Delicious molasses spice cookies made with a blend of spices and rich flavor ingredients. Perfect for the holiday season, these cookies are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
1: Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2: Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
3: Whisk flour, baking soda, spices, and salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined.
4: In a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat butter with brown and granulated sugars at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
5: Reduce speed to medium-low and add egg yolk and vanilla; increase speed to medium and beat until incorporated, about 20 seconds.
6: Reduce speed to medium-low and add molasses; beat until fully incorporated, about 20 seconds, scraping bottom and sides of bowl once with a rubber spatula.
7: Reduce speed to the lowest setting; add flour mixture and beat until just incorporated, about 30 seconds, scraping bowl down once.
8: Place 1/2 cup sugar for dipping in an 8- or 9-inch cake pan.
9: Using a tablespoon measure, scoop a heaping tablespoon of dough and roll between palms into 1 1/2-inch balls; drop the ball into the cake pan with sugar and repeat to form about 4 balls.
10: Toss balls in sugar to coat and set on prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Repeat with remaining dough.
11: Bake 1 sheet at a time until cookies are browned, still puffy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft, about 9-11 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking.
12: Cool cookies on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then use a wide metal spatula to transfer cookies to a cooling rack; cool cookies to room temperature and serve.
