This was (and probably still is) my favorite cookie recipe. I found it when I was learning to cook (about 10-12 years old) on the bottle of Brer Rabbit molasses (both mild and dark). I can't tell you how many of these I put away at that tender age. Brown sugar is simply a mixture of sugar and molasses so a cup of packed dark brown sugar can be substituted for the cup of sugar and 1/4 cup molasses. I don't do it because I'm a bottled molasses type of guy.
Ingredients 3/4 cup shortening (I use butter) 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup Brer Rabbit Molasses (well, pick your favorite molasses or substitute packed dark brown sugar for the sugar/molasses combination) 1 egg slightly beaten (in a bowl) 2 tsp. baking powder 2 cups flour 1/2 tsp. cloves 1/2 tsp. ginger 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. saltProcedure Cream shortening and sugar. Add molasses and beaten egg. Beat well. Sift (I don't sift) together flour, soda, cloves, ginger, cinnamon and salt; add to first mixture. Mix well. chill. (I don't bother chilling) Form into 1" balls, roll in granulated sugar (I don't roll in sugar) and place on cookie sheets 2" apart. Bake at 375F for 8-10 minutes. (Start checking at 6 minutes so they don't burn.)
Created on ... Dec 06, 2008