Molasses Crinkles

Ingredients

• •2¼ cups all-purpose flour
• •2 teaspoons baking soda
• •1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• •¾ teaspoon ground ginger
• •½ teaspoon ground allspice
• •½ teaspoon ground cloves
• •½ teaspoon salt
• •½ cup vegetable shortening
• •¼ cup unsalted butter
• •1 cup dark brown sugar
• •1 large egg
• •½ cup molasses
• •⅓ cup sanding sugar

Cooking Instructions

1. 1.

   Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves, and salt in a bowl until combined.

   3 min

2. 2.

   Beat together shortening, butter, and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a stand mixer (preferably fitted with paddle attachment) or 6 minutes with a handheld. Add egg and molasses, beating until combined. Reduce speed to low, then mix in flour mixture until combined.

   6 min

3. 3.

   Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 375°F.

   10 min

4. 4.

   Roll 1 heaping teaspoon of dough into a 1-inch ball with wet hands, then dip 1 end of ball in sanding sugar. Make more cookies in same manner, arranging them, sugared side up, 2 inches apart on 2 ungreased baking sheets.

   15 min

5. 5.

   Bake cookies, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until undersides are golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes total, then cool on sheets 1 minute. Transfer to racks to cool completely. Make more cookies with remaining dough on cooled baking sheets.

   12 min

6. 6.

   *Available at Sweet Celebrations (800328-6722).