Mommy's Molasses Cookies

Total Time: 22 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 7 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup shortening (or butter)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 4 cups sifted flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• granulated sugar (for rolling)

Recipe

• 1 melt shortening in microwave about 1 minute on high (do not make it hot)! if you are using butter in place of the shortening, just soften it for easy blending.
• 2 blend eggs, sugar, molasses and shortening . mix until shortening is well blended.
• 3 add dry ingrediants. mix well.
• 4 chill in refrigerator untill shortening sets up. (if using butter and it's a cold day outside, you can just skip this step.).
• 5 form 1" balls with your hands and roll in a dish of granulated sugar.
• 6 mash with palm of hand (i use the bottom of a glass) after placing on an ungreased cookie sheet. you want the cookies thick enough to create a chewy center.
• 7 now here's the tough part. the directions say to: "bake 7-9 minute at 375 degrees. do not overbake! the trick is to figure out your oven and what is the correct baking time." but i've found that a good rule of thumb is to put the cookies into a preheated oven and just watch them. once they really puff up and don't appear to be getting any puffier, but pressing down with a finger will deflate and sink them, they are done. take them out. let them sit on the tray until cool. you should have a nice, chewy cookie, once they've cooled. if you overcook them, they will be hard and crispy.