Discover ways to make gingerbread snickerdoodles from scratch with this easy recipe! Spiced cookie dough rolled in a candy coating then baked to perfection, cozy flavors fill each chunk of those festive treats. Smooth and chewy inside with a touch of crispness outdoors, these “gingerdoodles” are a beautiful addition to any vacation cookie tray — and simpler to make than basic cut-out gingerbread!
One December whereas in school, I made a decision to make a dozen completely different vacation treats to have fun surviving a very grueling finals week. After looking out the web for inspiration and scribbling down an inventory, I turned on my oven and started working.
Even then, baking put me in a state of peace and bliss. With Christmas carols softly enjoying within the background and my giant bin of flour completely planted on the kitchen counter, the whole lot else the weightier matters filling my thoughts melted away. Examination scores, grades, transcripts, grad faculty functions… Together with the smaller stresses of vacation procuring, reward wrapping, and journey all disappeared, together with the concern traces on my brow and rigidity between my shoulder blades.
I misplaced observe of time as I rotated baking sheets and transferred cookies to wire racks. Festive aromas stuffed the air — cozy spices, wealthy chocolate, earthy molasses, fruity jam, buttery caramel — and I smiled on the huge stack of dishes piled into the sink. As a substitute of a burden, they had been an indication of contentment and sheer pleasure, emotions that solely grew stronger as I started to pattern my selfmade sweets.
Since I deliberate on sharing and giving lots of them away to neighbors and buddies, I caught with classics and extra acquainted favorites. I baked trays of jam-filled thumbprint cookies, chocolate peanut butter blossoms, crunchy biscotti, and even common chocolate chip cookies. I additionally included fudgy brownies, peppermint bark, and a pan of sprinkle-topped Rice Krispie treats for the lovable little children subsequent door.
As a lot as everybody totally loved these pretty conventional treats (together with my household and me!), I shortly grew extra adventurous and appeared ahead to baking enjoyable and inventive ones too because the years handed by. And this December…
These wholesome gingerbread snickerdoodles are on the very prime of my record! They mix two favorites right into a single cookie, one which’s undeniably festive and ideal for the vacation season.
One thing else I really like about them? Apart from their irresistible style and texture?
They’re easy and simple to make — and require zero cookie cutters or adorning expertise! 😉
QUICK OVERVIEW – GINGERBREAD SNICKERDOODLES
Problem: Pretty straightforward, together with for a lot of newbie bakers. (The tiny tough half is simply rolling them within the coating!)
Style: Actually comforting, with loads of wealthy spices, cozy sweetness, and notes of earthy molasses.
Texture: Smooth and chewy inside, with hints of crispness from their candy outer coating.
INGREDIENTS TO MAKE HEALTHY GINGERBREAD SNICKERDOODLES
Let’s go over the elements that you just’ll have to make these wholesome gingerbread snickerdoodle cookies! I’m assuming that you have already got staples like eggs, vanilla extract, and salt, so we’ll primarily cowl the extra fascinating and vital ones.
Flour. To make these cookies more healthy, I used white whole wheat flour. I do know… Which may sound a bit unusual — and virtually like an oxymoron! Nevertheless, such a factor really does exist, and it’s not only a mixture of complete wheat flour and white (aka all-purpose) flour!
Right here within the US, farmers develop a couple of completely different sorts of wheat. Crimson wheat is the most typical sort, and it’s used to make common complete wheat flour. White wheat is one other selection, and it’s used to make (you guessed it!) white complete wheat flour.
White wheat has a lighter look, style, and texture in comparison with purple wheat, so white complete wheat flour behaves and tastes a bit extra like all-purpose flour in baking recipes — but it nonetheless has the identical well being advantages of normal complete wheat flour, equivalent to additional fiber and micronutrients. It’s mainly the most effective of each worlds!
Trace: It’s just like the distinction between purple and inexperienced grapes. Totally different look and style, however comparable well being advantages!
Tip: Should you’d wish to make your gingerbread snickerdoodles gluten free, then verify the Notes part of the recipe. I’ve included my prime suggestions there!
Baking soda. That is the leavening agent historically used to make snickerdoodles. When mixed with the following ingredient, it helps create a mushy cookie texture. And that ingredient is…
Cream of tartar. It is a key ingredient in snickerdoodle cookies. It’s what provides them their basic snickerdoodle “tang” — that refined but nonetheless noticeable taste that rolls round your mouth and lingers in your tongue with each chunk. There’s no substitute for it, so if you need your gingerbread snickerdoodles to style like a true mixture of each cookies, you have to embody cream of tartar.
The excellent news? You could find cream of tartar at nearly any grocery retailer! It’s a positive white powder that’s cheap, shelf-stable, and stays contemporary for ages! Search for it on the spice aisle!
And now for a fast nerdy second…
Cream of tartar is an acid. Baking soda is a base. If you mix the 2 (and add a bit liquid!), they create air bubbles. These air bubbles assist give your cookies a lighter, softer, and chewier texture!
Science may be scrumptious and enjoyable, don’t you suppose? Or is that simply me?? (I used to be a chemist earlier than I grew to become a baking blogger, so… My definition of “enjoyable” may be on the geeky facet. 😉 )
Anyway, shifting on to extra vital issues, like…
Spices. You’ll want a couple of to create the enduring gingerbread taste. These are ginger (clearly!), cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. I really like the life that ginger provides to those cookies, that zing that basically lifts their taste and makes them additional cozy, and the deep richness of the nutmeg and cloves actually rounds out their style.
Tip: If you’ll find Saigon cinnamon, I extremely suggest it! It has a stronger and sweeter taste, which works rather well in baking recipes. It’s mainly the one variety I take advantage of now, and I purchase it on-line right here. Price each penny!
Molasses. Together with ginger, that is the opposite key ingredient in conventional gingerbread. Whereas ginger offers the intense spiciness, molasses provides the deep, wealthy, virtually earthy undertones. Identical to with the cream of tartar, I don’t suggest substituting the rest for it (if in any respect potential!) for those who’d like a true gingerbread cookie taste.
Tip: For the most effective outcomes, use common molasses — not blackstrap! The latter is extra bitter and has a a lot stronger chunk to it. I take advantage of Grandma’s molasses essentially the most, however Brer Rabbit is one other good choice.
Since utilizing molasses as the one sweetener would add an excessive amount of liquid to the cookie dough, you’ll solely use a small quantity (extra on that quickly!). Then you definately’ll additionally use a granular sweetener to make your cookies candy sufficient — with out turning the cookie dough into soup!
Sugar. Each coconut sugar and light-weight brown sugar work equally effectively on this recipe. Coconut sugar is strictly what it appears like… An unrefined sweetener produced from coconuts. Nevertheless, it doesn’t really style like coconuts! It has a stunning caramel-like taste (similar to brown sugar!), which accentuates the wealthy taste of those cookies. You possibly can usually discover it on the baking aisle close to the granulated and brown sugar.
Tip: Should you use coconut sugar, your cookies will probably be “clear consuming” pleasant!
Melted butter or coconut oil. Sure, melted! Not softened. As compared, I’ve discovered that melted butter creates a extra chewy cookie texture. It’s additionally simpler on these of us who repeatedly overlook to set out butter to melt forward of time! 😉
Tip: Should you use coconut oil, your gingerbread snickerdoodles will probably be dairy free!
HOW TO MAKE GINGERBREAD SNICKERDOODLES
Bought all of these elements? Good! Let’s cowl how one can make the most effective gingerbread snickerdoodles. Like I discussed earlier, this cookie recipe is easy to make, however I nonetheless have some tricks to share with you, beginning with…
Measure accurately. That is actually vital, particularly for the flour and molasses! An excessive amount of flour will make your cookies cakey or dry, and it could additionally forestall your cookie dough from coming collectively. Use this method (and my particular fork trick!) or a kitchen scale (← that’s the one I personal!) to ensure you add the right amount!
Nevertheless, for the molasses, I do not suggest utilizing a kitchen scale. They’re nice for strong elements — however not a lot for liquid ones! As a substitute, use measuring spoons for the molasses, however be simply as cautious with measuring it as a result of even a tiny distinction can have an effect on whether or not you find yourself with…
Thick or skinny cookies. When testing this recipe, I made a number of batches and diverse the molasses barely in every one. See these pictures beneath? The quantity of molasses decided how thick or skinny the cookies had been, in addition to how vast in diameter they had been.
For the batch of cookies on prime, I used 4 ½ teaspoons (aka 1 ½ tablespoons). For the center set, I used 5 ½ teaspoons. For the underside ones, I used 6 teaspoons (aka 2 tablespoons). I left the whole lot else precisely the identical — the way in which I combined collectively the dough, how lengthy I chilled it, how I formed the cookie dough into balls, and the way lengthy I baked them — and solely modified the quantity of molasses.
Isn’t it loopy how a lot of a distinction 1 ½ teaspoons of molasses could make??
Tip: That is the place it’s like a “choose-your-own journey” guide! (Did anybody else learn these as a child??) You get to select how thick or skinny you’d like your cookies to be. I’ve shared what to do to realize every sort within the Notes part of the recipe!
One small factor to notice… The cookies made with much less molasses will probably be thicker and never as vast, however they’ll even be lighter in coloration and a bit much less candy with a stronger spice taste. (The spices style stronger simply because they’ve much less molasses to compete with — not since you use extra of them!) It’s a really small taste distinction, one which some individuals won’t even discover, however I nonetheless wished to say that!
Chill. No matter how a lot molasses you employ, the cookie dough will probably be sticky, so that you’ll chill it earlier than baking. This helps stiffen the cookie dough, which makes it simpler to work with. Chilling is obligatory, however you solely have to pop the bowl within the fridge for half-hour!
Coat — then roll. Together with the cream of tartar, one other key attribute of snickerdoodle cookies is their cinnamon sugar coating. It provides a bit additional sweetness and coziness, together with a touch of crispness to their texture.
Even after chilling, the cookie dough will nonetheless be too sticky to the touch along with your naked fingers, so use a spoon and spatula to drop it into the bowl of coating. As soon as it’s coated in cinnamon sugar, then decide it up and form it right into a ball. The coating acts like a barrier and prevents it from sticking to your pores and skin!
Bake. These gingerbread snickerdoodles don’t take very lengthy to bake. They’re prepared to come back out of the oven when the facilities nonetheless really feel a bit mushy and underdone. (They’ll puff up some whereas within the oven, however they need to collapse again right down to “regular” inside minutes!)
The warmth from the nice and cozy baking sheet will proceed to prepare dinner the facilities all over when you allow them to relaxation earlier than transferring to a wire rack. Should you waited till the facilities felt agency, then the edges would find yourself overdone, and your cookies wouldn’t be almost as mushy and chewy… So take away them a bit early, and let the steel baking sheet work its magic!
Reshape. That is an elective however bonus professional tip! As quickly as you take away the baking sheet from the oven, seize a butter knife and use it to softly however firmly reshape any lopsided edges. It’s good to act shortly, earlier than the cookies absolutely set, however this little trick will assist clean out these edges and make your cookies look completely spherical!
FAQS ABOUT GINGERBREAD SNICKERDOODLES
Are these gingerbread snickerdoodles gluten free, dairy free, clear consuming, low fats, or low calorie?
Sure — to all the above! These cookies are naturally clear consuming, low fats, and decrease calorie, and so they’re dairy free for those who use the coconut oil choice. I’ve included my prime gluten free suggestions within the Notes part of the recipe!
Can I take advantage of a distinct flour?
Positive! I’ve included the opposite flours that may work within the Notes part of the recipe.
Can I skip the cream of tartar? Or substitute one thing else?
I don’t suggest doing both of these — not if you need your cookies to style like snickerdoodles, at the very least! See the “cream of tartar” header above for extra data.
Can I substitute one thing else for the molasses?
I don’t suggest doing that both. Molasses is what provides that deep, wealthy, comforting, and virtually earthy undertone to gingerbread cookies. Your cookies received’t style like true gingerbread with out it!
Nevertheless… I perceive that it’s not potential to purchase molasses in each nation all over the world, so I’ve included a couple of options within the Notes part that may at the very least obtain the identical cookie texture.
What’s the most effective form of molasses to make use of?
Common unsulphured molasses! Grandma’s is the model I take advantage of essentially the most. Do not substitute blackstrap molasses; it’s rather more bitter in taste!
My cookies didn’t unfold, however I wished them to. Why’s that?
There was most likely an excessive amount of flour within the cookie dough — or not sufficient sweetener! See the “measure accurately” header above for extra data. Additionally, ensure you’re utilizing the precise elements referred to as for within the recipe (or the options within the Notes part). Substituting different sweeteners, equivalent to monk fruit or erythritol, will make the cookie dough a lot drier and stop the cookies from spreading correctly.
My cookies unfold an excessive amount of. I need them thicker. How can I obtain that?
Use much less molasses! Including much less of a liquid ingredient will make the cookie dough stiffer and fewer more likely to unfold. See the “thick or skinny cookies” header above for extra data and pictures too!
How do you make your cookies so spherical and ideal?
Slightly endurance — and a butter knife! 😉 Form the cookie dough to be as spherical as potential after rolling it within the coating. After baking, use a butter knife to softly clean out any lopsided edges. See the “reshaping” tip above for more information!
What’s one of the simplest ways to retailer these gingerbread snickerdoodles? How lengthy will they final?
Retailer them in an hermetic container at room temperature. They need to final for at the very least three or 4 days, if not nearer to per week or extra.
Can I ship these vacation cookies? Will they maintain up within the mail?
Sure! They ship fairly effectively. I’ve a helpful “how to mail cookies” guide the place I’ve shared one of the simplest ways to bundle and ship them.
Able to bake a batch?? And while you make your individual, bear in mind to snap an image and share it on Instagram utilizing #amyshealthybaking and tagging @amyshealthybaking IN the picture itself! (That ensures I’ll see your image! 🙂 ) I’d like to see your wholesome gingerbread snickerdoodles!
Wholesome Gingerbread Snickerdoodles (Gingerdoodles)
Cozy flavors fill each chunk of those festive cookies! Spiced cookie dough is rolled in a candy coating after which baked to perfection. Smooth and chewy inside with a touch of crispness outdoors, these “gingerdoodles” are a beautiful addition to any vacation cookie tray — and simpler to make than basic cut-out gingerbread! The cookies will maintain for at the very least three or 4 days (if not nearer to per week or extra!) if saved in an hermetic container at room temperature.
Directions
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To arrange the cookies, whisk collectively the flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk collectively the butter, egg, and vanilla. Stir within the molasses till totally included. Stir within the sugar. Add within the flour combination, stirring till included. Chill the cookie dough for half-hour.
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To arrange the coating, combine collectively the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl till fully mixed and no lumps stay.
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Preheat the oven to 350°F, and line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
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{See the Notes beneath about rolling and shaping earlier than starting this step!} Utilizing a spoon and spatula, drop a small quantity of the cookie dough into the coating. Rigorously rock the cookie dough forwards and backwards within the coating. (Don’t contact the cookie dough along with your fingers till it’s absolutely coated!) As soon as absolutely coated in coating, roll the cookie dough right into a sphere between your palms, and place it on the ready baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough and coating. (Optionally available: Gently flatten the cookie dough as a spreading “head begin” for cookies which might be thinner!)
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Bake at 350°F for 11th of September minutes. Let the cookies cool on the nice and cozy baking sheet for 10 minutes earlier than transferring to a wire rack.
Notes
HOW MUCH MOLASSES TO ADD TO THE COOKIE DOUGH – READ BEFORE BEGINNING: This really depends upon how thick or skinny you favor your snickerdoodles! If made precisely as written, your snickerdoodles will unfold an honest quantity and end up pretty skinny. (That’s how I like mine!)
For barely thicker cookies, use 5 ½ teaspoons of molasses as an alternative. For thick cookies (that don’t unfold as a lot whereas baking!), use 1 ½ tablespoons (aka 4 ½ teaspoons) of molasses as an alternative. (See the pictures in my weblog put up above for visuals!)
FLOUR ALTERNATIVES: Whole wheat pastry flour, common complete wheat flour, or all-purpose flour could also be substituted for the white complete wheat flour. Oat flour will even work, however be very cautious when measuring it as a result of it tends to be extra absorbent than wheat-based flour.
CREAM OF TARTAR NOTE: I don’t suggest substituting for or omitting the cream of tartar. It is vital for each the style and texture of those cookies. (See the “cream of tartar” header in my weblog put up above for extra data!)
CINNAMON NOTES: I extremely suggest utilizing Saigon cinnamon for the most effective taste! It’s stronger, richer, and sweeter than widespread cinnamon. I purchase mine on-line here as a result of it’s so cheap and reasonably priced! Should you aren’t utilizing Saigon cinnamon, then think about rising the cinnamon within the coating by ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon.
MOLASSES NOTES + ALTERNATIVES: Use common unsulphured molasses, not blackstrap! The latter is extra bitter. I take advantage of Grandma’s molasses essentially the most.
If in any respect potential, I do not suggest substituting something for the molasses. It’s what creates that deep, wealthy, comforting, virtually earthy undertone in gingerbread cookies. With out it, your cookies received’t style fairly like gingerbread.
Nevertheless, I perceive not everybody has entry to molasses! In a pinch, pure maple syrup, honey, or agave could also be substituted to realize the identical cookie texture.
ROLLING THE COOKIE DOUGH IN COATING: This cookie dough is sticky, and that’s intentional! It provides these cookies a extremely mushy and chewy texture, and it permits them to unfold some whereas baking. Nevertheless, which means the cookie dough will persist with your naked fingers. So in Step 4, do NOT contact the cookie dough till it’s coated with the cinnamon sugar combination. The coating then acts as a barrier and prevents it from fully sticking to your pores and skin!
SHAPING THE COOKIE DOUGH BEFORE BAKING: For thicker snickerdoodles, roll the cookie dough in order that it’s taller than it’s vast (aka a cylinder form!). For actually skinny snickerdoodles (thinner than in any of my pictures!), roll the cookie dough into balls, and flatten them barely earlier than baking.
GLUTEN FREE OPTION: For the gluten free flour, use as follows: ¼ cup (30g) millet flour, ¼ cup (30g) tapioca flour, 3 tablespoons (21g) coconut flour, and ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum. Most store-bought gluten free flour blends (I like this one from Bob’s Crimson Mill) will work as effectively, if measured like this. Certified gluten free oat flour will even work, however be very cautious when measuring it as a result of it tends to be extra absorbent than many different flours.
EGG FREE, DAIRY FREE + VEGAN OPTION: Use coconut oil or stick-style non-dairy butter (I like this one and this one). Instead of the egg, substitute 1 ½ teaspoons of Ener-G (I whisk this into the dry elements!) + 2 tablespoons of heat water + an additional ½ tablespoon (7g) of coconut oil or non-dairy butter. If utilizing the milk choice to make your cookies unfold extra, then use your favourite non-dairy milk.
DOUBLING: This recipe is well doubled!
HOW TO STORE: Retailer leftover snickerdoodles in an hermetic container. If left at room temperature, they need to final at the very least three or 4 days, if not nearer to per week or extra.
FOR MORE TIPS + INFORMATION + STEP-BY-STEP PHOTOS, SEE MY BLOG POST ABOVE!
{gluten free, clear consuming, low fats, dairy free choice, egg free choice, vegan choice}
View Nutrition Information + Weight Watchers Points
You may additionally like Amy’s different recipes…
♡ The Ultimate Healthy Snickerdoodles
♡ The Ultimate Healthy Gingerbread Cookies
♡ Healthy Carrot Cake Snickerdoodles
♡ Healthy Soft-Baked Ginger Cookies
♡ Healthy Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies
♡ Healthy Gingerbread Oatmeal Cookies
♡ Healthy Gingerbread Blossoms
♡ …and the remainder of Amy’s healthy gingerbread recipes and healthy holiday cookie recipes!
