Soft Gingerbread Cookie Recipe: The Best Chewy Holiday Cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Chill Time: 1 hour | Cook Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 36 cookies

This is my absolute favorite soft gingerbread cookie recipe that my family can’t wait to dig into every holiday season. These aren’t your typical hard, crunchy gingerbread house cookies – these are pillowy soft, perfectly chewy, and bursting with warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and molasses. The best part? They’re incredibly easy to make with no rolling or cutting required!

If you’ve been searching for a soft gingerbread cookie recipe that actually stays soft, you’ve found it. This recipe creates thick, bakery-style cookies that taste like a warm hug from grandma’s kitchen.

Why This Is The Best Soft Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

I started making these soft gingerbread cookies years ago when I was tired of the rock-hard gingerbread cookies that hurt your teeth. My kids wanted something they could actually enjoy eating, not just decorating! After lots of testing, I finally created this recipe that stays soft and chewy for days.

What makes this soft gingerbread cookie recipe different from others? The secret is in the molasses, the chilling time, and not overbaking. These three things work together to give you perfectly soft cookies every single time.

Key Ingredients for Soft Gingerbread Cookies

While you’ll find the complete recipe card below with exact measurements, let me walk you through the most important ingredients:

• Molasses: This is what makes gingerbread taste like gingerbread! I recommend using light or dark molasses (not blackstrap, which is too bitter). The molasses adds moisture, rich flavor, and that beautiful dark color. Don’t skip it or substitute it – molasses is the star of the show.
• Ground Ginger: This spice gives the cookies their name and that slightly spicy, warm kick. Make sure your ginger is fresh (less than 6 months old) for the best flavor.
• Butter: Use real butter that’s softened to room temperature. This helps create that soft, tender texture we’re looking for.
• Cinnamon: I love using Saigon cinnamon because it has a stronger, sweeter flavor than regular cinnamon. But any good quality cinnamon will work great.
• Baking Soda: Not baking powder! Baking soda is what makes these cookies puff up and stay soft instead of spreading thin and getting crispy.

Pro Tips for Perfect Soft Gingerbread Cookies

I’ve made these cookies dozens of times, so here are my best tips:

• Chill the dough: This is super important! Chilling the dough for at least 1 hour (or up to 3 days) keeps the cookies from spreading too flat. Flat cookies get crispy, and we want soft and thick.
• Don’t overbake: Your cookies should look slightly underdone in the center when you pull them out. The edges will just barely be set. They’ll continue baking on the hot pan after you remove them from the oven. This is the secret to keeping them soft!
• Let them cool on the pan: After you take the cookies out of the oven, leave them on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving them. This finishing time makes all the difference.
• Use fresh spices: If your ginger and cinnamon are more than 6 months old, replace them. Old spices make flat, tough cookies.
• Don’t overmix: Mix the dough just until everything is combined. Overmixing makes tough cookies instead of tender ones.

How to Make This Soft Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

Here’s a quick overview of the process:

1. Cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy
2. Add the egg and molasses, mixing until smooth
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger
4. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined
5. Cover the dough and chill for at least 1 hour (this step is key!)
6. Scoop the dough into balls and place on parchment-lined baking sheets

7. Bake for 10 minutes at 350°F – they should look slightly underdone
8. Let cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then move to a cooling rack

The full recipe with exact measurements is in the recipe card below.

Serving Ideas for Soft Gingerbread Cookies

These soft gingerbread cookies are perfect all on their own, but here are some fun ways to serve them:

• Dust them with powdered sugar for a snowy look
• Drizzle with a simple vanilla icing
• Pack them in pretty boxes or tins for holiday gifts
• Add them to your Christmas cookie platter alongside sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies
• Leave them out for Santa and just watch the presents multiply!
• Crumble them over vanilla ice cream for a gingerbread sundae

I love setting these out on a platter when friends come over for coffee. They disappear fast!

How to Store Soft Gingerbread Cookies (And Keep Them Soft!)

The best way to keep your soft gingerbread cookies soft is proper storage:

Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container or Ziploc bag for up to 5 days. To keep them extra soft, add a slice of bread to the container. The cookies will absorb moisture from the bread and stay perfectly soft!

Refrigerator: You can store them in the fridge for up to 1 week in an airtight container, but I find they taste best at room temperature.

Freezer: These cookies freeze beautifully! Place them on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze until solid. Then transfer to a freezer bag or container. They’ll keep for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or warm in the microwave for 10 seconds for that fresh-baked taste.

Make-Ahead Dough: You can also freeze the cookie dough! Scoop it into balls, freeze on a baking sheet, then store in a freezer bag. Bake straight from frozen, adding 1-2 extra minutes to the baking time.

Soft Gingerbread Cookie Variations

Once you master this basic soft gingerbread cookie recipe, try these fun twists:

• White Chocolate Chip Gingerbread Cookies: Fold in 1 cup of white chocolate chips to the dough for extra sweetness
• Spicy Gingerbread Cookies: Add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or increase the ginger to 2 teaspoons for extra kick
• Gluten-Free Soft Gingerbread Cookies: Use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour
• Gingerbread Cookie Sandwiches: Make smaller cookies and sandwich them with cream cheese frosting
• Glazed Gingerbread Cookies: Drizzle with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and milk

Related Recipes You’ll Love

If you’re a fan of this soft gingerbread cookie recipe, you’ll definitely want to try these other holiday favorites from my kitchen:

• Gingerbread Cutout Cookies: For when you want to make decorated gingerbread men that hold their shape
• Molasses Cookies: Similar spices but with a different texture – also wonderfully soft!
• Cinnamon Cookies: Another soft, cinnamon-spiced cookie that’s perfect for the holidays
• Crumbl Sugar Cookies: The classic soft cookie that everyone needs in their recipe box
• Chocolate Crinkle Cookies: A chocolate lover’s soft cookie for your Christmas cookie tray

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes gingerbread cookies soft instead of hard? The molasses adds moisture, and not overbaking is key. Also, chilling the dough prevents spreading, which keeps cookies thick and soft.

Can I use this soft gingerbread cookie recipe to make gingerbread men? This dough is pretty soft, so it’s better for drop cookies. For cutout shapes, try my Gingerbread Cutout Cookies recipe instead.

What can I use instead of molasses? I really encourage you to use molasses for the authentic gingerbread flavor! But if you must substitute, you can use dark corn syrup, maple syrup, or honey. Just know the flavor will be different.

Why do my gingerbread cookies get hard? Usually because they’re overbaked. Take them out when they look slightly underdone in the center. Also make sure your spices and baking soda are fresh.

Can I make gingerbread cookies without eggs? Yes! You can substitute the egg with a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water) or use a commercial egg replacer.

Final Thoughts

This soft gingerbread cookie recipe has become a family tradition in our home, and I hope it becomes one in yours too! The combination of warm spices, soft chewy texture, and that irresistible molasses flavor makes these cookies impossible to resist. Whether you’re baking for a holiday party, a cookie exchange, or just because your family is craving something sweet, this recipe delivers every time.

Please let me know in the comments if you try this soft gingerbread cookie recipe! I love seeing your photos and hearing how they turned out. Don’t forget to give it a star rating too – it helps other readers find this recipe!

Did you enjoy this recipe? Don’t forget to pin it for later and follow me on Pinterest for more delicious recipes like this one!

Originally published: November 7, 2022.

Updated: October 8, 2025 – Enhanced with more detailed instructions, tips, and serving suggestions. No changes were made to the recipe.