These cookies were such a huge hit that I thought I'd start off the recipe blog with this recipe. Mama has announced that she wanted some Molasses Cookies and was quickly backed up by my sweet husband with a loud YES!!! So I decided to try this recipe out. It is one from my idol Paula Dean. As I typically say "If it's from Paula it's got to be good!" Well this one is a definite keeper! It's actually a Ginger Cookie instead of a Molasses Cookie, but very similar and VERY TASTY!
Ginger Cookies
3/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup sugar, plus more for rolling
1 large egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats. Using an electric mixer at low speed, cream the shortening and sugar until thoroughly combined. Add the egg and molasses and beat until completely incorporated. Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt and add to the mixture. Stir until combined. Roll the dough into balls about 1-inch in diameter. Roll the balls in sugar. Place 1/2-inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Flatten the balls slightly with your fingertips. Note: I did not flatten my cookies to bake. It helped to keep them on the chewy side.
Bake for 12 minutes. Cool on wire racks
