The Disappearing Molasses Cookies

Homemade Molasses Cookies

When fall arrives, the wonderful fragrance of cinnamon, ginger and cloves fills my senses. After all, it's the beginning of apple harvest, pumpkin gathering and visions of turkey roasting in the oven.

By now I have my Concord grape jelly made and I begin to focus on the spicy offerings of so many goodies available from nature's bounty. I make apple butter in the crock pot, molasses cookies regularly, fried apple pies, apple pies in pan, apple dumplings. Pumpkin pies, cookies and pumpkin rolls. So, when I see apple trees on display, with the luscious healthy fruits weighing down their branches, the aroma of the spices in those baking pies and cookies captures my attention.

This recipe I call, "Disappearing" Molasses Cookies. Aptly named because they keep disappearing as soon as they're plated. :)

Single Batch recipe

3/4 cup cooking oil

1 cup white sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1 egg

2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp ground cloves

½ tsp ground ginger

2 tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp salt

2 cups sifted all purpose flour

Mix oil, sugar, molasses, and egg. Sift the spices and add to the oil mixture. Then sift the flour and add to the oil mixture. This dough will be very stiff....if you have an electric mixer with dough hooks, this works best. Chill the dough overnight...or it can be kept in the fridge for up to a week before baking. To bake.. roll the dough into 1" balls...dip each ball into a bowl of sugar.....bake on a slightly greased cookie sheet at 350 for approx 12 minutes. I watch these cookies closely because we prefer them soft, but even crisp they are delicious. Allow the cookies to cool for a couple of minutes on the sheet before removing to a clean dish towel to fully cool. They are soft when first out of the oven but become crisp as they cool. Store in an airtight container. Makes approx 3 dozen cookies. Using a mixer with dough hook allows you to double or triple

This recipe makes a great holiday gift. I have made them and wrapped a dozen at a time and given them as gifts.