Gramma Kath's Molasses Cookies

Anne's Grandma Kath liked these cookies so much that she would often eat them for breakfast. She always make them as round cookies but we have adapted them for Christmas cookes. We use Christmas cookie cutters and then decorate them elaborately with sugar frosting.

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup melted shortening
1/4 cup cold water and 1 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
1 teaspoon each of cinnamon, ginger and salt
flour to handle (softer dough yields tender cookies and stiffer dough is easier to roll and cut into shapes.

Roll out on floured board to c. 1/4 in. thick. Cut. Bake at 350° until firm, usually about seven minutes.
The original recipe said to grease the sheet lightly, but we have never done that.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies, depending upon the shape.

Here is a slightly difference recipe with lower fat.

2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup suger
1/2 cup molasses
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
whites of 2 large eggs

Whisk sugar, molasses, oil and egg whites until well blended. Sift together flour, spices, etc., and stir in. Roll 1 inch balls of dough in suger and place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheet.
Bake 12 minutes at 350 degrees until crackled on top and firm to the touch (don't over bake, as they become very hard long before they burn). Remove to a wire rack to cool.
3 dozen cookies

This information was placed on the web by Thomas J. Sienkewicz. If you have any questions about this document, you may contact him at tom@tomsiekewicz.com.