Chewy Molasses-spice Cookies

Makes 36, Prep Time: 25 minutes, Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

What You’ll Need
2 cups all purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups sugar
12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
¼ cup molasses

What To Do

1. Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a shallow bowl, place ½ cup sugar: set aside.

2. With an electric mixer, beat butter and remaining cup of sugar until combined. Beat in egg and then molasses until combined. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in dry ingredients, just until a dough forms.

3. Pinch off and roll dough into balls, each equal to 1 tablespoon. Roll balls in reserved sugar to coat.

4. Arrange balls on baking sheets, about 3 inches apart. Bake, one sheet at a time, until edges are just firm, 1- to 15 minutes (cookies can be baked two sheets at a time, but they will not crackle uniformly). Cool 1 minute on baking sheets; transfer to racks to cool completely. Store in an airtight container, 3 to 4 days.

recipe credit: Everyday Food, Issue 28, December 2005