Grandma's Molasses Cookies

Do not use any other type of molasses for this recipe except unsulfured, preferably Grandma’s brand. The molasses can give a bitter flavor to the cookies if it isn’t the right kind.

Makes: 72 cookiesHands-on: 40 minutesTotal: 50 minutesDifficulty: Easy

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Makes: 72 cookies

Ingredients

  • 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • ¾ tsp. ground ginger
  • ½ tsp. ground allspice
  • ½ tsp. ground cloves
  • ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ½ cup vegetable shortening
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup unsulfured molasses
  • ½ cup granulated sugar

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves, cayenne pepper, and salt together. Set aside.
  • Beat together shortening, butter, and brown sugar until creamy. This will take about 3 minutes with a stand mixer or 6 minutes with a handheld. Add egg and molasses; beat well.
  • Stir in flour mixture carefully. Roll into 1" balls.
  • Dip one end of each ball in sugar; place on ungreased baking sheets, sugar side up.
  • Bake 10–12 minutes. Tops will crackle as they cool if they are not overbaked.