Old-fashioned Molasses Cookies

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour (2 1/4 cups)
• Baking Soda (2 teaspoons)
• Ground Cinnamon (1/2 teaspoon)
• Ground Ginger (1 teaspoon)
• Ground Cloves (1/2 teaspoon)
• Salt (1/4 teaspoon)
• Unsalted Butter, softened (3/4 cup)
• Granulated Sugar (1 cup)
• Egg (1)
• Molasses (1/4 cup)
• Granulated Sugar (1/4 cup (for rolling))

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and preventing the cookies from sticking.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. This mixture constitutes your dry ingredients.
3. In a separate large bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1 cup of granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process should take about 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer.
4. Beat the egg into the butter and sugar mixture. Following that, add the molasses and continue to mix until well incorporated.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be cautious not to overmix to keep your cookies soft and chewy.
6. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, then roll each ball in the remaining 1/4 cup of granulated sugar to coat. This gives your cookies a delightful sugary crust.
7. Place the coated dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers are still slightly soft. This ensures the perfect cookie texture.
9. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy these delicious molasses cookies, a sweet testament to times gone by!