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.

Jump to recipe ⇣

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!

From Oma's heart to your table

Complete your set today - order now!

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?

Print Recipe

Oma's Ginger Snap Cookies  (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:

1 hour

Bake Time:

11 minutes

Total Time:

1 hour 31 minutes

Servings:

makes 7-8 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup (143.3 g) shortening
• 1 cup (200 g) brown sugar
• 1 egg
• ¾ cup (255 g) molasses
• 3 cups (390 g) all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp (3 g) salt
• 2 tsp (12 g) baking soda
• ½ tsp (1 g) ground cloves
• 1 tsp (3 g) ground ginger
• 1 tsp (3 g) ground cinnamon
• about ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the shortening until creamy.
3. Add the brown sugar, egg, and molasses, and beat until well mixed.
4. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt, baking soda, ground cloves, ground ginger, and ground cinnamon. Add it to the sugar mixture and blend together.
5. Cover and chill the dough in the refrigerator for about an hour.
6. Shape the dough into balls, about 1-inch in diameter, and roll them in the granulated sugar.
7. Place the balls 2 inches apart on un-greased cookie sheets (or line them with parchment paper).
8. Flatten the balls with the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar (to keep the dough from sticking).
9. Bake for about 10 to 11 minutes, until golden.

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.

*  *  *  *  *

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

Recipe updated on May 8, 2025

Join Oma's Kaffeeklatsch

Come for coffee & cake (virtually!), & you’ll discover new things about German food, recipes, & all things German.

 

Get my “Top 10 Favorite German Recipes” ebook & more … all delivered free right to your inbox from me, Oma Gerhild 🥰

 

Email address

First name

CLICK TO JOIN NOW

Thanks for joining!

Keep your eyes on your inbox for my email. 

---

Follow Oma on Social Media:

instagramyoutubefacebookpinterest

Comments?  Questions?

You can leave a comment about this recipe or ask a question...

Pop right over to my private Facebook group, the Kaffeeklatschers. You'll find thousands of German foodies, all eager to help and to talk about all things German, especially these yummy foods. 

Meet with us around Oma's virtual table, pull up a chair, grab a coffee and a piece of Apfelstrudel, and enjoy the visit.

Recent Articles

• 
• 

1. Baked Pork Chops with Sauerkraut - Schweinekotelett & Sauerkraut

   May 18, 25 09:20 PM

   
   Oma’s baked pork chops with sauerkraut is an easy German dinner that’s quick to make. Adding both browned onion rings and apples are scrumptious additions to this traditional meal.

   Read More

2. Oma's Obsttorte, a German Fruit Flan Recipe

   May 18, 25 04:39 PM

   
   Oma's Obsttorte is a quick, easy and versatile fruit flan dessert that brings a touch of German tradition to your table. Enjoy!

   Read More

3. Easy German Asparagus Salad Recipe – Oma's Spargelsalat Rezept

   May 18, 25 10:58 AM

   
   Asparagus salad (spargelsalat) is a springtime classic in Germany ... light, fresh, and oh-so easy. Even Oma says it’s fancy without the fuss!

   Read More

---




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 ...

Let's connect...

From Oma's heart
to your table

Complete your set today - order now!

More about me >

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.