My all time favorite cookie recipe

Two years ago, when I was living in Parkersburg, WV a good friend invited me to her family's Pre-Civil War Estate for a Christmas cookie bake off. One of the cookies we made immediately became my favorite and my friend was gracious enough to share her Great Aunt's recipe with me. I just made a batch and the cookies are really too good not to share, so I am posting the recipe for you all to enjoy.

Happy baking!

Gingerbread Molasses Cookies

ingredients:
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 /4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt

instructions:

1. Melt shortening in a 3 - 4 quart sauce pan over low heat. Remove from
heat and allow to cool.

2. Add sugar, molasses and egg; beat well. Stir together flour, soda,
cloves, ginger, cinnamon and salt; add to molasses mixture.

3. Mix well and chill thoroughly

4. Form into 1" balls, roll in granulated sugar and place on cookie sheets
with parchment paper 2" apart and bake in 375 oven for 8 - 10 minutes.

Makes approximately 4 dozen cookies.


I make these cookies year round and find that they are equally as good with eggnog in the winter as they are with ice cold pink lemonade in the summer.