Foodie Friday: Chewy, Spicy Molasses Cookies

Main Ingredients

• 1/2 C butter; softened
• 3/4 C sugar
• 1/3 C molasses (I like Wholesome brand ... flavor seems stronger)
• 2 T honey
• 1 egg
• 1 1/3 C white flour
• 1 C barley flour
• 2 t baking soda
• 1 T ginger
• 1 1/2 t cinnamon
• 1/2 t cloves
• 1/2 t cardamon
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/4 pepper

Coating

• 1/8 - 1/4 C brown sugar
• 1/8 - 1/4 C turbinado sugar*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream the butter and sugar till light and fluffy; add molasses, honey and egg; beating till smooth. Mix all dry ingredients together and stir in to batter by hand or on low with a mixer.

Combine brown sugar and turbinado sugar in a pie plate. Use a medium size cookie scoop (about 1 T of dough) to scoop dough into balls. Roll balls in the sugar mixture and place about 2 inches apart on a heavy cookie sheet. Bake for 7 - 9 minutes, depending on if you like a chewy or crispy molasses cookie.  Cool for a couple minutes before moving to a wire rack. Yield: 3 -3 1/2 dz.

*We use part turbinado sugar because of it's coarseness ... makes the cookies sparkle a bit. White sugar could be used in place of the brown and turbinado sugars.

Gingerbread Spritz

1 C butter

1/2 C molasses

1/4 C brown sugar

1 egg

1 t vanilla

2 3/4 C flour

1/2 t baking powder

1/2 t nutmeg

1/2 t cinnamon

1/4 t salt

1/4 t cloves

1/4 t ginger

In a large bowl mix butter, molasses and brown sugar until completely combined. Add egg and vanilla; beat well.

In another bowl combine remaining ingredients and add to creamed mixture. Stir until thoroughly mixed.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Press cookies onto ungreased cookie sheet, and sprinkle with decorative sugar if desired. Bake for 7 - 8 minutes or until set but not brown.

Makes about 8 dozen small cookies