Molasses Ginger Cookies
Last weekend we had the annual neighborhood holiday cookie swap. As usual I was trying to decide what kind of cookies to make, and for so reason molasses cookies really appealed to me. This is based on Grandma’s Molasses Sugar Cookies, but I made a couple of changes.
- ¾ cup shortening
- ¾ cup butter
- 1¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup molasses
- 2 eggs
- 4 cups flour
- 4 tsp baking soda
- 1 heaped tsp ginger
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- ½-1 cup crystilized ginger, chopped into chunks
- Melt the shortening and butter together over low heat
- While the shortening is melting sift together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl and set aside.
- Beat the sugar together with the molasses and butter/shortening mixture with a mixer.
- Add the eggs and beat well.
- Add about a third of the flour, stir and repeat until all the flour is mixed in.
- Gently fold in the chopped ginger.
- Chill the dough for 2 hours or more.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll the dough into balls 1.25 to 1.5 inches in diameter. Dip half in sugar and place on the trays sugar side up.
- Bake 8-10 minutes.