Ingredients

• 1 pint molasses
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup lard, melted (more lard than butter)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/16 teaspoon clove, ground
• 1 teaspoon baking soda (in molasses)
• 6 bittersweet chocolate squares, melted (3 oz)
• 5 1/2 cups flour

Instructions

1. Mix soda into molasses then add brown sugar, eggs cinnamon, and cloves.

2. Melt lard, butter and chocolate, then add to mixture.

3. Sift in flour gradually, until stiff.

4. Refrigerate to make dough hard and easy to roll.

5. Roll out dough on floured surface until about 1/4 inch think.

6. Cut using a "jumble cutter" (great grandma use to have these custom made) or cut ino 4 inch circles with a 1 inch hole in the middle. You can also use cookie cutters. We now use a donut cutter.

7. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets for 7-9 minutes in 350 degree oven. The cookie will turn a lighter shade of brown and the edges will start to turn golden brown.

8. Make a frosting with water and powdered sugar and frost cookies.

9. Tip: If cookies dry out, place the heal of a piece of bread in the storage container.

10. Tip #2: make sure dough is well chilled when rolling out, cutting and putting in the oven. This will ensure they rise so they are soft .

11. Tip#3: You can substitute vegetable shortening for the lard.