Week 6: Iced Molasses Cookies

So... I know that typically one would make yummy desserts containing cinnamon, cloves, and ginger sometime in the fall or winter months. I am aware that today is July 7. I just really, really REALLY love molasses cookies. I thought about making some kind of cupcake for this week's project, but was concerned about dealing with a mess of sticky melty frosting, being that the temperature hit 90 degrees today.

Plus I love molasses cookies. Did I already mention that? Well, it's true.

Iced Molasses Cookies

Recipe from www.cookiemadness.net

Makes 40-50 cookies

2 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

3/4 c. plus 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar

1/2 c. vegetable shortening

1/4 c. (4 Tbsp.) softened butter

1/4 molasses (light or dark)

1 large egg

Mix together the flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Cream the sugar with the butter and shortening. Beat in the molasses, then add egg and beat well until thoroughly mixed. Gradually add the flour mixture to the molasses mixture and stir to make a dough.

Chill dough for 90 minutes, or until ready to bake.

Shape dough into little balls (the recipe I was reading says it will make 50, but I only got 40, so I must roll bigger dough balls than most people). Arrange 2 1/2 inches apart on parchment-lined cookie sheets, press down slightly (I used my fingers).

Bake in the center of a preheated 350 degree oven for 10-14 minutes (took exactly 10 minutes in my oven). Let cool for 2 minutes on cookie sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Icing:

2 c. powdered sugar

1 Tbsp. melted butter

2 1/2 Tbsp. milk or light cream, plus more as needed (I used soy milk)

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix the sugar and butter together the best you can. Slowly stir in the milk and beat until smooth. Add vanilla, then add more milk little by little until you get a nice drizzling consistency. Using a teaspoon, drizzle over cooled cookies. The icing hardens pretty quickly, so you'll be able to stack them for storage.

The plan is to bring these lovely "better than store bought" cookies to work tomorrow, but I had to sample one to make sure they were good enough to share. They're chewy, molasses-y, and delicious. They'd be great without the icing, but it really adds a nice sweet note to balance out the "spice" from the cloves and ginger.

So good. You have to try them.