Soft Ginger Cookies (Gluten Free)

We’re heading into the busiest time of the year for baking!

Because the year-end holiday season is synonymous with cookies, I decided that it was high time to share the perfect gluten-free recipe.

Since winter has arrived and the temperatures are dropping low, I thought it would be best to share a ginger cookie that will warm us with its mix of spices.

Vertical image of a bowlful of cookies, with one on the marble counter with a bite taken out of it, with text in the middle and on the bottom of the image.

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This sweet and spicy recipe is different from the gingerbread and the ginger snaps that you might be used to eating.

And I’m happy to tell you why…

Not only does the recipe yield a soft, chewy texture, but it is also gluten free, so even those with celiac disease can enjoy them all season long!

Made with blackstrap molasses and an all-purpose gluten-free flour mix, these sweet treats incorporate ground ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg to give it that classic winter dessert taste.

Vertical image of a hand taking one cookie from a batch on a cooling rack.

It’s a very simple recipe that can be made in less than 45 minutes completely from scratch, and the results are simply mouthwatering.

Serve them as part of your lineup of other homemade holiday bakes when your guests are visiting this holiday season, or pack them in little mason jars and give them as cute presents.

Either way, your guests will surely ask you for this amazing recipe!

Vertical top-down image of a white bowl filled with individual, sugar-coated treats.

The instructions below make 15 large cookies, but you can double or triple the recipe to make more in one batch. Just be sure to avoid overcrowding the cookies on one baking sheet – use multiple sheet pans so they have ample space to expand.

That’s one of my most important tips to follow to improve your baking routine – good to remember for your upcoming holiday baking marathon.

Ready to make these delightful gluten-free bites at home? Let’s head straight to the recipe!

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Horizontal image of a bowlful of sugar-coated cookies, with one on the marble counter with a bite taken out of it.

Soft Ginger Cookies (Gluten Free)


  • Author: Felicia Lim
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 15 large cookies 1x

Description

 

Soft, gluten-free ginger cookies will warm you up with a mix of spices. And a fresh batch can be made in just under 45 minutes.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3/4 cup (6 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar, plus more for rolling
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup blackstrap molasses
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour blend
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar together on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
  2. Add the egg and the blackstrap molasses and beat on high speed until completely combined, about 1-2 minutes.
  3. In a separate large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, spices, and salt together to combine.
  4. Sift the flour mixture into the bowl with the wet ingredients, and mix at low speed until a uniform dough forms, about 1-2 minutes.
  5. Place the dough uncovered in the refrigerator for 10 minutes to chill and stiffen slightly.
  6. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Position a rack in the middle of the oven. Place about 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a shallow bowl and set aside.
  7. Roll or scoop the chilled dough into small balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Roll the balls around in the granulated sugar to coat evenly and completely. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between each portion.
  8. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly browned and puffy.
  9. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Immediately and carefully transfer the cookies from the parchment paper to a cooling rack. Enjoy while warm, or cool completely before storing in airtight containers.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Cookies
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Dessert

Keywords: gluten free, ginger, cookies

Cooking by the Numbers…

Step 1 – Prep and Measure

First, get your food items ready.

Horizontal image of prepped and measured white and dry ingredients in various-sized bowls.

Measure out all of the ingredients: the unsalted butter, granulated sugar, eggs, blackstrap molasses, flour, ground spices, salt, and baking powder.

Be sure to have about 1/2 cup extra granulated sugar – you’ll need this for rolling the portions of dough.

Not sure what to buy for the flour? I can help! One of my favorite brands of all-purpose gluten-free flour is King Arthur’s Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour. You can purchase a 24-ounce box now directly from King Arthur!

Step 2 – Prepare Wet Mixture

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.

Horizontal image of whisking a molasses-flavored batter in a metal bowl.

You can do this in your stand mixer, or by hand with a sturdy whisk.

The mixing process will be significantly faster in the stand mixer, compared to doing the next few steps all by hand. It will take about 2 to 3 minutes to properly cream the ingredients together in the stand mixer, but will take at least double the amount of time whisking by hand.

So if you’re looking for some time-saving hacks on a tight schedule, use the machine!

Add the egg and the blackstrap molasses, and mix well until combined.

Step 3 – Prepare Flour Mixture

Horizontal image of mixing together a wet and dry mix together with a wooden spoon in a metal bowl.

In a separate large bowl, whisk the flour, ground spices, baking powder, and salt together until combined.

Step 4 – Form and Chill the Dough

Sift the flour mixture into the bowl with the wet ingredients, and mix at low speed in the stand mixer, or by hand with a sturdy wooden spoon, until a thick and homogeneous dough forms.

Horizontal image of stirring together a thick, molasses-flavored batter in a bowl using a wooden spoon.

Transfer the dough in the bowl uncovered to your refrigerator. Chill the dough for 10 minutes.

This brief – but essential! – visit to the refrigerator helps to stiffen the dough slightly so that it won’t spread drastically during the baking process.

While the dough is chilling, this is the perfect time to work ahead on other prep!

Preheat the oven to 350°F, and position a rack in the middle for the most even distribution of heat. Line one baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

Place about 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a shallow bowl or plate and set that aside.

Step 5 – Portion and Coat

Once the dough has chilled, remove the bowl from the refrigerator. Roll the dough into small balls about 1 1/2 inches wide – you can use your hands, but I prefer a cookie scooper for a more consistent measurement.

Horizontal image of unbaked portions of dough on two whites plates next to a wooden bowl of sugar.

Roll each ball in the granulated sugar to completely and evenly coat the exterior in a thin layer of sugar.

Place the coated portions onto the prepared sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between each one.

Horizontal image of rolling unbaked portions of dough in a bowlful of granulated sugar.

The dough will spread as it bakes, so you want to be sure to leave enough room.

Step 6 – Bake and Cool

Transfer the baking sheet to the oven, and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

Horizontal image of a cooling rack of sugar-coated molasses cookies.

Here are the signs you are looking for when you are nearing the end of the baking time: the portions will become lightly browned and puffy.

Remove the sheet from the oven, and transfer the cookies to a cooling rack immediately.

The sugar coating slightly melts and forms a light caramel. This is delicious, but it may cause the cookies to stick to the parchment paper. That’s why it’s best to remove them from the parchment paper as soon as possible.

Serve while still slightly warm, or allow them to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

Enjoy with a Hot Bev!

Once they’re cool enough, it’s time to enjoy these deliciously spiced sweet treats.

Tasty on their own, I prefer serving them with a warm beverage – an ideal pairing on a cold winter night after a hearty dinner.

Try them with a hot and steamy cup of tea, like a frothy ginger tea latte, or a mug of hot cocoa or hot chocolate.

They will also be a fantastic accompaniment to boozier selections… we’re staying in for the night, so why not?

Horizontal image of a bowlful of sugar-coated cookies, with one on the marble counter with a bite taken out of it.

For a satisfying pick-me-up, serve them alongside a classic Irish coffee featuring whiskey, or a Pharisäer Kaffee with a mix of rum.

Do you like your ginger cookies soft or crispy? Based on this rendition, I think you already know what I like best! Let us know your own thoughts in the comments below.

We have more baking to do with ground ginger, the beautifully aromatic and yellow-hued spice! Here are other desserts to try next:

Photos by Felicia Lim, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Originally published on December 12, 2016. With additional writing and editing by Nikki Cervone. Last updated on November 26, 2023.

Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.

About Felicia Lim

Felicia Lim is a Singaporean who moved to Argentina for love. Based in Buenos Aires, also known as “the Paris of South America,” she fills her days with freelance writing, recipe development, and food photography – three passions that give her endless joy. When she isn’t typing away at her computer, cooking in the kitchen, or shooting in her balcony-studio, you can probably find her curled up on the couch, lost in the pages of a good book.

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