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Christmas: Spice Sugar Cookies

Source of Recipe


From "The Gourmet Cookbook"



List of Ingredients



• 2 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 2 tsp baking soda
  
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  
• 1 tsp ground ginger
  
• ½ tsp ground cloves
  
• ¼ tsp salt
  
• ¾ cup vegetable shortening
  
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  
• ¼ cup molasses (not robust or blackstrap)
  
• Granulated sugar for dipping dough
  






Instructions



1. Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt into a bowl. Beat together shortening and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until fluffy, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and beat in egg and molasses until just combined. Add flour mixture in two or three batches, blending well. Refrigerate dough, covered, until firm -- at least 1 hour.
   
   
2. Put a rack in middle of oven and preheat oven to 375° F. Grease two large baking sheets.
   Roll level tablespoons of dough into balls, dip one side of each ball into granulated sugar, and arrange balls, sugared sides up, about 3 inches apart on greased baking sheets.
   
   
3. Bake cookies in batches until puffed and cracked on top, 10 to 12 minutes per batch. Transfer to racks to cool.
   
   
   Makes about 3 dozen cookies.
   
   






Final Comments


The dough can be refrigerated for up to 1 day.
The cookies keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.