Smoky Gingersnap Cookies

These gingersnap cookies have a subtle smoky flavor, for a twist on classic ginger snaps. Make this bacon fat cookie recipe for the holidays!

You’re probably asking yourself, “Did he just say bacon fat cookies?” Why yes I did! Bacon fat is an amazing substitute for butter. Its subtle, smokey undertones compliment the molasses and ginger flavors, creating irresistibly delicious gingersnaps.

Gingersnap cookies are a holiday favorite, especially on a Christmas cookie platter. Pair them with other favorite cookie recipes like rocky road cookies and chocolate cherry shortbread. If you’d like to make a different cookie with bacon fat, go for peanut butter bacon cookies– they’re amazing, too!

Smoky gingersnap cookies

This recipe is from former New York Times fashion critic, Cathy Horyn, as published on their website.

At first, I wondered the bacon flavor would overpower the other ingredients, but it really doesn’t! It adds a subtle smokiness, which I think pairs perfectly with the flavors of spicy ginger and rich molasses.

This is the perfect holiday cookie to serve to guests. Fair warning: you may have a lot of inquiries about what that special flavor is. You can decide whether or not to tell them what the secret ingredient is. I hope you’ll try this cookie recipe and love the gingersnap cookies as much as I do.

Ingredient notes and substitutions

• Molasses

Light or dark molasses may be used, but I do not recommend using blackstrap molasses unless you’re unable to find anything else. The flavor of blackstrap is much more bitter than traditional molasses.

• Bacon fat

I keep rendered bacon fat in a covered mason jar in my fridge, adding to it whenever I cook up bacon. It keeps in the fridge for several months. Rendering 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of bacon should yield enough fat for this recipe.

Bacon fat SUBSTITUTES: regular butter, lard, ghee, or plant based butter sticks.

Be sure to strain any bacon particles from the fat prior to chilling. It becomes solid when it’s cold, so it can be used as a fat replacement for nearly anything you would typically use butter for. I often render bacon to use the fat for Southern buttermilk biscuits.

• Flour

All purpose flour what I use. If you need a gluten-free substitute, any brand of 1:1 gluten free all purpose flour should work.

• Egg

Originally, ginger snaps were made without eggs, which is why the cookies were brittle. Eggs are a binding ingredient, but they also provide moisture. This is why so many gingersnap cookies these days are soft and chewy.

Eggless ginger snaps

If you’d like to make gingersnap cookies without any eggs, you can use a flax egg instead.

To make a flax egg, stir together 1 tablespoon of ground flax meal with 3 tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Let it sit for 15 minutes, and then use it just like an egg.

NOTE:
Typically when you use flax eggs, you should reduce any liquid called for in the recipe by 3 tablespoons. In the case of this gingersnap cookie recipe, there really isn’t a liquid to reduce except for the molasses. You can reduce that by 3 tablespoons OR add 1 extra tablespoon of flour instead.

Video: making gingersnap cookies

To see this recipe in action, watch the video located in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Recipe notes and tips

1. Use a food processor, if possible. This recipe makes a very stiff cookie dough. If you don’t have a food processor, I recommend using your hands instead.
   
   Wearing kitchen gloves will help prevent the bacon fat from melting under the heat of your hands. It also helps you avoid overworking the dough, which can cause the gingersnap cookies to be hard and tough.

2. Storing and freezing ginger snaps– Store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, and serve or freeze them within a few days. For longer storage, you can freeze gingersnaps for up to 3 months.

3. Softening hard cookies– After a few days, you may find that your cookies are dry and brittle. To soften the hard cookies, lightly moisten paper toweling with tap water and wrap the cookies inside (unstacked is best). Microwave on high power for 15 seconds and they should be soft, chewy and taste freshly baked from the oven!

This post, first published on Kevin Is Cooking Dec. 18, 2015, was last published with new content on Nov. 19, 2021.

Smoky Gingersnap Cookies + Video

These gingersnap cookies have a salty, smoky flavor for a twist on classic ginger snaps. Make this bacon fat cookie recipe for the holidays!

5 from 12 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 11 minutes

Dough chill time: 2 hours

Total Time: 26 minutes

Servings: 40

Calories: 90kcal

Author: Kevin Is Cooking

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup rendered bacon fat chilled (See Note 1)
• 1 cup sugar plus 1/4 cup for rolling
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 2 cups all purpose flour or 1:1 gluten-free all purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone Silpat liners.
• In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, add bacon fat, molasses, sugar and egg; pulse several times to combine.

  Add remaining ingredients and pulse until a smooth, stiff dough is formed. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
• Put 1/4 cup of sugar in a small bowl. Scoop a tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball with your hands. Drop into the sugar and roll to coat. Place on prepared pans. Repeat with remaining dough, Place 2 inches apart as they spread out as they bake.
• Bake until flat and a dark brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to finish cooling. Store cookies in an airtight container.

Notes

1. Rendering 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of bacon should yield enough bacon fat for this recipe. Or, substitute with regular butter, lard, ghee, or plant based butter sticks.

Recipe adapted from Julia Moskin’s recipe for Bacon Fat Gingersnaps in the New York Times. 

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Nutrition

Calories: 90kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 122mg | Potassium: 41mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg

Have you made this recipe? Let me know on InstagramTag @KevinIsCooking and hashtag me #keviniscooking!