Spicy Ginger Spice Cookies Recipe

Zippy Ginger Spice Delight Cookies Recipe: Sweet & Snappy Joy

Soft, chewy cookies packed with a warming ginger spice delight that dance across your taste buds and fill the kitchen with an irresistible aroma.

These homemade treats blend classic baking traditions with a modern twist of spicy sweetness.

Rich molasses creates a deep, caramel-like undertone that complements the zesty ginger perfectly.

Crisp edges give way to a tender center, making each bite a delightful experience.

Bakers of all skill levels can whip up these cookies in under an hour.

The combination of ground and fresh ginger adds layers of complex flavor that will wow anyone who takes a bite.

Grab your mixing bowl and get ready to bake a batch of these crowd-pleasing spiced cookies that promise to become a new favorite.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Calories: 143 kcal

Servings: 22

For Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of the cookie, providing structure and helping the dough hold together.
  • Ground Ginger, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Cloves, Ground Nutmeg: Warm, aromatic spices that create the signature ginger spice flavor profile with depth and complexity.
  • Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise and spread, ensuring a light and tender texture.
  • Salt: Enhances the overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the cookies.
For Wet Ingredients:
  • Butter: Brings richness, creates a smooth texture, and helps incorporate air into the dough for a fluffy cookie.
  • Brown Sugar: Adds moisture, deep caramel-like sweetness, and helps create a soft, chewy texture.
  • Egg: Binds ingredients together and provides structure to the cookie.
  • Dark Coffee: Intensifies the spice flavors and adds a subtle depth to the overall taste.
  • Molasses: Contributes to the rich, dark color and provides a deep, complex sweetness characteristic of ginger cookies.
For Finishing:
  • White Sugar: Creates a sparkling, sweet exterior and adds a delightful crunch to the cookie's surface.

Tools That Make Ginger Spice Cookies Shine

  • Mixer or Hand Mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugar, creating a light and fluffy base for your cookies.
  • Medium Mixing Bowl: Perfect for combining dry ingredients and ensuring even distribution of spices.
  • Whisk: Helps blend dry ingredients smoothly and break up any potential lumps in the flour mixture.
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons: Crucial for accurately measuring ingredients, especially the various spices.
  • Baking Sheets: Provide a flat surface for baking cookies evenly and creating that perfect golden edge.
  • Parchment Paper: Creates a non-stick surface and helps prevent cookies from burning.
  • Cooling Racks: Allow cookies to cool completely, maintaining their crisp texture.
  • Spatula: Useful for scraping down bowl sides and mixing ingredients thoroughly.

How to Bake Spice Cookies with Crunch

  • Kitchen Preparation

Set up your workspace with all necessary baking tools. Warm the oven to a cozy temperature that helps cookies rise perfectly. Line baking sheets with soft parchment paper for easy cookie removal.

  • Flavor Foundation

Mix dry spices and flour in a bowl, creating a magical blend of warmth. Ginger, cinnamon, and other spices will dance together, promising a delightful aroma.

  • Butter Bliss

Whip softened butter and brown sugar until they transform into a fluffy cloud. This step creates the backbone of your cookie’s tender texture.

  • Liquid Magic

Introduce egg, coffee, and molasses to the butter mixture. Watch as these ingredients meld together, forming a rich and glossy base that hints at the deliciousness to come.

  • Dough Creation

Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Stir until everything combines smoothly, creating a cookie dough that’s ready for its sweet destiny.

  • Cookie Transformation

Roll dough into small spheres and coat them in sparkling sugar. Each ball becomes a promise of crispy edges and soft centers.

  • Oven Adventure

Arrange sugar-coated dough balls on prepared sheets. Bake until edges turn golden and centers look just set, filling your kitchen with an irresistible spicy fragrance.

  • Cooling Finale

Let cookies rest on baking sheets briefly, then transfer to cooling racks. These moments allow cookies to firm up and develop their perfect texture.

Tips to Tweak Sweetness or Heat

  • Swap ground ginger with freshly grated ginger for an intense, zesty flavor profile that adds more depth to your cookies.
  • Prepare cookie dough up to 3 days in advance and store in the refrigerator, allowing flavors to develop and intensify before baking.
  • Chill the dough for 30 minutes before rolling to prevent spreading and create thicker, chewier cookies with crisp edges.
  • Fold in chopped crystallized ginger or dark chocolate chips to elevate the cookie's complexity and add unexpected bursts of flavor.
  • Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to maintain their soft texture.

How to Present Cookies for Holidays

  • Pair with Warm Beverage: Serve these spicy cookies alongside a steaming mug of chai tea or hot apple cider to enhance the warm, comforting flavors of ginger and spices.
  • Create Dessert Platter: Arrange the cookies on a rustic wooden board with other seasonal treats like candied nuts, dark chocolate pieces, and a small jar of honey for a festive holiday spread.
  • Gift with Charm: Package these delightful cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with twine, adding a handwritten note for a personal touch during gift-giving seasons or as a thoughtful homemade present.
  • Enhance with Topping: Drizzle melted white chocolate over the cooled cookies or sprinkle with a light dusting of powdered sugar to add an extra layer of sweetness and visual appeal.

Storing Cookies That Stay Soft and Bold

  • Maximize Cookie Freshness: Store these ginger spice cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, keeping them soft and delicious for up to 5 days.
  • Refrigerate for Extended Life: Seal cookies in a sealed container in the refrigerator, extending their enjoyment for up to 10 days while maintaining their rich, spicy flavor.
  • Freeze for Future Treats: Carefully layer cookies between parchment paper in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months, allowing you to enjoy these delightful treats whenever a craving strikes.
  • Strategic Moisture Control: Add a slice of bread to the storage container to help maintain the cookies' ideal moisture level, preventing them from becoming too dry or crisp.
Print
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Spicy Ginger Spice Cookies Recipe

Spicy Ginger Spice Cookies Recipe


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4.9 from 37 reviews

  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 22 1x

Description

Ginger spice delight cookies bring warmth from traditional German baking traditions with complex spice profiles. Crisp edges and chewy centers invite bakers to savor rich holiday memories while connecting with cherished cultural baking practices.


Ingredients

Scale
  • ¾ cup (170 g) butter, softened
  • 1 cup (220 g) brown sugar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) molasses
  • 2 tbsps (30 ml) prepared dark coffee
  • 1 egg
  • 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup (50 g) white sugar (for rolling)
  • 1 tbsp (6 g) ground ginger
  • 1 tsp (2 g) ground cinnamon
  • 1 ½ tsps (7.5 ml) baking soda
  • ½ tsp (1 g) ground cloves
  • ¼ tsp (1.5 g) salt
  • 1/8 tsp (0.25 g) ground nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper for seamless cookie removal.
  2. Dry Ingredient Blend: Whisk flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl, ensuring even distribution of spices.
  3. Butter Mixture: Cream butter and brown sugar using an electric mixer until light, fluffy, and pale in color, creating a smooth base for the cookies.
  4. Liquid Integration: Add egg, coffee, and molasses to the butter-sugar mixture, beating until fully combined and achieving a uniform consistency.
  5. Dough Formation: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients, mixing thoroughly and scraping bowl sides to create a cohesive cookie dough.
  6. Sugar Coating: Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll generously in granulated sugar, creating a sparkling, sweet exterior for each cookie.
  7. Baking Process: Arrange sugar-coated dough balls on prepared sheets, spacing 2 inches apart, and bake for 12-14 minutes until cookies set with slight surface cracking.
  8. Cooling Technique: Allow cookies to rest on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to complete cooling and develop optimal texture.

Notes

  • Butter Temperature Matters: Ensure butter is softened at room temperature for smooth, creamy mixing and optimal cookie texture.
  • Sugar Coating Tip: Roll dough balls generously in sugar for a delightful crispy, sparkling exterior that caramelizes beautifully during baking.
  • Spice Blend Balance: Ground spices create depth of flavor; use fresh, high-quality spices for the most intense and aromatic results.
  • Cooling Technique: Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack to prevent breaking and help them set perfectly.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 22
  • Calories: 143
  • Sugar: 10 g
  • Sodium: 92 mg
  • Fat: 6 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 20 g
  • Fiber: 0.5 g
  • Protein: 1.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 14 mg
Michael Rivera

Michael Rivera

Co-Founder & Culinary Instructor

Expertise

  • Classic French Cuisine
  • Artisanal Bread Baking
  • Plant-Based Culinary Innovation
  • Recipe & Menu Development
  • Interactive Online Instruction

Education

The French Culinary Institute (now part of the International Culinary Center)

  • Program: Classic Culinary Arts
  • Focus: An intensive curriculum rooted in classical French techniques, artisanal bread production, and contemporary culinary methods.

Michael Rivera is a seasoned chef and culinary instructor based in San Francisco, CA. Trained in Classic Culinary Arts at The French Culinary Institute, he refined his skills in Michelin-starred kitchens, mastering classic French techniques and artisanal bread baking. 

Passionate about making gourmet methods accessible, Michael co-founded thatsmyhome.com to share his expertise through interactive online lessons and innovative, plant-based recipes. He loves blending traditional techniques with modern ideas, encouraging home cooks to enjoy the art of cooking in a relaxed, fun environment.

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