These ginger cream cookies are delicious and soft with the classic flavors of ginger and molasses. Perfect for Christmastime, they’ve become a family tradition in our house.
Why I Love This Recipe
While I will always make my old-fashioned chewy molasses cookies and easy homemade chocolate chip cookies each year, I’m sharing another Christmas favorite recipe.
As you know, I have a thing for browsing through old recipe books. A handful of years ago, my mother gave me my great-great-grandmother’s cookbook, and I’ve been pouring through the recipes, little by little, ever since.
The descriptions, the little stars by recipes she must have tried or especially loved, help connect me to a woman I’ve never met but who helped shape the woman I am through the generations of my family.
It’s little traditions like this that help me keep their spirit alive and remember them well each year. Not to mention, these cookies are delicious! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
Tips for Making Ginger Cream Cookies
Making these ginger cream cookies is extremely simple. Follow these cookie baking tips to make sure your cookies come out perfectly light and fluffy each and every time:
- Room Temperature Butter – If you’re like me, you generally forget to take out your butter prior to baking cookies, but it really does help to have it at room temperature. Set it by your woodstove (if you have one) to soften or take a quart-size Mason jar and fill it with super-hot water. Dump the water out and set it over a stick of butter with the wrapper still on. The residual heat from the jar will help soften the butter more quickly. Alternatively, pop it in the microwave for a few seconds at a time until soft.
- Room Temperature Egg – If you can have your egg at room temperature, too, that’s best (but not mandatory). Drop your egg in lukewarm water to bring it to room temperature quickly.
- Chill the Dough – I know it sounds counter-intuitive to use room-temperature ingredients and then chill the dough. Trust me here, follow the process! If you don’t chill the dough, your cookies will likely end up flat, and we’re looking for thicker, softer cookies, not flatter, chewier cookies.
- Ice When Warm – Ice the cookies when they’re still slightly warm. This will help the icing spread out evenly over the cookie, which gives them that classic, smooth top.
- Icing Consistency – When mixing up the icing, be sure to add more hot water or more sugar to obtain the perfect icing consistency. We’re looking for an icing that drizzles off the end of a spoon but is not so thin that it slides off too quickly and doesn’t coat the spoon well.
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How to Make Ginger Cream Cookies
Supplies Needed
- Bowl(s) – If you’re not using a stand mixer, having two large bowls is necessary. You’ll also want a smaller bowl for mixing the icing.
- Whisk – Handy for whisking together the dry ingredients before adding them to the wet ingredients.
- Spatula – I like using a spatula if I’m not using a stand mixer (with a paddle attachment). It’s easier to scrape down the sides of the bowl and make sure all ingredients are well incorporated without overmixing the dough.
- Cookie Scoop – Every kitchen needs a cookie scoop! It creates the same-sized cookies so they all bake evenly.
- Cookie Sheet & Parchment Paper – We’re baking cookies, so we’ll need a cookie sheet. If you have silicone baking mats, these are great, otherwise line the sheet with parchment paper to keep the cookies from sticking.
Ingredients Needed
This recipe uses simple ingredients, ones almost every farm and homestead would have had on hand. This is especially true of molasses, as sugar wasn’t as easily afforded or found.
For the Cookies
- Softened Butter – Room temperature butter is best.
- Sugar – Though the traditional recipe wouldn’t have called for sugar, they do taste best with a bit of granulated sugar added to the batter.
- Egg – A room temperature egg is best.
- Molasses – Any molasses will do. If you’re looking for a richer molasses flavor, go for a dark blackstrap molasses. If you want less of a molasses flavor, choose a lighter variety.
- Water – Filtered water will do.
- Flour – I use all-purpose organic flour for this recipe.
- Salt – You know I love my Redmond Real Salt! Use that link and coupon code “Pioneering” at checkout for 15% off your order.
- Baking Soda – Don’t skip the baking soda, this allows the cookies to get the nice rise we’re looking for (no flat cookies here).
- Ground Ginger, Nutmeg & Cinnamon – The classic Christmas spice trio. Don’t be tempted to leave any of them out! The three spices used together gives these cookies their delicious spice.
For the Maple Icing
- Confectioners Sugar – If you don’t have any confectioner’s sugar (also known as powdered sugar), you can make your own! Simply blitz regular granulated sugar in a high-powered blender until light and fluffy.
- Maple Syrup – I love the maple flavor combined with the ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon spice.
- Hot Water – Use more or less water depending on the desired consistency of the icing. Remember, this is more of a glaze than a frosting, so it will be thinner.
Step-by-Step Directions
For the Cookies
- Mix butter, sugar, egg, molasses and water together in a large bowl.
- Stir dry ingredients together in a medium bowl and combine with wet ingredients. It will feel like a wet dough.
- Chill dough for at least 15 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Drop dough by teaspoonfuls on a lightly greased or parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
- Bake 8 minutes or until hardly no imprint remains when lightly touched.
- While slightly warm frost with maple-flavored icing.
For the Icing
- Blend maple syrup and hot water together in a small bowl.
- Add sugar and stir until smooth. Pro Tip: If it’s too thick, add more hot water. Too thin, add more sugar.
- Spread on cookies with a spatula or drizzle over each cookie.
More Cookie Recipes
On the hunt for more yummy cookie recipes? Look no further!
- 10 Christmas Cookie Recipes (with 7 gluten-free options)!
- Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
- Grandma’s Easy Oatmeal Macaroons
- Great-Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Chewy Molasses Cookies
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
Ginger Cream Cookies with Maple Icing
These ginger cream cookies are delicious and soft with the classic flavors of ginger and molasses. Perfect for Christmastime, they've become a family tradition in our house.
Equipment
- Cookie Sheet
- Large Mixing Bowl or stand mixer
- Wooden Spoon or Spatula
- Cookie Scoop optional, but helpful for evenly sized cookies
Ingredients
Ginger Cream Cookies
- 1/3 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg or freshly grated
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Maple Icing
- 1 cup confectioners sugar (don't have any, make your own)
- 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 Tablespoon hot water
Instructions
For the Cookies
- Mix butter, sugar, egg, molasses and water together in a large bowl.
- Stir dry ingredients together in a medium bowl and combine with wet ingredients. It will feel like a wet dough.
- Chill dough for at least 15 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Drop by teaspoonfuls on a lightly greased or parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
- Bake 8 minutes or until hardly no imprint remains when lightly touched.
- While slightly warm frost with maple-flavored icing.
For the Icing
- Blend maple syrup and hot water together.
- Add sugar and stir. Pro Tip: If it's too thick, add more hot water. Too thin, add more sugar.
- Spread on cookies with a spatula or drizzle over the top of the cookies.
Notes
Tips for Making Ginger Cream Cookies
Making these ginger cream cookies is extremely simple. Follow these tips to make sure your cookies come out perfectly light and fluffy each and every time:
- Room Temperature Butter – If you’re like me, you generally forget to take out your butter prior to baking cookies, but it really does help to have it at room temperature. Set it by your woodstove (if you have one) to soften or take a quart-size Mason jar and fill it with super-hot water. Dump the water out and set it over a stick of butter with the wrapper still on. The residual heat from the jar will help soften the butter more quickly. Alternatively, pop it in the microwave for a few seconds at a time until soft.
- Room Temperature Egg – If you can have your egg at room temperature, too, that’s best (but not mandatory). Drop your egg in lukewarm water to bring it to room temperature quickly.
- Chill the Dough – I know it sounds counter-intuitive to use room-temperature ingredients and then chill the dough. Trust me here, follow the process! If you don’t chill the dough, your cookies will likely end up flat, and we’re looking for thicker, softer cookies, not flatter, chewier cookies.
- Ice When Warm – Ice the cookies when they’re still slightly warm. This will help the icing spread out evenly over the cookie, which gives them that classic, smooth top.
- Icing Consistency – When mixing up the icing, be sure to add more hot water or more sugar to obtain the perfect icing consistency. We’re looking for an icing that drizzles off the end of a spoon but is not so thin that it slides off too quickly and doesn’t coat the spoon well.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cookieCalories: 61kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.4gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 49mgPotassium: 60mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 45IUVitamin C: 0.003mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 0.4mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
These cookies are AMAZING and the maple icing is just PERFECT! Your recipes have never disappointed, but this has just raised the bar!
My favorite cookie is “Russian Tea Cookie”. My favorite verse is hard to choose because I love so many. I see many people have chosen Proverbs 3:5-6. I love that too.
Thank you for the Ginger Cream Maple Icing recipe
Melissa, I just wanted to tell you that you do inspire me. I am 74 and still like to do some cooking and canning (I just learned how). It is great to be inspired by a young Christian girl. Keep up the good work! Merry Christmas to you and your family!!
Thank you so much Dahleen and I love hearing you’re stepping into canning. Merry Christmas!
I made your Ginger Cream cookies. Just wanted to say thank you for sharing the recipe, they are really good.
So glad you enjoyed them Katherine! I love finding new to me old-fashioned recipes. 🙂
[…] Ginger Creams with Maple Icing […]
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to mention that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing in your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!
My favorite verse is Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. It has helped me through many difficulties!
And my favorite Christmas cookie is gingerbread. I will have to try your recipe! 🙂
Definitely molasses cookies – something about them this time of year just warms my soul.
My favorite verse that I always refer back to is:
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Merry “Early” Christmas Melissa!
My favorite Christmas cookie is the Old Fashion Cut Out Sugar Cookies with Icing! My Aunt makes them every year and they are so tasty!
Love to make chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. Grams recipe of course. I have a new favorite bible verse that I read just today that seems very fitting in my life. Isaiah 43:38 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up: do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert & streams in the wasteland.” The is ONE Who loves you, not because of what you have said, done or thought, but IN SPITE of what you said, did or thought.
I love Isaiah. And this scripture fits perfectly with what I’m writing about for tomorrow. Chocolate chip and oatmeal are always a good pair.
Melissa,
Your cookies sound really good. I make whole wheat molasses cookies but have never made the maple icing, which will be delicious.
The promise of a Savior in Genesis 3:15: ” And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
I still have my Mother’s recipe for Peanut Butter Candy, the only candy she made for my sisters and me: 1/2 box powdered sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 T peanut butter, and enough milk to make a dough.
Cover wax paper with powdered sugar. Mix the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk; roll flat on the wax paper, and cover with peanut butter. Roll up and slice. Enjoy!
Thank you.
Christmas Blessings,
Linda
What a fun recipe!! I’m going to try it as my husband adores peanut butter. And I grind my own flour, for these cookies, I used organic soft white wheat berries, and they turn out great. I’ve found I prefer the taste of whole wheat ground flour in baked goods, it gives it an almost nutty flavor.
Thank you for sharing your verse and recipe.
We bake only with freshly-milled whole wheat. My son actually began this 8-9 years ago, and we love that nutty flavor also. We experiment a lot with the whole wheat, and sometimes I like a blend of soft white and hard in cookies. I’ve read that one cannot make pie crust very well with whole wheat, but I love it also for that.
So nice to meet you.
Linda
Welcome, Kim! John 3:16 is a popular favorite, for good reason. I look forward to getting to know you here.
The chain is fun and sweet. Gingerbread are always fun. I’d like to bake some for ornaments, but we usually end up eating them too fast.
Thanks, Sonja.
Can I get on your gift list for the cookies? 🙂 I love giving and getting baked goods. So much wisdom in those Proverbs.
Bonnie,
Welcome! That chess bar sounds delicious. If you care to share the recipe, I would love to take a peek. 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoy the website and I look forward to chatting with you here.
That is a beautiful life verse. Knowing we have Him for us makes any situation easier to deal with. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your recipe! These cookies sound delightful!
My favorite verse is Hebrews 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
To me this is just the whole definition of God’s love to me. To be an anchor for my soul… firm and secure!
My favorite cookie is just a plain ole sugar cookie (but they have to be soft!)
Oops! Favorite is John 3:16!
I just discovered your blog. I am so glad Ifound it!!!! Than you for a beautiful site and contest.
I have been really enjoying this. The recipes the verses. Can’t wait to make the chain. These cookies look so yummy they are a must do. My favorite verse is Phil 4:13
Blessings
[email protected]
I like to make gingerbread men. They are so good.
James 1:5 is my choice! Yes, I love your comment about the peace and joy! Wonderful recipe, as well!
I am going to try this recipe for sure.
My favorite verse(s) is Proverbs 3: 5,6, which are my life verses.
My favorite Christmas cookie is a Pecan cookie that I’ve been making for over 20 years. It’s very popular and I give tons of them as gifts.
Hi, Melissa! I love everything about your cookie recipe – the spices, molasses, & maple syrup! Will certainly be making these! I have a cookbook from my grandmother, & one of my favorite cookie recipes from it is a bar cookie called a chess bar. It’s very rich, & delicious!
You have a beautiful website – I checked out everything, & signed up for your blog, & newsletter. You are a very versatile, & creative, young lady, & have a lot of interesting articles on your site.
Another wonderful verse: Psalm 4:8 – “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust.” This verse speaks such peace, calmness, & comfort to me – it tells me that, by putting my faith in Him, I need not fear, as He has everything under control, & will direct my path.
Thanks, Melissa, for your part in Mountain Hearth Christmas – it is so enjoyable!
We need ideas for a Christmas Brunch for the women and girls at our church. Favorite verses would be nice to share. Recently mine is Isaiah 26:3 He will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him.
Hi Melissa! How wonderful to have your great-great-grandmother’s cookbook! What a treasure! The ginger creams look fantastic and I can already smell them baking!!
The verse I am sharing today is Habakkuk 3:18. “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
One of my favorite verses is Luke 1:37
For with God nothing will be impossible.
One of my favorite Christmas cookies are powder sugared walnut snowball cookies.
A favorite bible verse is Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
A favorite cookie is sugar cookies at Christmas.
Thanks for sharing your recipe and blog.
I am giving each of you a different verse. You get 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
We must choose not to waste our suffering.
As for a cookie, every year I make cranberry Neiman Marcus bars (because they are so rich).
I just want to say, I love cooking and sharing what I whip up, to me the holidays are the best, Family, friends,and just time to all be together. Cooking is one thing, but watching the family enjoy is the best…
Glad to have fond this site…Have a Bless Day.
Bill.
I’m tired of ruining my clothes when I cook. I’m going to need the apron for trying all of your home made recipes.
I do love a good molasses cookie and these ones look divine! I love even more the connection you have with your great-great-grandmother through her recipe book. That is so beautiful! Thank you for pioneering this wonderful idea and the spirit behind it. It’s been such a joy to be a part of it with you all.
I love to make no bake cookies and potato candy!!
German Pfferneuse–was my grandmother’s recipe & my Mom made them every year Thanksgiving weekend & “hid” a decoy container, where my Dad would find it, but she hid the rest until Christmas! The recipe calls for “sweet cream” & I had to ask my Mom what that was, 40 yrs ago when I first made the recipe–she said it was the cream that rose to the top of the milk bottle! So I asked what she used–1/2 & 1/2!
Barb, would you care to share the recipe here? It sounds amazing.
My favorite Psalm!!
Amen, God gave us many to choose from.
My husband agrees with you.
I think it’s only fair if you share the recipe, Trish.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy them. And I love to read the Christmas story straight from the Bible, too.
What is this, an Egg Nog coookie? Do share please.
PS 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty!
My favorite verse is Micah 7:8
Subscribed and subscribed. No favorite verse. Many fill top billing.
Thank you for this post. My fave verse is John 3:16.
Psalm 4:8. Any cookies with chocolate in it!
I make something called Gramma’s Chocolate cookies every year. So yummy!
Melissa these sound really good and they are going on my list for Christmas goodies. One of my favorite Christmas passages would be Luke 2:11 – For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. I am so fond of the story of the birth of Christ that I find it hard to pick just one. 🙂 Praying God’s blessings for you and yours.
My favorite bible verse is Proverbs 3:5 & 6.
Egg Nog cookie.
My favorite bible verse is Proverbs 3:5 & 6.
My fav. verse is Jeremiah 29:11 and the cookie recipe I make at the holidays which my hubby loves is Jam Thumbprint Macaroons. It is a recipe from Ina Garten from Food Network
Thank you for the recipe and idea that I’ll share with my family and friends. My favorite bible verse is Psalm 37:4, Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
I will add this recipe to the cookies I bake this year. My mom started a tradition of baking assorted baked goods and each year adding a new item. I am excited about this recipe because I love maple.
Tina, I always like to try out a new cookie, too. Happy this one made it into your mix.
Melissa. These cookies look absolutely AMAZING! Gosh, I’m wishing more and more this were a real, live, in-person cookie exchange/get-together. Thank you so much for including me as part of your joyous idea! You, my friend, are brilliant, and bake sugary goodness, and spill truth and light onto those around you. I’m thankful for you!
I think we need a Mountain Girl retreat for baking, chatting, tea/coffee drinking, Bible study, and some writing time. I’m thankful for you and your graphic talent has me in awe. Can’t wait to hop over to your blog tomorrow as it’s one of the most refreshing spots on the web!
Any chance there will be a contest with print copies of books?
Bonnie, not this year on the Homemade Christmas, but you can print it out yourself. Pioneering Today-Faith and Home the Old Fashioned Way is available in print, In fact, Amazon is now offering a free digital copy with every print copy purchased.
Any chance there will be a contest with print copies of books?
Any chance there will be a contest with print copies of books?
I have so many favorite verses but this verse speaks to me as I prepare for my kids coming home to celebrate Christ birth. I’m reminded that He’s preparing for my homecoming too.
John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” NIV
I think one of my favorite cookies would be Date Nut Pinwheels.
Tammy,
Care to share the recipe. Those sound yummy and I haven’t had them before. And what a sweet reminder that God is preparing a place for us.
Proverbs 3:5-6
I love sugar cookies!
My favorite Bible verse is Joshua 1:9. My favorite Christmas cookies are my grandmas sugar cookies made with brown sugar!
Brown sugar gives such a moist texture to baked goods. Thanks for sharing!
Good morning Melissa!! This recipe looks fantastic! I love ginger and can’t wait to try it. One of my favorite recipes is one I found on Pinterest for mini gingersnap cheesecakes. Sooooo yummy. You press the dough into mini cupcake cups in a mini cupcake pan and fill with a cream cheese mix.
Now for my verse: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:5
Ever have one of those days where you start off thanking the Lord the minute you wake up but soon find yourself burdened? I use this verse on those days to give myself a good talking to. A good Pastor friend of ours preached a sermon called “Excuse Me?” He was using it in a way that points it back at ourselves. Some days our spirits need to rise up inside of us, take offense for our thoughts and behaviors and say “Excuse me?” You serve a great and powerful God, full of mercy and grace, He has redeemed you, saved you, died for you and so much more and you’re being like this? He deserves our highest praise at all times.
Have and blessed day lady and thanks again for recipe. I’m having a great time with this blog hop.
Kristie
Kristie,
What a powerful reminder on how we need to take hold of our thoughts, even when we don’t feel like it, and focus on the wonders and gifts our God has graced us with. Thank you for that!
And those mini-cheesecakes sounds divine. I’m a Pinterest lover myself. 🙂
Oops! I got so excited about the cookies, I forgot to leave a favorite Bible verse. My current favorite is Ephesians 3:20-21. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Love this verse Karen!!
I’m giggling at the maple comment. I have a secret relationship with maple, I even sneak it into my sugar cookie dough…
And that is a great verse!
Maple icing??? *Gasp!* I have to try these!!!
Melissa, your ginger cream cookies sound delicious. I think I’ve gained weight lately just reading all these wonderful recipes! Thanks to all of you ladies for doing this!
lol, Georgianne, I thought the same thing. I’ve got a great line up now for the different cookie exchanges I go to during Christmas.
Oh goodness, a favorite Bible verse is so hard but possibly John 3:16 or Romans 10:13. My grandmother made a sugar cookie recipe with almond paste in it that is a favorite cookie at Christmas. I also just love the simple peanut butter blossoms! 🙂
I love almond flavoring and I bet it’s great in the cookie. Oh, yes, peanut butter makes everything taste better. And John 3:16 was the first verse I memorized as a child.
Mine too !
Beautiful post, Melissa. Your cookie sound wonderful and I will certainly print this out. Since my men are huge fans of maple bars I know they’ll enjoy it! Love hearing about your heirloom cookbook and recipes. Unending inspiration there!
Thanks, Laura. 🙂 I’m a fan of maple things, too, from the leaves to the goodies the tree provides.
This is such a great idea:) what a fun way to share a little festive fellowship and some yummy recipes:) My favorite recipe is chocolate chip cookie. I would like to share Psalm 139:14.I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works;
Rebecca
Thanks, Rebecca. I’m having so much fun seeing the other ladies recipes and hearing from all the readers. Plus, there’s been some great recipes shared in the comments. The Psalm’s have always been a great source of comfort for me, they’re one of my favorite books in the Bible.