Soft Gingerbread Cookies

I totally love soft cookies...any flavor...any size! They are just heavenly to bite into! But I really have a soft spot (pun intended) for all things gingerbread!

I've had gingerbread cake, muffins, pancakes and even gingerbread coffee. I just can't say 'no' to anything gingerbread flavored! These gingerbread cookies are made often in my house...not just for the holidays.

Soft Gingerbread Cookies

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup butter - softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 large egg
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large mixing bowl combine butter, sugar, molasses, egg and vanilla. Mix well.

2. In a separate large mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients and add to above mixture, a little at a time, to form a firm dough. You may not need the entire amount of dry ingredient mixture.

3. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place on parchment lined cookie sheets. Press down slightly to form into a disk. Leave a little room between each cookie.

4. Bake at 350 degrees F. on middle rack for 8-10 min.

5. I always double this recipe because they go so fast!

6. These cookies do not taste good warm. I always wait until they're fully cooled to eat them. Serves 5-6 people.