Old Fashioned Homemade Ginger Cookies

These ginger cookies are awesome! This recipe has been in my family for many generations. I can remember my Great Grandmother making these when we were just kids and we are still making them and enjoying them today.

Directions:

Yield: 4 dozen cookies

1. Put two cups of the sugar and shortening in a large bowl and mix together using a hand mixer.
2. Add the eggs and molasses. Mix together using the hand mixer until you get a nice, smooth and creamy batter. It will have a texture similar to cake batter.
3. Add the salt, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and ginger to the cookie mixture. Mix together using the hand mixture.
4. Finally, we add the flour. Mix in the flour using the electric mixer.
5. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place the remaining half cup of sugar in a bowl. Take a small amount of cookie dough out of your bowl and roll it into a ball, approximately 1 inch in diameter. Drop the ball of cookie dough in the bowl of sugar and roll it around to lightly coat. Place this cookie dough ball onto the baking sheet.
6. Repeat the previous step, leaving about 1 1/2 – 2 inches space between your cookies because these cookies will expand while cooking.
7. Bake the cookies at 350°F in the oven for 15-18 minutes depending on your oven. These cookies are meant to be softer. If you cook them too long or at a higher temperature you will end up with a harder cookie that is closer to a ginger snap.

ENJOY!!!