flour: Basic structure and texture for the classic gingersnap cookie.
• Ground Ginger, Ground Cinnamon: Essential warm spices that create the signature gingersnap flavor profile.
• Ground Cloves: Adds depth and complexity to the cookie's warm spice blend.

• Shortening: Provides tender, soft texture and helps bind the cookie dough.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a crisp cookie exterior.
• Molasses: Gives deep, rich flavor and characteristic dark color to the cookies.
• Egg: Helps bind ingredients and provides structure to the cookie.

• Granulated Sugar: Creates a sweet, crispy exterior when used for coating the cookie dough.
• Ground Cinnamon: Adds extra warmth and aromatic spice to the cookie coating.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the cookies.
• Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise and spread during baking, creating a classic gingersnap texture.

How to Bake Ina Garten Ginger Snap Cookies to Perfection

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Prepare baking sheets by either greasing them or lining with parchment paper.

Step 2: Create Creamy Base

• Shortening
• Sugar
• Salt
• Baking soda

Beat these ingredients until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.

Step 3: Blend Moisture Makers

• Egg
• Molasses

Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.

Step 4: Introduce Dry Ingredients

• Flour
• Spices

Stir just until the dough becomes smooth and consistent.

Step 5: Craft Tasty Coating

• Sugar
• Cinnamon

Step 6: Shape Cookie Rounds

Roll small portions of dough (about 1 inch) into perfect little balls.

Step 7: Give Cookies Their Sparkle

Roll each dough ball completely in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, ensuring full coverage.

Step 8: Bake to Perfection

Place coated dough balls on prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie.

Bake for 11 minutes for soft centers or 13 minutes for crunchier texture.

Step 9: Cool and Preserve

Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet or transfer to a cooling rack.

Store completely cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.

Tips to Get Crisp Edges on Ina Garten Ginger Snap Cookies

• Spice Up Your Flavor: Grab fresh ginger, cloves, and cinnamon to make these cookies taste incredible. Older spices lose their punch and won't deliver the same vibrant warmth.
• Gentle Mixing Magic: Combine ingredients just until they come together. Overmixing can turn your soft, chewy cookies into tough, dense discs.
• Chill for Perfect Shape: Pop the dough in the refrigerator for half an hour if your kitchen feels warm. Cold dough helps cookies hold their shape and prevents excessive spreading.
• Precision Matters: Invest in a kitchen scale for exact measurements of shortening and flour. Consistent measurements guarantee perfectly uniform cookies every single time.
• Customize Your Crunch: Want soft, tender cookies? Bake for 11 minutes. Craving a crisp snap? Extend baking to 13 minutes. Keep a close eye to prevent burning and achieve your ideal texture.

Best Way to Store Ina Garten Ginger Snap Cookies

• Seal & Stack: Transfer completely cooled cookies into airtight glass containers with tight-fitting lids, layering between parchment paper sheets to prevent sticking. Glass preserves texture better than plastic and prevents moisture absorption.
• Freeze for Future Cravings: Arrange cookies in single layers inside freezer-safe containers, separating each layer with wax paper. Freeze up to 3 months for spontaneous sweet treats. Label containers with date and contents to track freshness.
• Counter Caution: Keep cookies away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Store at consistent room temperature between 68-72°F to maintain crisp edges and rich ginger flavor. Avoid humid areas that can soften cookie texture.

Spiced-Up Variations of Ina Garten Ginger Snap Cookies

• Spiced Chocolate Chunk Gingersnaps: Add chopped dark chocolate pieces to the dough for a rich, decadent flavor that complements the warm ginger spices.
• Nutty Gingersnap Crunch: Mix chopped pecans or walnuts into the dough to create extra texture and a subtle nutty undertone that enhances the cookie's warmth.
• Citrus-Infused Gingersnaps: Incorporate finely grated orange or lemon zest into the dough to brighten the traditional spice profile with a refreshing citrus note.
• Gluten-Free Gingersnap Option: Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend to make these cookies accessible for those with dietary restrictions while maintaining the classic gingersnap taste.

Ina Garten Ginger Snap Cookies – The Last Bite

Ina Garten’s ginger snap cookies offer more than mere sweetness—they whisper nostalgic memories of winter kitchens and family gatherings.

Classic spices dance within each crisp bite, creating layers of warmth and comfort.

Sophisticated yet simple, these cookies showcase culinary artistry through balanced ingredients and precise technique.

Baking these treats connects generations through shared culinary traditions and sensory experiences.

Crisp edges and rich molasses notes invite connections beyond simple dessert consumption.

Passionate bakers and cookie enthusiasts: spread joy through these irresistible morsels, share the recipe with cherished friends, like the story, comment with your baking adventures, and celebrate delicious connections.

Ina Garten Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe

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4.5 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s ginger snap cookies deliver a perfect blend of warm spices and crisp texture. Crunchy edges and a rich molasses backbone make these classic treats irresistible for cookie enthusiasts seeking comfort in each delightful bite.

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Ingredients

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Dry Ingredients:

• 2 ⅓ cups (280g) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 1 cup (198g) granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon table salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 ½ teaspoons ginger
• ½ teaspoon cloves
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Wet Ingredients:

• ¾ cup (168g) vegetable shortening
• 1 large egg
• ⅓ cup (113g) molasses

Coating:

• ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare two baking sheets by either greasing them or lining with parchment paper for optimal cookie release.
2. In a mixing bowl, cream together shortening, granulated sugar, salt, and baking soda until the mixture becomes light, airy, and uniformly blended.
3. Incorporate a whole egg and dark molasses into the creamed mixture, beating thoroughly until the ingredients are completely integrated and smooth.
4. Gently fold in all-purpose flour and aromatic ground spices, stirring just until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
5. Create a separate coating mixture by combining granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in a shallow bowl, ensuring even distribution of the spice.
6. Using clean hands, portion the dough into small, uniform balls approximately 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) in diameter.
7. Roll each dough ball completely in the prepared cinnamon-sugar mixture, ensuring a thorough and even coating.
8. Arrange the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them adequately to allow for spreading during baking.
9. Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 11 minutes for softer centers or 13 minutes for crispier gingersnaps.
10. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool directly on the baking sheet or transfer to a wire cooling rack to prevent continued baking.
11. Once completely cooled, store the gingersnaps in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain their texture and flavor.

Notes

• Spice Selection Matters: Crush whole cloves and grate fresh ginger to unlock intense, vibrant flavors that transform your cookies from good to extraordinary.
• Precise Measuring Technique: Invest in a digital kitchen scale for gram-perfect ingredient measurements, ensuring consistent texture and reliable results every single time.
• Dough Handling Strategy: Rest the cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, allowing ingredients to meld and preventing unwanted spreading during baking.
• Mixing Magic: Gently fold ingredients until just combined, stopping the moment everything looks uniform to maintain a tender, delicate cookie crumb.
• Baking Precision: Monitor cookies closely during the final minutes, pulling them from the oven when edges turn golden and centers remain slightly soft for perfect texture variations.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 150 kcal
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 10 mg