Martha's Chewy Molasses Spice Cookies

• unbleached flour↗2 cups
• baking soda↗1 1⁄2 teaspoons
• ground cinnamon↗1 teaspoon
• ground fresh nutmeg↗1⁄2 teaspoon
• ground cloves↗1⁄4 teaspoon

  (my addition)

• salt↗1⁄2 teaspoon
• sugar↗1 1⁄2 cups
• unsalted butter↗3⁄4 cup

  softened

• large egg↗1
• unsulphured molasses↗1⁄4 cup

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350°.

2. 2

   In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt.

3. 3

   In a shallow bowl, place 1/2 cup sugar; set aside.

4. 4

   With an electric mixer, beat butter and remaining 1 cup of sugar until combined. Beat in egg and then molasses until incorporated.

5. 5

   Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in dry ingredients, *just* until a dough forms.

6. 6

   Pinch off and roll dough into 1" balls. Roll balls in the reserved sugar to coat.

7. 7

   Arrange balls on parchment lined baking sheets, about 3 inches apart. Bake, one sheet at a time, until edges are just firm and top of cookies have a "crackle" effect, 10 to 15 minutes.

8. 8

   Cool cookies 1 minute on baking sheets; transfer to racks to cool completely.