Soft & Chewy Whole Wheat Gingerbread Cookies

These perfectly soft & chewy whole wheat gingerbread cookies are a holiday season staple! Made with healthier swaps, molasses and warm spices, they’re out of this world good. Dairy free and soy free.

Three Soft & Chewy Whole Wheat Gingerbread Cookies on a white plate with more cookies and a cup of tea in the background.

Oh this recipe. I am SO excited to share this one with you. Because these little nuggets of goodness?

Perfectly chewy and perfectly soft. They are filled with the flavors of the season AND have a delightful little crunch from a quick roll in sugar before baking.

I may even go so far as to say that these are my favorite cookies I’ve ever made.

But let me let you in on a little secret.

They have some healthier swaps and are totally dairy free. Yet you won’t be able to tell. I was super tricky and tested these on our Thanksgiving guests and no one was the wiser.

They’re made entirely with white whole wheat flour, giving them this sort of hint of nuttiness. We have some coconut oil and some coconut sugar, along with a touch of molasses and plenty of warming spices.

Combining into one glorious gingerbread Christmas cookie. Can you tell I really really like these?

Whole Wheat Gingerbread Cookies on a white surface with a wooden spatula holding one cookie.

Tips & Tricks For These Whole Wheat Gingerbread Cookies

  1. I have long been obsessed with using coconut oil in cookies ever since I started having some issues with dairy. But this is the first time I’ve tried beating it like you would softened butter. The result? Amazing.
  2. So, let’s discuss this. You want the coconut oil to be softened, but not melted. I pop mine in the microwave for about 10 seconds and that’s all it needs (keeping in mind that my coconut oil starts out completely hard this time of the year since it’s slightly chilly in the house).
  3. Also, when you beat together the softened coconut oil and the sugar, it will get sort of fluffy in the two minutes of beating. But … it won’t look quite as fluffy as it would with regular butter. So just keep that in mind.
  4. DO NOT skip the dough chill time for the recipe! This is important for them to bake up with the perfect texture.
  5. Also key for texture? Making sure that you don’t over bake these. 9 minutes is perfect in my oven, but this may vary slightly for you.

Overhead view of a Whole Wheat Gingerbread Cookie broken in two with more cookies scattered around.

Additional Coconut Oil Cookie Recipes You Might Enjoy:

Did you make this recipe? Rate and review it down below! I’d love to hear from you.

Perfectly soft & chewy whole wheat gingerbread cookies! Made with healthier swaps but still out of this world good! A holiday staple!

Soft & Chewy Whole Wheat Gingerbread Cookies

Yield: about 18 cookies
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Additional Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 9 minutes
Total Time: 59 minutes

These perfectly soft & chewy whole wheat gingerbread cookies are a holiday season staple! Made with healthier swaps, molasses and warm spices, they’re out of this world good. Dairy free and soy free.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups white whole wheat flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ cup solid-state coconut oil, softened (but not melted!)
  • ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
  • 3 tablespoons unsulphured molasses
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • about ¼ cup granulated sugar, for rolling

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
  2. In a large bowl, beat together the coconut oil and coconut sugar with a hand mixer for 2 minutes, until sort of fluffy (it won’t be as fluffy as with regular butter).
  3. Add in the molasses, egg and vanilla and beat again until combined. Slowly add in the flour mixture and beat on low until just combined.
  4. Transfer the bowl to the refrigerator and chill for 30 to 35 minutes.
  5. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  6. Scoop about 1 ½ to 2 tablespoons of the chilled dough and form into balls (about 1 ½-inch in size). Roll the balls in the granulated sugar and place on the prepared baking sheet about 2 to 3 inches apart.
  7. Bake for about 8 to 9 minutes, until the tops of the cookies have cracked / crinkled (do not over bake these!). Let the cookies cool directly on the baking sheet.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 18 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 119Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 140mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 2g

Nutrition data shown is an estimate provided by an online calculator and is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for a medical professional’s advice.