Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies – A Classic Holiday Cookie with a Soft, Spiced Center
Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies are one of those timeless holiday treats that instantly bring warmth, nostalgia, and festive cheer into the kitchen. With their signature crackled tops coated in powdered sugar and their soft, chewy centers packed with aromatic spices, these cookies capture everything people love about Christmas baking. Unlike traditional crisp gingerbread cookies that are rolled and cut, crinkle cookies are wonderfully simple, rustic, and forgiving—perfect for both experienced bakers and beginners.
These cookies balance sweetness with deep molasses flavor and bold spices like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. When baked, the dough spreads gently, creating beautiful cracks as the powdered sugar coating separates, giving them that iconic snowy appearance. They look elegant on cookie platters, irresistible in gift boxes, and comforting alongside a warm mug of tea or coffee.
Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies are especially popular during the winter holidays because they stay soft for days, making them ideal for make-ahead baking. They also freeze beautifully, which means less stress during the busiest time of year. Whether baked for Christmas parties, cookie exchanges, or cozy evenings at home, these cookies never fail to impress.
Why Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies Are So Popular
The appeal of Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies goes beyond taste. Their visual charm plays a big role—each cookie looks slightly different, creating a homemade, artisan feel. The contrast between the dark gingerbread dough and the bright powdered sugar cracks gives them a festive, snow-dusted appearance that feels straight out of a holiday magazine.
From a texture standpoint, these cookies strike the perfect balance. The exterior is lightly crisp, while the inside stays soft and almost cake-like. This texture comes from the moisture in molasses and brown sugar, combined with careful baking time that prevents over-drying.
Flavor-wise, gingerbread spices are deeply comforting. Ginger adds warmth, cinnamon provides sweetness, nutmeg rounds everything out, and cloves offer a hint of intensity. Together, they create a layered flavor profile that feels complex yet familiar.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Ground ginger
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground nutmeg
- Ground cloves (optional but recommended)
- Unsalted butter, softened
- Brown sugar, packed
- Molasses
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- Granulated sugar (for rolling)
- Powdered sugar (for crinkle coating)
Each ingredient plays an important role. Molasses provides depth and moisture, brown sugar enhances chewiness, and the spice blend gives these cookies their signature gingerbread character.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. The dough will be soft and slightly sticky.
- Chill the dough for at least 1 hour. This step is essential for proper crinkling and easy handling.
- Scoop dough into uniform balls. Roll each ball first in granulated sugar, then generously in powdered sugar.
- Place dough balls on prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, until cookies are set on the edges but still soft in the center.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips for Perfect Crinkle Cookies
- Chill the dough thoroughly: Warm dough spreads too quickly and reduces the crinkle effect.
- Double sugar coating: Rolling in granulated sugar before powdered sugar helps prevent the powdered sugar from melting into the dough.
- Do not overbake: The cookies will continue to set as they cool. Overbaking leads to dryness.
- Use fresh spices: Old spices lose potency, resulting in dull flavor.
Variations and Flavor Twists
- Orange Gingerbread Crinkles: Add orange zest to the dough for a bright citrus note.
- Chocolate Gingerbread Crinkles: Mix cocoa powder into the dry ingredients for a deeper flavor.
- Spiced Sugar Coating: Add a pinch of cinnamon to the powdered sugar for extra warmth.
- Gluten-Free Version: Use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour with excellent results.
Serving Suggestions
Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies pair beautifully with hot beverages like coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. They’re perfect for holiday dessert boards, cookie tins, or as a simple dessert after winter meals. Their soft texture also makes them kid-friendly and ideal for gifting.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freeze baked cookies for up to 2 months.
- Freeze unbaked dough balls (before sugar coating) and bake directly from frozen with an extra minute added.
A Brief Cultural Note on Gingerbread
Gingerbread dates back centuries and has roots in European baking traditions, particularly in Germany and England. Over time, it evolved into many forms, from cakes to cookies to decorative houses. Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies are a modern twist that preserves the classic spice profile while offering a softer, more approachable texture.
Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices.
- Cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add egg, molasses, and vanilla.
- Mix in dry ingredients until just combined. Chill dough for 1 hour.
- Roll dough balls in granulated sugar, then powdered sugar.
- Bake 10–12 minutes until set. Cool on wire rack.
