Mmmmmmolasses cookies

Maybe you went and made those pumpkin spice cupcakes I made for Thanksgiving, and now you're thinking okay what I am going to do with these leftover ingredients.  Well, I have the solution!  Molasses Cookies!!!

Grab the following ingredients from your kitchen:

• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 3/4 cup butter at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix together the butter, 1 cup of sugar, and egg.  The mixture should get smooth and almost a little creamy. Next, stir in the molasses.  In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, baking soda, and salt.  Add the flour mixture to the molasses mixture, and mix until well blended. Cover, and chill the dough for about an hour.

Relax for an hour with your favorite show and perhaps a glass of wine.  Then, retreat to the kitchen to finish up these delicious treats.  Preheat the oven to 375F.  Take a heaping tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball, and then roll the balled dough in the leftover 1/2 cup of sugar, coating the outside of the dough.  Place on an un-greased cookie sheet.  Place each one about 2 inches apart (you'll see I put mine too close together!)  Bake about 10 minutes.  You will see the top of the cookies crack.  Cool completely.

These make for great treats, and even better hostess gifts!  With the holidays upon us, bake up a few batches, and bring some to your next holiday event.  The hostess with the most-est will thank you.

I just brought a batch of these to my aunt's new home, as a little housewarming and hostess gift.  Congratulations to Denise and Paul and their new home!  Hope you enjoy the cookies....