Here ya go. Chewy Molasses Cookies (Annie CF) 1 1/2 cups of shortening (I use half and half with butter, but all butter makes them too crispy for my taste) 1 cups granulated sugar 1 cup dark brown sugar 2 eggs 3/4 cup of dark molasses 4 1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon salt 4 teaspoons baking soda 2 teaspoons cinnamon 2 teaspoons ginger 1 teaspoon ground cloves Chopped crystalized ginger, optional, to taste. I used about half a cup, finely chopped and wish I'd have used more but I love ginger Coarse sugar or turbinado sugar for rolling Cream the shortening and sugars. Add the molasses and eggs and mix until well blended. Sift the flour (yeah right, I don't, LOL) and measure 4 1/2 cups into a separate bowl. Add the spices, salt, and baking soda and whisk to combine. Turn the mixer to low or stir, and add the flour slowly until well mixed. Stir in the chopped ginger and chill the dough for at least an hour. After the dough has chilled for an hour, roll tablespoonfuls of the dough into balls and roll the balls in the coarse sugar to completely coat. Place the dough balls about an inch apart on a greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes in a 350 degree oven. The cookies will puff up and crack. When the cookies are done the cracks should still look a little wet, but the outside should look dry. They'll "fall" a little as they cool, let them sit a couple of minutes on the sheet before you try to move them to cooling racks.

I just got this from Land 'o Lakes.......have made their gingrebread cookies before as well as a lot of their other recipes and have never been disappointed. HALLOWEEN MOLASSES CUT-OUTS These cut-out cookies will charm your Halloween guests. Preparation time: 1 hrs Baking time: 8 min Yield: 4 dozen cookies Cookie Ingredients: 1/2 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup molasses 1 egg 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg Frosting Ingredients: 4 cups powdered sugar 1/2 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened 2 teaspoons vanilla 3 to 4 tablespoons milk Decorator sugars Combine butter, sugar, molasses, egg and vinegar in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add all remaining ingredients. Beat, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Divide dough into thirds; wrap in plastic food wrap. Refrigerate until firm (2 hours or overnight). Heat oven to 350°F. Roll out dough on surface lightly covered with equal mixture of flour and sugar, one portion at a time (keeping remaining dough refrigerated), to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with assorted 2 to 3-inch cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until no indention remains when touched. Let stand 1 minute. Cool completely. Combine all frosting ingredients except milk and decorator sugars in small bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often and gradually adding enough milk for desired spreading consistency. Decorate cooled cookies with frosting and decorator sugars, as desired.

Stay safe and eat cookies. They look delicious. Annie

LOL, Bragu, thanks for the numbers. (grin) FOAS, I don't make them nearly as often as I used to, and the batch makes so many that I just freeze balls of dough on sheet pans then dump them into ziplock bags and keep them in the freezer. I was out, but I'm not any more, and now I have some for next week when Mother comes to stay for a few days. Plus my stepdaughter's husband says they are the best cookie he's ever had and they are coming to visit around Thanksgiving, so I can have some in the freezer all ready to bake.. Cloud Swift, I hope you heal up quickly and completely. Cookies are good medicine, be sure to eat lots! edie, I know that molasses cookies are kind of "old fashioned", but I still like them the best. LindaC, she seemed to be able to handle cookies with both hands and mentioned that she could use some help with an upcoming bake sale. She's definitely not able to bake anything. No good deed goes unpunished... Chloebud, I have to get my baking fix somehow, plus practice for Christmas! Sheilajoyce, My nickname wasn't nearly that nice, LOL, but I do like cookies. And, it gave us enough energy to finish up those QuickBooks, so it was a pretty good day. Annie