Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup dark-brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup unsulfured molasses
- 6 cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 4 teaspoons ground ginger
- 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
- Raisins, dragées, and/or red hot candies for decoration (optional)
- Royal Icing for decoration (optional)
Cooking Instructions :
- In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs and molasses. In another bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices and salt.
- Stir flour mixture into butter mixture.
- Divide dough into thirds and wrap each third in plastic wrap. Chill for about 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Roll dough 1/8 inch thick between two pieces of wax ed paper.
- Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer shapes to ungreased cookie sheets.
- If desired, decorate with raisins, dragées, and/or red hot candies. Refrigerate about 15 minutes.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until crisp but not dark.
- Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 1 minute, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
- If desired, decorate with Royal Icing.
