Molasses Cookies

MOLASSES COOKIES

Suzanne Smithson

(Same version that is in the Carlsbad City Library Staff Cookbook)

½ cup butter                                      2 ¼ cups flour

¼ cup shortening                              2 tsp. baking soda

2/3 cup brown sugar (packed)         ¼ tsp. salt

1/3 cup white sugar                           ½ tsp. ground cloves

1 egg                                                    1 tsp. cinnamon (or more!)

¼ cup molasses                                  1 tsp. ginger (or more!)

extra white sugar for rolling & tops of cookies

Preheat oven to 375°.

Mix shortening, butter, sugars, and egg until creamy.  Mix in molasses thoroughly.  Stir together all dry ingredients and spices together.  Mix dry ingredients into molasses mixture until blended.  Chill.  (I usually skip the chilling part, and they work out fine.)

Roll dough into balls (about 1”+), roll in sugar, and place on cookie sheet.  Bake for 10—12 minutes or just until set but not hard.  Sprinkle a little more sugar on the top of the cookies when they first come out of the oven.   Makes about 4 dozen cookies.