Giving the classic gingersnap a few tweaks for summer! These Lemon Gingersnap Sandwich Cookies have the perfect hint of fresh lemon and they’re sandwiched together with some deliciously smooth vanilla buttercream!
See that big ole stack of Lemon Gingersnap Sandwich Cookies right up there ↑ folks? It was only a matter of seconds before that stack disappeared! Whooooosh! Gone! Gonzo! Zippo!
Zilch! Not a precious crumb left on that little plate!
And why did they disappear so quickly?? Remember I told you guys my niece and nephews would be coming in to visit from St. Louis? Well, they came, they saw and they conquered stack after stack of these deliciously delectable sandwich cookies!
I was so excited to whip up something in the kitchen with my niece Erin to share with you guys. And these cookies were our masterpiece! I was under pressure to photograph quickly because everyone was lining up to get their hands on one of these beauties!
It seemed kind of odd at first because the warm flavors of ginger, cinnamon and molasses usually seem more of a fall/winter type of cookie to me, but Erin and I decided we needed to make a few tweaks to make it into a summertime favorite! We simply added some fresh lemon zest and some lemon oil and BAMM!! Summertime gingersnap cookie perfection.
These cookies are slightly chewy with just the perfect little hint of fresh lemon. And to satisfy the biggest of appetites they’re sandwiched together with some deliciously smooth vanilla buttercream. Really friends…can it get any better? I’m thinking that would be a no! Dare ya to eat just one! I know Erin, Colin and Brendan couldn’t! Love you guys! And thanks Erin for being the perfect assistant in the kitchen! XO Aunt Mare
Ingredients
- Cookies:
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar plus a small bowl of some extra for rolling cookies in before baking
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup unsulphered molasses
- 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon zest about 1 large lemon
- 1/2 tsp. lemon oil or 1 tsp. lemon extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- Vanilla Buttercream:
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 2 cups confectioner's sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix together oil, sugar and egg. Beat until fluffy. Stir in molasses, lemon zest and lemon oil.. Set aside.
- In large bowl sift together flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and ginger. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Remove dough from refrigerator. Roll dough into 1 1/2 - 2 inch size balls depending on how big you want sandwiches. Roll the ball into a small bowl of granulated sugar. Place balls on parchment lined baking sheet about 3 inches apart. (cookies will spread so definitely space them out) Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are set and tops are crackled. Cool on baking sheet for 1 minute then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- Vanilla Buttercream:
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and the confectioner's sugar with a rubber spatula until pale in color. Add the vanilla and continue to cream until light and fluffy.
- Assembling the cookies:
- When cookies are done cooling, sandwich together with about 1 1/2 - 2 Tbsp. buttercream.
I love this flavor combo!! What a perfect way to combine fall and summer flavors :)
I’m sure you had so much fun baking with your niece!
I did Megan! And we all loved eating these too. Hope you enjoy them if you give them a try. Have a great week!
I so look forward to your recipe coming to me on Monday morning while I sip my coffee! These look delicious and I have a serious weak spot for buttercream filled anything. I mean who doesn’t? Your niece is lucky to have you!
Aww, thanks so much Karen! These were so fun to make! It was so nice to have a helper in the kitchen. Yes, that buttercream put these cookies right over the top. Hope you enjoy and have a great week!
These look fantastic Mary Ann! Love the addition of lemon!
Thanks Alida! They’re yummy!
These look beautiful! Glad you were able to keep the troops back while you snapped some pics!
Thanks Kathy! It was tough, but Erin helped! These have such a nice subtle lemon flavor that’s perfect for summer!
Do you want to adopt a 33 year old and call her your niece? Lol! I’d be a perfect kitchen assistant too, I promise!! ;) So glad you guys had a fabulous time together! And I can see why these delicious cookie sammies were gone in the blink of an eye- they look amazing, Mary Ann! Love that you gave them a summer makeover with lemon! These are perfection and I can’t wait to try them! Pinned! Cheers, friend!!
These are perfect for you Cheyanne because…no chocolate! Erin and I had so much fun making them together! I hope you love them as much as we do!! Have a great week!
What beautiful sparkly cookies and the flavour combination sounds perfect!
You need to give these a try Jennifer! They’re delicious!
The addition of lemon sounds soooo good! I know I would be right next to your family gobbling these up! Perfection!
Yay! You’d love them too Cathy!
I love gingersnap cookies, Mary Ann and the addition of lemon and the creamy frosting is so good! No wonder you couldn’t keep your nieces and nephews hands off them. Love that you created them with your niece – what a great way to spend time together!
Lol! We had a blast! Hope you enjoy if you give them a go!
Wowza Mary Ann! I’m having major cookie envy — these look perfect!! And that buttercream…yum!!! How fun you got to spend time with you niece and nephew — I love when family comes to visit!! xoxo
Me too! It was so much fun Rebecca! I bet your kids will love these too!
It’s soooo fun baking for friends and family! I can see why these would be devoured in seconds… What fun! They are not only delicious, but gorgeous too! Love the lemony zing and of course the fact that they’re sandwich cookies does it for me. Not only am I savory sandwich fan, but gimme a cookie sandwich all day long and I’m a happy girl! Delicious work, Mary Ann!
I LOVE making goodies for friends and family Traci almost more than I like eating the goodies myself…almost! Hope you enjoy if you try! Hope your week’s fabulous!
How much fun you must have had baking with your niece and nephews. Honestly I’m kind of jealous that you had such fantastic assistants because frankly these cookies look and sound absolutely divine. I love the juxtaposition of fall and summer flavors and I can see why these beauties would have disappeared with the blink of an eye.
We had so much fun! Not only does my niece love to bake but my nephew Brendan is an awesome photographer and wanted some tips of food photography! So we were eating and snapping away together! Have a great week Lynn!
I loved making these cookies with you Aunt Mare. Colin, Brendan and I had a great time with you at the shore for our vacation. Any time you need another assistant I would love to help again. Mom says she will have to run 10 miles to work off all the cookies she ate!! We love you!
YAY! I had so much fun too Erin! I’m sad you guys have headed back home! I’ll be counting the days until you come back! Take good care of Mr. Guiness! Hope he starts behaving! XO
Oh my, I would love to have one of them with my cup of coffee right now. They are so cute, you could sell them in a fancy bakery.
Ha! If we could ever get them to a bakery without eating them first! Give them a go Gerlinde! You’ll love them!
These look so so good, Mary Ann! That buttercream in the middle is dreamy! I’ve heard that gingersnaps and lemon are a good combo, but I haven’t tried it- that needs to change! Thanks for sharing :)
Absolutely Jessica! They’re totally delicious!
I should NOT be looking at this at 4:37pm right before leaving work. I now want to binge on all the carbs! These look gorgeous and oh so delicious! How did you know that gingersnaps are one of my all-time favorites ;)
Yours and my son Sean’s Sarah! He can’t get enough of these! Every time he comes home to visit I make them for him! Thanks so much! Have a wonderful week!
I can’t resist a good old chewy gingersnap cookie and that lemon buttercream puts these cookie sandwiches over the top.
Give them a try Nicole! They are nice and chewy with the perfect hint of lemon!
What fabulous sandwich cookies! I love the sparkling tops and buttercream filling, so scrumptious!
Thanks Laura!
These look perfect and your photos don’t show any signs of you being under pressure – they do those cookies justice.
Aww, thanks so much Jane! Enjoy!
These really are a masterpiece! Ginger & lemon are such a classic combo!
Thanks so much Allie! My niece and nephews loved them!! XO
I am 100% bookmarking these for the holidays. My husband and his dad both love nothing more than ginger snaps AND anything with lemon, and I don’t believe they’ve ever had them together. What a treat!
They will love these Coley! I made them into ice cream sandwiches for a dinner party last night and they were a huge hit!!
I am volunteering to be an assistant!! I love the summer updates to the classic gingersnap. We make lemongrass ginger tea at home and I am thinking this will be on the same note of flavors. Glad your nieces and nephews enjoyed their trip.
Thanks Zainab! They loved these. Erin and I had so much fun together!
Lemon oil meaning essential oil or is this something bought in the baking section at the grocery store?
I purchased mine in the baking aisle at the grocery store. Here is a little info on using oils and extracts in baking… http://www.thekitchn.com/baking-tip-when-to-use-flavori-140218. Thanks so much for following and I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
Looks wonderful! Making these today!!!!!!
Yay! You’ll love them Mirlene! Happy baking!
Hii Mary Ann :) I just stumbled onto your blog and I must say that i’m totally loving everything I see! this recipe looks incredible, I love gingersnaps and I’ve never tried making them using oil so I’m interested to see how they come out. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe! your photography is amazing! love your blog!! xx
Hi Linda! You are too kind. Thank you so much! I have two recipes on the site for gingersnaps, one traditional and then these lemon gingersnaps. I’ve only ever made mine with vegetable oil, and you’ll really love the way they turn out. Nice and chewy! Let me know!
Hi! Is it possible to freeze the dough and make the cookies later on? If yes, how long do you recommend to keep it frozen? If not recommended, how long could you keep the dough in the refrigerator?
Hi Mrs. Harper. Yes, you can put the balls of dough rolled in the sugar on parchment-lined baking sheets and freeze them until they’re firm. Remove the balls from the freezer and freeze in freezer containers for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to bake remove from the freezer and place 2 inches apart on parchment lined baking sheets and go ahead with baking directions. Enjoy! These are a favorite here!