Grandma's Molasses Cookies

My Grandma was a great baker.  She always had chocolate chip or her molasses cookies on hand.  What was extra special about the molasses cookies was that you could have them for breakfast.  I'm not sure why that was.  Maybe because they went well with her morning coffee or maybe is has to do with the thought that molasses was good for you.  Whatever reason...it didn't really matter.  They were really wonderful.

I haven't had one of these cookies for probably 40 years, but the memory of them in my mind was very clear.  With a little help from my Aunt, we were able to come up with her original recipe.  I do have to admit that I did tweak it a bit to my tastes.

From my first bite, I knew I had done it. I had made Grandma's cookies.  It brought back such a clear taste memory that it brought tears to my eyes.  I was certainly feeling my Grandma the other night.

Here is her recipe.

Molasses Cookies:

2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
(Gma's recipe did not call for salt, but I added 1/4 tsp salt)
3/4 cup shortening (I used 1/2 cup butter and 1/4 cup shortening)
1 cup sugar
4 tbsp Gold Label Molasses
1 large egg

Mix dry ingredients together.  Cream together the wet ingredients.  Add the dry ingredient to the wet until well mixed.  Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill.  When ready to bake, form into 1 inch balls and roll in sugar.  Place dough balls on greased cookie sheet (I used parchment covered sheets).  Press lightly with flat bottom glass.  Make thumbprint dent in middle of cookie.  Put a dot of grape jelly in center of cookie (I used my homemade strawberry jam instead).  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Way yummy and got the thumbs up from the rest of the family.