Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (I prefer ground sea salt)
• 1/4 teaspoon fine ground pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1/2 cup butter (1 Stick) or 1/2 cup margarine, softened (1 Stick)
• 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses (I prefer Dark)
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Stir all dry ingredients together in one bowl.

3. In separate bowl with mixer at medium speed beat butter and brown sugar till smooth.Beat in molasses till smooth. Reduce speed to low beat in egg and vanilla.Beat in dry combined ingredients until combined. Occasionally scrapping with a rubber spatula.

4. I roll dough into balls about thee size of a small walnut on an ungreased cookie sheet about 3 inches apart. I prefer to use parchment paper for easier cleanup.

5. Bake cookies 10-15 minutes until flattened and evenly browned. Cool on cookie sheet about 2 minutes. With wide spatula transfer to wire cooling racks to cool completely.

6. Repeat with remaining dough.

7. My wife likes to dip half the cooled cookie in chocolate to give it some added sweetness and dress them up.