Oma's Ginger Snap Cookies (Gewürz-Plätzchen)

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares German recipes rooted in family tradition.

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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?

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:

7-8 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup (150 grams) shortening
• 1 cup (200 grams) brown sugar
• 1 egg
• ¾ cup (255 grams) molasses
• 3 cups (360 grams) all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon (3 grams) salt
• 2 teaspoon (12 grams) baking soda
• ½ teaspoon (1 grams) ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon (3 grams) ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon (3 grams) ground cinnamon
• about ½ cup (100 grams) 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.

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

Updated on November 20, 2025

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to your table

Complete your set today - order now!

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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.