Chocolate Ginger Cookies Recipe
These Chocolate Ginger Cookies combine rich cocoa and warm ginger spices for a perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavors. Soft, chewy, and rolled in sugar before baking, these cookies are dipped in melted dark chocolate and optionally topped with crystallized ginger for an extra zing. Ideal for holiday treats or anytime you crave a gourmet cookie with a spicy twist.
- Author: Elena
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 27 minutes (including chilling and cooling time)
- Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1/4 cup (22g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 and 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup (12 Tbsp; 170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup (150g) packed light or dark brown sugar (recommend dark)
- 1/3 cup (80ml) unsulphured or dark molasses (do not use blackstrap; Grandma’s brand preferred)
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Other Ingredients
- 1/3 cup (67g) granulated sugar, for rolling
- 4–6 ounces (113–170g) semi-sweet or dark chocolate, finely chopped
- Optional: 2 Tablespoons (30g) finely chopped crystallized ginger
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, and salt until fully combined. Set this mixture aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and brown sugar on high speed for about 3 minutes until creamy and well combined.
- Add Molasses, Egg, and Vanilla: Mix in the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract. Beat until fully incorporated, scraping down the bowl sides as needed. The mixture might look a bit curdled, which is normal.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Slowly add the dry ingredient mix to the wet ingredients on low speed. Mix just until combined. The dough will be thick and sticky.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the dough tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 3 days to firm up. Chilling is crucial given the sticky consistency.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Set your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking.
- Shape Cookies: Remove dough from the fridge; if chilled longer than 2 hours, allow it to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes to prevent minimal spreading. Portion about 1.5 tablespoons (30g) of dough per cookie, roll into balls, then roll each ball in granulated sugar. Arrange the dough balls 3 inches apart on baking sheets.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes or until the edges appear set but the cookies remain soft in the center.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Melt Chocolate: Once fully cooled, melt the chopped chocolate either using a double boiler or microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring after each, until smooth.
- Dip Cookies in Chocolate: Dip half of each cookie into the melted chocolate, and if desired, drizzle any leftover chocolate on top. Sprinkle with optional finely chopped crystallized ginger while the chocolate is still wet.
- Set Chocolate: Allow the chocolate to harden completely at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
- Storage: Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
Notes
- Use dark brown sugar and unsulphured molasses for the best flavor depth.
- Chilling the dough is essential to handle the sticky consistency and to help the cookies hold their shape during baking.
- Semi-sweet or dark chocolate works best for dipping; milk chocolate will be too sweet.
- The optional crystallized ginger adds a nice spicy crunch and visual appeal.
- Do not use blackstrap molasses as it can make the cookies overly bitter.
- To cream butter and sugar properly, ensure butter is softened to room temperature but not melted for best texture.
Keywords: chocolate ginger cookies, ginger cookies, chocolate dipped cookies, molasses cookies, holiday cookies, spiced cookies