Soft Ginger Cookie Recipe With Fresh Ginger

This Soft Ginger Cookie recipe is a delicious holiday treat for anyone who loves ginger spice but prefers a soft, chewy cookie instead of a crunchy ginger snap. Made with both fresh ginger and candied ginger, these warmly spiced cookies are especially good during the winter months and make a great treat for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Soft Ginger Cookie Recipe Summary

One thing that sets this recipe apart from other ginger cookie recipes is the option to make your own candied ginger. You can absolutely use store-bought candied ginger, but you can also turn fresh ginger root from the produce section into a homemade ingredient for these cookies.

This soft ginger cookie recipe uses several classic ginger-cookie ingredients along with homemade candied ginger and freshly grated ginger. The process is simple: mix the wet and dry ingredients, fold in the ginger, portion the dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets, coat the cookies with sugar, and bake until soft and chewy.

Making Your Own Candied Ginger

I previously made my own candied ginger, and you can use my Homemade Candied Ginger recipe for these cookies. Of course, you can buy candied ginger, but if you like cooking from scratch, give it a try. Homemade candied ginger is inexpensive and straightforward to make.

Dicing and Grating Your Ginger

No matter whether you use purchased candied ginger or make our recipe, dice it finely. If you want to get chunks of diced candy, leave them a little bigger, but finely diced candied ginger will distribute more evenly throughout the cookies.

We also add two teaspoons of freshly grated ginger for another layer of ginger flavor. Peel a small portion of fresh ginger root and grate enough to measure two teaspoons. If you have extra ginger root, my Homemade Honey Ginger Tea is another easy way to use it.

Sifting Dry Ingredients

If you have a sifter, you can use it here, but it is not essential for an everyday cookie recipe. I often use a fine-mesh strainer instead. Sifting helps break up lumps and evenly distribute the flour, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt. The Kitchn also notes that sifting is generally unnecessary for most cookies and that a fine-mesh strainer works when you do want to sift. If you have neither, thoroughly whisk the dry ingredients together.

Bread Flour vs All-Purpose Flour

Bread flour generally contains more protein than all-purpose flour, which allows for more gluten development and can give cookies a chewier texture. Since we are aiming for a soft, chewy ginger cookie, bread flour works especially well in this recipe.

What Does Baking Soda Do For This Soft Ginger Cookie Recipe?

Baking soda is a leavening agent that helps these cookies rise while also contributing to spread and browning. The molasses in the dough provides acidity that works with the baking soda during baking.

Soft Ginger Cookie Process

1. Sift the dry ingredients to combine them and remove any lumps.
2. Mix the wet ingredients before gradually adding the sifted dry ingredients.
3. Begin mixing the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
4. Mix the dough until combined, just before adding the candied and freshly grated ginger.
5. Flatten one of the 16 dough portions before coating it with sugar.
6. Arrange the sugar-coated cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets just before baking.

Soft Ginger Cookie Tips Summary

• If you don’t have a sifter, use a fine-mesh strainer. If you have neither, thoroughly whisk the dry ingredients together.
• Use our Candied Ginger Recipe or purchase some.
• Finely dice the candied ginger so it is distributed throughout the dough.
• When coating the dough portions in sugar, press lightly so the sugar adheres. Add a little more sugar if needed.
• If you don’t have a stand mixer, use a sturdy spoon and mix until the ingredients are thoroughly combined, using the dough’s texture rather than exact mixing times as your guide.

More Holiday Treats

• Traditional Norwegian Krumkake
• No-Bake Holiday Rum Balls
• German Coconut Macaroons (Kokosmakronen)

Products I Used in This Recipe

• Sifter
• Cookie Sheets
• KitchenAid Mixer
• Candied Ginger
• Parchment Paper

Did You Make This Soft Ginger Cookie Recipe?

Thank you so much for trusting me in your kitchen! If you made these soft ginger cookies, please leave a rating or comment below and let me know how they turned out. You can also share the recipe on Pinterest, and subscribe by email if you want to see more from me.

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