Ginger cookie

Ginger cookies have been around for centuries, with the earliest recipes dating back to the Middle Ages. The cookies were originally made with ginger root, which was believed to have medicinal properties. Ginger was used to treat a variety of ailments, including nausea, colds, and indigestion.

The first ginger cookies were likely very different from the ginger cookies we know today. They were more like gingerbread, and were often made into shapes such as animals or people. The cookies were also much harder, as they were meant to be eaten as a type of candy.

It wasn't until the 17th century that ginger cookies began to resemble the cookies we know today. The first recipes for soft and chewy ginger cookies appeared in English cookbooks. These recipes called for molasses or honey, making the cookies much sweeter than the earlier versions.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

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Chocolate-Cherry Ginger Cookies

  • milk chocolate bar
  • cinnamon
  • egg
  • turbinado sugar
  • cherry
  • nutmeg
  • all purpose flour
  • baking soda
  • molasses
  • clove
  • dutch process cocoa powder
  • grapeseed
  • ginger
  • sugar
  • salt
  • butter
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Chewy Molasses Ginger Cookies

  • brown sugar
  • powdered cinnamon
  • powdered ginger
  • egg
  • sugar
  • salt
  • powdered clove
  • molasses
  • baking soda
  • all purpose flour
  • butter crisco
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Spiced Ginger Cookies

  • turbinado
  • cinnamon
  • egg
  • allspice
  • salt
  • honey
  • sugar
  • light brown sugar
  • white pepper
  • baking soda
  • ginger
  • butter
  • all purpose flour
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Soft Ginger Cookies

  • sugar
  • orange juice
  • baking soda
  • cinnamon
  • egg
  • butter
  • clove
  • butter crisco
  • molasses
  • salt
  • ginger
  • all purpose flour
  • sugar
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Double-Rye Ginger Cookies

  • salt
  • light brown sugar
  • egg
  • egg yolk
  • confectioners sugar
  • all purpose flour
  • rye flour
  • candied ginger
  • cinnamon
  • clove
  • salt
  • molasses
  • rye whisky
  • baking soda
  • ginger
  • butter

Ingredient Breakdown

 
salt
sugar
egg
all purpose flour
baking soda
ginger
butter
molasses
cinnamon
clove
candied ginger
light brown sugar
nutmeg
turbinado
butter crisco
milk chocolate bar
turbinado sugar
cherry
dutch process cocoa powder
grapeseed
orange zest
ground hibiscus
edible flower petal
water
margarine
raisin
brown sugar
powdered cinnamon
powdered ginger
powdered clove
guar gum
gluten-free flour
vegetable shortening
allspice
honey
white pepper
crystallized ginger
orange juice
egg yolk
confectioners sugar
rye flour
rye whisky
cocoa powder
coconut oil
baking powder
bittersweet chocolate

Insights

Staple Ingredients

  • salt 80%
  • sugar 80%

Common Ingredients

  • all purpose flour 70%
  • baking soda 70%
  • egg 70%
  • ginger 70%

Rarey Ingredients

  • butter 50%
  • molasses 50%