11 Ginger Snap Cookie Brands, Ranked Worst To Best

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You may associate ginger cookies with the holidays. However, ginger snaps can be a delightful cookie year-round. They are essentially a thinner and crispier version of a gingerbread cookie that has been baked a bit longer. Not only are ginger snap cookies considered to be a healthier cookie option over many cookies, but they are a decadent and sweet treat with just enough crunch. There are dozens of options out there. So, how do you decide what the best ones are?

You could spend hours of your valuable time reading all the reviews to determine which ones are best. Or you could save time and read our recommendations below. We've done the work for you by looking through the ginger snap cookie brand options and cataloging their traits. This way, you can find the perfect one no matter what makes you a ginger snap fan.

Like your ginger snaps hard and crispy? Or do you prefer them on the chewier side? Do you want something seasoned just with ginger, or are you looking for some molasses, too? Do you need gluten-free? Prefer organic? No matter what you're looking for, we probably have something for you to try.

Trader Joe's is a wonderland of products, especially around the holidays, when people are likeliest to search for ginger-flavored cookies. But if you aren't the kind who only wants to enjoy snaps once a year, you can rest easy knowing that Trader Joe's offers its Triple Ginger Snaps year-round. These tiny cookies come in tubs and have crystallized ginger and a pleasant snap, according to reviewers on Influenster. The crystallized ginger gives these cookies a sweeter flavor than traditional varieties.

You can also find these cookies on Amazon, where customers express mixed feelings about them. Many common complaints described the cookies as "expensive," "hard," and "stale." While some positive things are said about the cookie, those sentiments do not align with what we're searching for in a quality ginger snap. Many reviewers shared that the cookies arrived broken or smashed, keeping these rightfully toward the bottom of our list. We love Trader Joe's as much as the next person, but these cookies are better left on the shelves. Even the ones in the store aren't the best ginger snaps on the market. They're especially not worth making a special trip to pick up, so let's move on.

The Mi-Del brand of Ginger Snaps Ginger Flavored cookies uses organic flour and cane sugar and comes in regular and gluten-free varieties. Even though the brand has several five-star reviews, we're still going to pass on these cookies. In comparison to the other offerings on this list, the satisfaction isn't there. While a majority of customers raved about the flavor and how the low-caloric cookie is "more than enough to satisfy cravings for sweet things," others were disappointed in the brand (per Amazon).

Some reviewers felt let down by the brand that has been around for quite some time, and several bemoaned a recipe change that left these bland and with subpar ingredients. Instead of actually including ginger and molasses the way they once did, in the current versions of these cookies, "the molasses is gone, replaced with 'organic caramel coloring' (burnt sugar). The ginger is gone, replaced by ginger flavor."

These also miss the mark in the crunchiness category. While some cookies tend to be too soft and others deemed too hard, these registered somewhere in the middle, but not in a good way. As one reviewer on Kroger explains, "they are on the edge between chewy and crunchy ... so neither and both." In other words, this brand of ginger snaps has the texture of a stale ginger snap. 

Anna's ginger thins are crispy, sweet, and spicy — they are also reminiscent of a homemade cookie. They're a variety you can pick up when traveling through regional airports and a great gift to bring home from your next travel abroad, but you don't have to go that far to get them. They are easy to find in grocery stores, big box stores, and online retailers. 

With few exceptions, everyone liked their crispiness and flavor, which places them a bit higher on our list. One Amazon reviewer said the cookies were "thin but jam-packed with ginger flavor." Another said they were very close to the ones a Swedish friend used to make from scratch. And if you're looking for fun ways to use them, one reviewer mentioned they make a lovely addition to tea or "spike into a scoop of ice cream to make it more festive" (via A Billion).

Despite all the satisfied customers, this treat is not entirely reminiscent of a true ginger snap. An Amazon reviewer explained that these cookies seemed to be "missing the real flavor of ginger," and another complained that the ginger taste was "too mild." A lack of ginger flavor seemed to be the overall consensus for these cookies, which is what puts them a little lower on our list. 

Most Amazon reviewers approved of Sweetzels Ginger Snaps cookies, with many giving the brand a five-star review. And the reason these cookies aren't at the top of the list is because of the texture. While one review described these as "crispy cookies with the perfect amount of spice," others recommended dunking them in coffee or tea to make them a bit softer and not so hard on your teeth. A more creative customer suggested pairing these with pumpkin dip as the perfect way to soften them (via Influenster).

However, a ginger snap cookie should not only be sweet and crispy but able to snap with not too much effort. While many liked that this brand's ginger snaps are thick like a traditional cookie, the thickness makes them hard rather than snappy. And not everyone thought that they had as much flavor as they'd have liked. One complained that "it was not a gingersnap, although it stated it had ginger in the wafer." If you're looking for the best ginger snap cookies, these are close, but they aren't it.

The Nyakers Sweet and Spicy Gingersnap Cookies are a hit with reviewers and take number two on this ranking for a few reasons. The Swedish company that makes them has been using the same recipe since 1952, but don't worry, you don't have to go to Sweden to get these — they're available on Amazon, Cost Plus World Market, and The Vermont Country Store, to name just a few U.S. vendors. 

While many said buying a tin of these was an annual holiday cookie tradition for the season. What sets these cookies apart from the rest is their reviews are overwhelmed with compliments on their flavor, texture, and packaging. The cookies also have an excellent crispy texture that makes for a perfect, snappy bite every time. Something about this recipe also allows for the best flavor combination of a ginger snap that we've tried so far. 

Reviewers from the Vermont Country Store website were nearly all fans, rating these almost a full five stars — they described the cookies as "light and crisp, yet holds up to dunking in hot tea." Another reviewer on Amazon went as far as to claim that these cookies were the "best ginger snaps on the market." While these cookies are delicious and have everything you might want out of a ginger snap, we still couldn't put them in the top spot since they're not widely available at most big box stores and grocery stores. And while they are available to find online, not everyone wants to pay the shipping or wait a few days to get them. If only they were a bit easier to find in person, these might have won the ranking.