Soft Molasses Cookies

These cookies are just the greatest! They are soft and chewy and the spice is mild but warm. They are like biting into a cool fall day. Some people think they taste kind of like pumpkin pie because of the spice, I don't, but that has been a common reaction from people who have tried these. The other reaction is to go "yum!" XD

Happy holiday baking!

Soft Molasses Cookies (From Country Woman Magazine)
1 cup Butter softened
1 1/2 cups Sugar
1/2 cup Molasses
2 Eggs
4 cups Flour
1/2 teaspoon Salt
2 1/4 teaspoons Baking Soda
2 1/4 teaspoons Ground Ginger
2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cloves

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, shortening and sugar until light-colored and fluffy. Beat in molasses and eggs; set mixture aside.

In another large bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, ginger, cloves and cinnamon. Blend thoroughly with wire whisk.

Gradually mix flour mixture into creamed ingredients until dough is blended and smooth.

Roll dough into 1½ in. balls. Dip tops in granulated sugar; place 2½ in. apart on greased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with a fork if you want larger cookies. 

Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Do not overbake, I can't stress this point enough as these cookies are very easy to overbake. Even if they seem under done I would recommend taking them out of the oven, because they are supposed to be pretty soft and a little chewy.

Store in tightly covered container or freeze. (They freeze beautifully).