Crunchy Molasses Cookies

Makes about 1 dozen medium cookies.

Ingredients:

Cookie Dough:

• 3 Tbsp vegetable shortening
• 3 Tbsp unrefined sugar
• 1/2 beaten egg
• 1 1/2 Tbsp molasses
• 1/2 c plus 1 Tbsp unbleached all purpose flour
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Coating:

• 1 Tbsp unrefined sugar
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

Cookie Dough:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F, and lightly grease a cookie sheet.
2. In a medium bowl, cream the shortening and sugar together, either with an electric beater or with a wooden spoon.
3. Add beaten egg and molasses. Beat together until well-combined.
4. In a small bowl, sift or whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, ginger, cloves and cinnamon until very well combined.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ones and combine well.
6. Use clean hands to roll 1-inch balls of cookie dough.

Coating and Baking:

1. In a small bowl, blend the coating ingredients, sugar and cinnamon.
2. Roll each dough ball into the mixture and place it on the prepared cookie sheet, 1 1/2 inches apart from the others.
3. Bake about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.
4. Remove to a cooling rack and cool completely before arranging on a tray.