The Recipe for Yummy Sugar Free Gingerbread Cookies (2024)

Published: · Modified: by thesugarfreediva. · This post may contain affiliate or amazon links.

A sugar free way to enjoy a holiday season favorite cookie.

See The Recipe

This Sugar Free Gingerbread Cookies is the perfect cookie recipe to get you through the holiday season.
I like that this recipe can be used for both cookies and for those cute ginger bread houses. Much as I like to decorate these cookies to make them look more festive, I also like to eat them plain.

Sugar Free Gingerbread Cookies

What is it about gingerbread cookies that makes it so popular during the holiday season?
The popularity of the gingerbread cookie probably has a lot to do with memories. By memories, I mean, visions from childhood of sitting around the kitchen and decorating cookies with grandma or mom. And of course, those gingerbread houses are something to talk about as well.

Gingerbread in itself refers to actually a wide range of yummy treats.
While we may not actually make a cookie or a bread with ginger itself, we like to think of it in a cookie. However, ginger is often an ingredient in gingerbread anything. There are other ingredients that we also see in gingerbread anything such as nutmeg, cinnamon, and molasses. Most importantly, we see sugar in gingerbread anything.

For me, the big hurdle in creating a sugar free gingerbread cookie is the molasses.

It is the molasses that gives gingerbread cookies that brown color and rich taste. When it comes to the effects of molasses on the blood sugar, there are experts who tell us that because black strap molasses is digested slower, it may not have the same effect as other sugar products. However, since blackstrap molasses is derived from sugar, it does have carbohydrates and calories.

If you are able to consume blackstrap molasses, you could use it in this recipe.
However, I am someone who will use an alternative to molasses. Yacon Syrup is a "fatfree sugarfree substitute for sugars, honey, sweet n low, stevia, equal, molasses, maple, corn, sugarcane syrups." Another option would be to use a sugar free syrup. You can easily find a variety of sugar free syrups online. You will also need to use aBrown Sugar Alternative as well. Hence, we will be attempting to make this as sugar free as possible.

Please note, that using a molasses substitute may not yield the same baked good as the original sugared version.
It will lead to a more tolerable cookie however. Thus, you may need to make a compromise on taste. I am willing to make that compromise.
You can read more about molasses substitutes here.

The big question may be what to do with those cookies when they are done. It seems like they look a bit more festive when decorated.

  • Sugar Free Royal Icing with Stevia.
  • Also, Sugar Free Royal Icing with Splenda.
  • Sugar Free Frosting Made withCream Cheese and Pudding.

The recipe for Sugar Free Gingerbread Cookies

What you will need to make this.

  • Flour (AP)- 3 Cups
  • Baking Soda- 1 teaspoon.
  • Ground Ginger- 1 teaspoon (make sure there is no sugar added).
  • Also, Ground Cinnamon- 1 teaspoon (make sure there is no sugar added).
  • Ground cloves-½ teaspoon
  • Allspice- 1 teaspoon.
  • Salt- ½ teaspoon.
  • Butter- 1 ½ sticks softened at room temperature.
  • Brown Sugar Alternative-½ cup
  • Egg-1.
  • Molasses Substitute- 1 cup (see post for substitutes).

How to make these cookies.

  • You can use a medium mixing bowl for this step. Sift together your flour, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, allspice and cloves. You can set this aside for a moment.
  • In a mixing bowl while you use an electric mixer, cream together your brown sugar alternative, butter, egg and molasses substitute.
  • Now, gradually add your dry ingredient from the first bowl to the mixing bowl, a quarter at a time, mixing between additions.
  • When the mixture is blended remove from the bowl and split the dough in half. Roll out each individual half of your dough on some plastic wrap . Roll your dough to about ¼" to ⅛" thick. If your dough seems sticky simply sprinkle it with a small amount of additional flour. Wrap and refrigerate your dough for at least 3 hours.
  • When ready to bake, simply remove the dough from the refrigerator, preheat your oven to 350, and prep your pan for nonstick. I use parchment that can also be used to transfer cookies as well. Unwrap the dough using one wrapped dough half at a time. Use your cookie cutters to cut shapes if desired at this point.
  • You should bake your cookies for 10-12 minutes. After you remove the cookies from the oven please allow them to cool on rack before you add any icing. However, you can also enjoy these as they are too if you would rather not add any icing.

The Recipe for Yummy Sugar Free Gingerbread Cookies (3)

Print Recipe

4.26 from 87 votes

Sugar Free Gingerbread Cookies

A sugar free way to enjoy a holiday season favorite cookie.

Prep Time3 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Cook Time12 minutes mins

Total Time3 hours hrs 27 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • Flour AP- 3 Cups
  • Baking Soda- 1 teaspoon.
  • Ground Ginger- 1 teaspoon make sure there is no sugar added.
  • Also Ground Cinnamon- 1 teaspoon (make sure there is no sugar added).
  • Ground cloves-½ teaspoon
  • Allspice- 1 teaspoon.
  • Salt- ½ teaspoon.
  • Butter- 1 ½ sticks softened at room temperature.
  • Brown Sugar Alternative-½ cup
  • Egg-1.
  • Molasses Substitute- 1 cup see post for substitutes.

Instructions

  • You can use a medium mixing bowl for this step. Sift together your flour, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, allspice and cloves. You can set this aside for a moment.

  • In a mixing bowl while you use an electric mixer, cream together your brown sugar alternative, butter, egg and molasses substitute.

  • Now, gradually add your dry ingredient from the first bowl to the mixing bowl, a quarter at a time, mixing between additions.

  • When the mixture is blended remove from the bowl and split the dough in half. Roll out each individual half of your dough on some plastic wrap . Roll your dough to about ¼" to ⅛" thick. If your dough seems sticky simply sprinkle it with a small amount of additional flour. Wrap and refrigerate your dough for at least 3 hours.

  • When ready to bake, simply remove the dough from the refrigerator, preheat your oven to 350, and prep your pan for nonstick. I use parchment that can also be used to transfer cookies as well. Unwrap the dough using one wrapped dough half at a time. Use your cookie cutters to cut shapes if desired at this point.

  • You should bake your cookies for 10-12 minutes. After you remove the cookies from the oven please allow them to cool on rack before you add any icing. However, you can also enjoy these as they are too if you would rather not add any icing.

Recipe Notes

See post for alternatives for brown sugar and molasses. Nutritional data will vary due to alternatives used.

most recently updated:

November 22, 2017

*About Sugar Alternatives

Specific sugar alternatives are not given in the recipes presented on this site. Only suggestions are given as to the 'kind' of alternative to use. It is up to you to select the alternative to use that suits your needs best. If the recipe is heated or cooked, it is best to use an alternative that can be heated or cooked with for best results. This site does not endorse any specific ingredients,

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that the links on this website, and specifically on this post, that lead to other sites may be affiliate links.
Please note: Nutritional data has been calculated using a tool that comes with this recipe card and not by me. This means that Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that you use. The accuracy of this tool may differ from other tools as expected. Also note that there is no instructional value to the video that may be attached to this recipe. It is only there for visual pleasure. For more information about the images in this recipe, please refer the the recipe instructions. Thank you!

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The Recipe for Yummy Sugar Free Gingerbread Cookies (2024)

FAQs

How healthy is gingerbread cookies? ›

It is important to note that despite their many health benefits, gingerbread cookies and cakes are often loaded with sugar and unhealthy fats, so too much of a good thing can be bad. Check out some of our favorite recipes that feature ginger for more inspiration!

What kind of molasses for gingerbread cookies? ›

Choose unsulfured molasses when possible, since sulfur dioxide can leave an unpleasant, chemical-like aftertaste, according to Smith. “Unsulfured molasses is derived from processed mature sugar cane,” she said. “It's rich in flavor with a smoky depth. The most natural.

What makes gingerbread so strong? ›

A 1:4 ratio of butter to flour makes the gingerbread strong. Corn syrup keeps freshly baked gingerbread pliable and soft, so it's easy to cut while warm. Rolling the dough directly on parchment makes it easy to transfer to the pan.

What happens if you don't chill gingerbread dough? ›

Chilling the dough makes the butter, and the dough firm up. Also, a very cold, even frozen crust will shrink less during baking. If you think about a stick of butter it makes sense: the cold butter keeps it's shape, When it softens, it spreads and no longer keeps it's shape.

Is it OK to eat gingerbread? ›

It is generally recommended to eat gingerbread in moderation as part of a balanced diet. This will help you to enjoy the treats without experiencing negative side effects.

Is molasses good for diabetics? ›

Molasses does not quickly break down into glucose, making it somewhat safer than other sweeteners for people with diabetes or insulin resistance. However, because molasses is high in carbohydrates, people living with diabetes should consume it in moderation.

Can I use brown sugar instead of molasses in gingerbread? ›

Brown sugar is actually a combination of granulated sugar and molasses, so it's a good substitute for molasses. While measurements may vary per recipe, you can generally replace 1 cup molasses with 3/4 cup packed brown sugar.

Is molasses or golden syrup better for gingerbread? ›

Molasses – Essential for that deep, rich, caramel-like gingerbread flavour! It also helps hold the dough's shape. Golden syrup makes a great sub, or treacle. Honey will also work, but the cookies will spread out a touch more and not have the same deep flavour (but still very, very good!).

What are the three types of gingerbread? ›

The three distinct types of gingerbread are brown gingerbread, wafer-based gingerbread and honey gingerbread.
  • BROWN GINGERBREAD.
  • WAFER GINGERBREAD.
  • HONEY GINGERBREAD.

Should gingerbread dough be chilled before baking? ›

Mistake #2: Not resting your dough

After the gingerbread is cut out, Lomas recommends putting it into the fridge for at least 30 minutes and up to three days. Chilling the dough before it goes into a hot oven gives the butter a chance to firm up and reduces how much it spreads when baking.

How long should you chill gingerbread dough? ›

Divide the dough into two thick disks and wrap each disk in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until chilled, about 3 hours. (The dough can be prepared up to 2 days ahead.) To roll out the cookies, work with one disk at a time, keeping the other disk refrigerated.

How do you know when gingerbread is done? ›

Timing is the key to achieving the crispy edges and chewy centers of a perfect gingerbread cookie. Due to gingerbread's dark color, it can be tricky to tell when they're done baking—look for puffed up, just-set centers. Gingerbread cookies will collapse as they cool, delivering that chewy cookie texture.

Should gingerbread be soft or crunchy? ›

Should gingerbread cookies be hard or soft? Soft gingerbread biscuits are ideal. They ought to be flexible. However, they should still be somewhat elastic, and if you hold them too firmly because you're so excited to eat them, you might even be able to leave your fingerprints on the cookie!

Are gingerbread cookies healthier than regular cookies? ›

Beneficial Minerals

Despite their drawbacks, ginger cookies offer some nutritional value, and boost your iron and manganese intakes. Iron plays a key role in energy production, and it supports tissue health by helping red blood cells carry oxygen to your tissues.

What are the benefits of eating ginger cookies? ›

They Offer Iron, Folate, Calcium and Vitamin E

One ounce of ginger snap cookies delivers 1.81 milligrams of iron, a nutrient that helps your body make red blood cells and produce energy, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Do gingerbread cookies have a lot of calories? ›

Gingerbread cookies, homemade (2 each - approx 2 1/2" diameter) contains 20.7g total carbs, 20.3g net carbs, 4.9g fat, 1.7g protein, and 133 calories.

Is cookies healthy or unhealthy? ›

Traditional chocolate cookies and chocolate chip cookies are not considered to be healthy on their own due to the large amount of sugar and butter used to make them. However, you can still enjoy these cookies in moderation and as part of a healthy diet.

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