If there is such a thing as a season for cookies, the holidays are it. Over the coming weeks, I will be sharing some of my favorite holiday cookie recipes to enhance your holidays and make you the darling of the neighborhood cookie exchanges. (And if you have a recipe you think I need to try, send it my way!)
Today I'm making Molasses Spice Cookies. I make this cookie every year at the beginning of the holiday season. They are chewy, sweet, spicy, and the perfect companion to a cup of egg nog or warm cider. Word has it that when these are left for Santa, he always takes an extra one for later!
Molasses Spice Cookies
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup molasses
3/4 cup shortening
1 egg
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon cardamom
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 cup sugar for coating
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix sugar, molasses, shortening, and egg until smooth and well combined. In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients together before adding to the sugar mixture. Stir until well combined and stiff. Roll the dough into one-inch balls and then roll each ball in the sugar coating twice. (This gives your chewy cookie a nice, sweet "crust.") Place prepared dough balls on a prepared cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove cookies and allow to cool on a baking sheet.
