the most-amazing molasses cookies.

my baba b (grandpa) had quite the sweet tooth.  every year at this time, we used to receive a huge holiday tin stuffed with an assortment of cookies.  while most of them were amazing, i'm pretty sure we got some experiments among the masses.  regardless, cookies are cookies and we didn't discriminate, however, one of our favorites was undoubtedly his molasses cookies.

not being much of a baker, i was actually excited to replicate these yummy morsels.  i did modify the recipe a bit...sorry mom!...and think that they may have been a bit better (gasp!) than the old standard.

molasses cookies
makes 3 dozen

3/4 cup shortening or margarine
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 cups of flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ginger*
1 tsp ground cloves*
1-2 tsp cinnamon*
1/3 cup chopped ginger slices

cream butter and sugar.  add egg and molasses and mix well.  sift flour, baking soda, salt and slowly mix dry ingredients with wet ingredients.  fold chopped ginger slices into batter and chill (1-2 hours).

after dough is chilled, heat oven to 350.  roll dough into walnut-sized balls and place on parchement-covered cookie sheets.  bake 10-12 minutes.  

tip: the longer you bake, the crunchier the cookie.

enjoy!

*can add more or less per taste