Oma's Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe – Gewürz-Plätzchen

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares easy, authentic German recipes you can trust, rooted in family tradition and featured in her cookbooks.

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This easy ginger snap cookies recipe, aka Gewürz-Plätzchen, has been a family favorite for years. It's one I made with my kids when there were young - easy and fun to make. 

It's like a molasses cookie recipe but more gingery. This is one of those cookies that Omas will love to make with their grandkids ... making memories!

Ginger Snaps (Gingersnaps) are made throughout the world ... with various recipes. Where this recipe below comes from, I'm not sure. It's been in our family for years. Not purely German, I don't think, but it's one we all love. 

Have the kids help with these ... :)

This is one of those easy recipes for kids to help with.

I particularly like bringing math into any baking I do with my granddaughters. Either we half the recipe or double it. In this case, we may just half it because the whole recipe makes lots. With 7 - 8 dozen, there's lots to share.

Because of that, it's a great one to learn division with. Makes it fun to calculate ½ of ¾ cups molasses, but we even have fun with that!

It's also fun to try to find just the right glass to flatten the dough. We go through several crystal glasses and sugar bowls and dessert bowls to find just the right one that will leave a pretty impression on the cookie.

Since the dough needs to be chilled, I either make it ahead of time, or else I make the dough with by granddaughters.

Then we play some Wii together, and then finish the cookies!

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If it's Christmas, I'll make the full amount, sometimes even double it. The cookies disappear so quickly at this time of year, that this becomes an easy recipe that tastes so Christmas-y with the spices.

Ready to make these ginger snap cookies?

Make her smile with a little German love

Print Recipe

Oma's Ginger Snap Cookies Recipe - Gewürz-Plätzchen

This easy ginger snap cookies recipe, aka Gewürz-Plätzchen, has been a family favorite for years. It's one I made with my kids when there were young. 

It's like a molasses cookie recipe but more gingery. And, if you like ginger, then you really also need to make these German gingerbread cookies.

Prep Time 20 minutes + chill time

Bake Time 11 minutes

Total Time 31 minutes + chill time

Servings:

Makes 7 - 8 dozen

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup shortening
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• ¾ cup molasses
• 3 cups flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• extra sugar (about ½ cup)

Instructions:

1. Beat shortening until creamy.
2. Add brown sugar, egg, and molasses.
3. Mix together dry ingredients and add to sugar mixture. Blend together.
4. Cover and chill dough.
5. Shape into balls (about 1-inch diameter) and roll in granulated sugar.
6. Place 2 inches apart on un-greased cookie sheets (or line with parchment paper)
7. Flatten with bottom of glass (dip in sugar to keep dough from sticking).
8. Bake at 350°F. for about 10 to 11 minutes.

Notes/Hints:

• Use a glass with a "crystal cut-glass base" to make a pretty design on the top of the cookies.
• For more gingery cookies, try these German gingerbread ones.

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Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

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Easy Ginger Snap Cookies made Just like Oma



By Oma Gerhild Fulson





Easy ginger snap cookies have been a family favorite for years. It's one I made as a child - easy and fun to make. Perfect to dunk into a glass of milk.


Ingredients: shortening, brown sugar, egg, molasses, flour, salt, baking soda, spices,

For the full recipe, scroll up ...

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Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.