Chewy Comfort: Molasses Spice Cookies

If you love gingerbread and you find comfort in chewy soft cookies... you will definitely be baking these amazing golden goodies just about every single week.

This recipe had been pasted in my recipe scrapbook for years, sadly being ignored... but on a quiet Sunday when I was itching to get baking in the kitchen I decided to spontaneously give it a whirl.  And it was SO worth it!  The perfect combination of cinnamon, ginger, cloves and all spice with a generous hit of rich molasses makes it so moorish without it being sickly sweet.  It certainly isn't your average B grade cookie...it's my current top cookie of the moment which I can't resist sharing with everybody.  It's unique spicyness and chewy texture offers lots of comfort on a cold winters day.... even more satisfying when dipped into a steaming hot mug of milk.  Enjoy xo

Molasses Spice Cookies* (From Simply Recipes) Makes about 20 large cookies

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups plain flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon all spice

3/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3/4 cups unsalted butter (room temperature)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup raw sugar (plus extra 1/3 cup)

1/3 cup molasses

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 190 degrees celsius.

Mix in a bowl the sifted flour, baking powder, ginger, all spice, cinnamon, cloves and salt.

Beat the butter for about 2 minutes, then add the brown sugar and 1/2 cup of raw sugar and beat until pale and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract, egg and molasses and beat in until just combined.

Fold in the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients a little at a time using a spatula.

Once the dough is formed, get about 2 tablespoons worth of dough at a time to form a round ball (almost 2 inches in diameter) and then roll into the extra 1/3 cup of raw sugar to coat it on the outside.  Place onto a baking tray atleast 2 inches apart and bake for about 11 - 13 minutes.  They will still feel soft but that's ok... once cooled to room temperature they will be perfectly chewy.

* Simply Recipes "Molasses Spice Cookies"