The BEST Ginger Cookies (or Ginger Biscuits) with a perfect ‘snap’. Easy to make and utterly delicious. One of our absolute favourites at Gluten Free Alchemist. Gluten free. Optional dairy free.
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The BEST gluten free Ginger Cookies
These gluten free Ginger Cookies are AMAZING. In fact, they are quite possibly the most popular gluten free cookies we make at Gluten Free Alchemist. Certainly, at Christmas!
Rich with warming ginger and a little cinnamon, these Ginger Cookies are classically flavoured. Like the best molasses biscuits, they have a rich, earthy depth from the black treacle they contain. And with an additional twinkle from the sugar crystals on their crackled surface, they are up there with the best for both beauty and texture. And yes… They really ARE gluten free.
They also have a perfect ‘snap’! If you want one that is. The texture of these cookies is crisp and crunchy. But cook them for a little less time and you will have the option of a softer cookie too. Maybe I should have called them ‘best of both worlds ginger cookies’?
Ginger Cookies or Ginger Biscuits?
I’ve called them Ginger Cookies, but are they actually Ginger Biscuits? Depending on where in the world you live, they are sure to be one or the other… or maybe even both. It’s an interesting language conundrum.
In the UK, I grew up with ‘biscuits’. Always biscuits. Cookies only entered my consciousness when the Cookie Monster appeared in Sesame Street on my TV screen. And the Cookie Monster was a furry animal thing! Consequently, as a child I didn’t actually make any semantic connection with the sweet, flat treats we continued to call biscuits.
So, when did they start to morph into ‘cookies’? When did they adopt an American persona? I really have no idea. But somewhere along the road of treat-eating life, the supermarket shelves became stacked with them… And the term ‘cookies’ entered popular British language.
Is there a difference between Ginger Biscuits and Cookies?
I’ve trawled the internet on this one… Ginger Biscuits and Ginger Cookies appear to be involved in an infinite name swap regardless of texture and ingredients. But when thinking more deeply about my own use of the word, biscuits tend to be distinguished from cookies by their crunchiness. Or is that just me?
Biscuits are crisp with a good ‘snap’. And you hear them crunching loudly in your ears when you eat them. Cookies have a tendency to be soft and quite chewy as well as often spreading more when they bake so that they have a less defined shape.
Both of course, are yummy. And whether to eat a ‘biscuit’ or ‘cookie’ will often depend on mood… Or what they are being eaten with. Ice cream, mousse, brûlée and other soft desserts demand the crunch of a ‘biscuit’. But ‘cookies’ can be eaten as pudding on their own and often seem sweeter, larger and more filling.
Whichever you prefer, this Ginger Cookie or Biscuit recipe can be either. They taste fantastic whether crunchy or soft. The only difference is 3 to 5 minutes extra bake-time for a snappier result.
A perfect food gift
One of the reasons that these particular gluten free ginger biscuits are an annual make at Gluten Free Alchemist, is because they make the perfect food gift. They are easy to prepare and can be made well ahead of Christmas. Bag them up with a pretty ribbon or pop them in a gorgeous tin and they will look as professional and artisan a gift as any other. Whether given to someone gluten free or not, they are devoured either way. Even my late mother (who was very particular and actually quite critical) used to love these ginger cookies.
They really do look as good as they taste. And there is no masquerade behind the sparkle. But beware… they are very very moreish. And you may find the pile ‘evaporates’ as quick as it appeared. Perhaps they are magic too?
What particular ingredients do I need to make these Ginger Biscuits?
Like many recipes, this one requires a few ‘ginger biscuit’ staples. In particular, ginger and cinnamon spice, as well as Black Treacle (also known as Molasses) and some golden syrup.
Being gluten free, they also require a gluten free flour blend. You could probably make them with a bog-standard gluten free flour mix from the supermarket. However, to get the texture and flavour of these ginger cookies as delicious as possible, I blended the flour uniquely for the recipe. I make no apology… Sometimes perfection demands creativity. And the particular combination of flours listed produced a biscuit which has stood the test of many years making both for consistency and enjoyment.
By all means make them with an alternative blend… But be aware that any changes to the recipe may create a very different result.
Can I make them ‘Free From’?
This recipe for ginger cookies is gluten free and nut free and can easily be made dairy free too. Just use a simple substitution of butter for a good quality dairy free alternative. They do however contain egg as a binder, so they are not vegan. Although I have never tried myself, it may be possible to substitute the egg for either aqua faba or an alternative egg substitute. For anyone who gives it a try, let me know how it goes.
Here’s my recipe for gluten free Ginger Cookies (or Ginger Biscuits)
It is with lots of love that I share my recipe for gluten free Ginger Cookies. They have been baked at GFHQ many times since they first made their appearance on the blog back in 2016. And I truly hope that some of you choose to make them and enjoy them as much as we have.
If you do make them, please let me know… Leave a comment or rate the recipe… And tag me on social media too. You can always find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest. #glutenfreealchemist.
Other Gingery Cookies & Biscuits on Gluten Free Alchemist
Ginger Cookies (Biscuits)
Key equipment
- silicone/wooden spoon or spatula
- fridge
- Oven
Ingredients
- 60 g white rice flour fine
- 60 g brown rice flour fine
- 60 g cornflour (cornstarch)
- 60 g sweet rice flour (Mochiko aka glutinous rice flour)
- 60 g tapioca starch flour
- ½ tsp xanthan gum
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- ¼ tsp baking powder gluten free
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 1¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¾ tsp ground cinnamon
- 170 g unsalted butter softened or dairy free alternative
- 200 g granulated sugar
- 45 g molasses black treacle
- 45 g golden syrup
- 1 large egg UK large
- granulated sugar for rolling (extra)
Instructions
- Weigh and combine the flours, xanthan gum, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder, salt and spices, mixing well to thoroughly combine. (TIP: weigh into an airtight container and shake vigorously). Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and granulated sugar with an electric whisk, until pale and fluffy.
- Add the molasses and golden syrup and beat well.
- Then add the egg and beat again to thoroughly combine.
- Add and fold in the dry ingredients until the mixture comes together as a sticky dough.
- Transfer the dough onto a sheet of baking paper or cling film, wrap and chill for about an hour to firm up.
- Pre-heat the oven to 180 C/350 F/Gas 4.
- Line a couple of baking sheets with baking paper.
- Pour a little extra granulated sugar into a bowl ready for dipping the cookies.
- Take the chilled dough and roll small pieces into walnut-sized balls.
- Roll each ball in the sugar and flatten with the palm of your hand to a disc about 5 cm/2 inches in diameter.
- Place on the baking sheets allowing a little room (a couple of cm either side) for spreading.
- Bake for about 15 minutes or until the cookies are firming up on the top. For a crunchier cookie, bake for an extra 3 (approx) minutes, but be careful not to let the edges burn. They will crisp up further as they cool.
- Remove from the oven and leave on the trays to cool for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Notes
Nutrition
© 2019-2023 Kate Dowse All Rights Reserved – Do not copy or re-publish this recipe or any part of this recipe on any other blog, on social media or in a publication without the express permission of Gluten Free Alchemist
Kate,
These cookies look so amazing. Congratulations, you are being featured on Over The Moon Party. I hope you stop by.
Hugs,
Bev
Thank you SO much Beverly. That’s fantastic news.
And thanks for all the hard work in hosting. It’s always much appreciated x
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Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
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Hope you had a great Christmas and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday,516. We hope to see you back here again soon!
Miz Helen
Thank you Helen. You’re very welcome x
These look the business. I think any biscuit can be called a cookie but not every cookie can be called a biscuit as you say biscuit must be crisp and crunchy. I ve found cookies that are crisp and most which are soft and chewy. Thank you for linking up this and so many fabulous recipes to #CookBlogShare over the time I have been hosting.
Thank you Jacqui. That’s a very good way fo summing it up x
Merry Christmas to you and yours xx
These look so pretty and tempting. Love the photos – very stylish! To me biscuits is the English term and cookies is the American term. I have to admit I do use them interchangeably. Thanks for entering AlphaBakes.
Thanks Ros. Terminology can be confusing!
Mmm..they do look good! Love the addition of ginger, I am in love with this root at the moment, I have it every morning grated with lemon juice. I find it quite addictive.
Nice photography x
Thanks Alida. I agree. Ginger is pretty amazing!
They are most definitely biscuits in our house! We are far too northern to call them cookies! They look amazing whatever they are called though. Thanks again for joining in with #Bakeoftheweek New Roundup now open x
Good to hear that Helen! 'Biscuits' are good with me! Will check out the roundup! xx
DEEEEELICOUS! I LOVE these and the photos are STUNNING too! Thanks so much for entering them into Tea Time Treats! Karen xxx
Awww…Thanks Karen, you're more than welcome!
I regularly bake gluten free cakes but I have not dared try gluten free biscuits yet. But after seeing these I must give it a go! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Oooohhhh Kirsty….. you must try GF biscuits! They can be a little tricky to find a good texture, but you could do a lot worse than start with these!!
Wow these are so pretty and beautifully uniform! It's biscuits all the way for me, all these 'Americanisms' grate on me!!
Thanks Kat…… Yep! I agree…… the less 'Amercanisms' the better!
I agree with your biscuits and cookies descriptions – for me because there is something very american about choc chip cookies – we occasionally had them from a packet as kids but my mother who baked a lot never had them in her repertoire. So they were a particular name just like we had ginger snaps and tim tams. But now cookie has crept into Australian language in a way that makes me sad sometimes. Your biscuits look beautiful and sound delicious
Thanks Johanna….. I feel quite sad too that our beloved biscuits seem to have transmuted into 'cookies'…… seems like everything these days has become Americanised. I particularly notice it with the kids and the language they use…. I regularly try and 'correct' my daughter (to no avail)!
Mmm, yes please! These sound delicious with the ginger and cinnamon. I totally agree with your descriptive differences of biscuits and cookies. As children they were all biscuits too. When I first came across a 'cookie' in a shop man many years ago I thought to myself '…but isn't that a biscuit?'.
Angela x
Ha ha! Thanks Angela. The cookie-biscuit dilemma will run for a long time me thinks!