She Strengthens

Warm Up with These Classic Winter Cookies

As the snowflakes start to fall and the fireplace crackles, nothing beats the warmth and comfort of a freshly baked cookie. This vintage recipe from Betty Crocker is a holiday staple, infused with the quintessential winter flavors of molasses, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.

A Cookie That Decorates Itself

The beauty of these cookies lies in their simplicity. As they bake, they naturally flatten and crack open, revealing a beautiful, rustic exterior that requires no extra effort or icing. Serve them alongside a steaming cup of hot toddy, and you’ll be in winter wonderland.

Key Ingredients

When it comes to molasses, opt for the darker, more robust variety for the richest flavor. You’ll also need sanding sugar, which adds a sparkling touch to the cookies. This type of sugar can be found in gourmet grocery stores or online.

Easy as Can Be

This recipe is a breeze to make, requiring just 40 minutes of prep time and yielding about 40 cookies. The dough comes together quickly, and after a brief chill, you’ll be ready to bake.

Get Baking!

Step 1: Prep the Dry Ingredients

Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt in a medium bowl to remove any lumps. Set aside.

Step 2: Mix the Wet Ingredients

Combine shortening, brown sugar, egg, and molasses in a large bowl. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Step 3: Bring it All Together

Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until a soft dough forms. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.

Step 4: Sugar and Bake

Heat the oven to 375°F and prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place coarse-grained sugar in a large dish and spread evenly. Form the chilled dough into 12 balls, placing them in the sugar without rolling. Press gently to adhere the sugar. Bake for 6 minutes, then rotate the sheets and bake for an additional 5-6 minutes.

Step 5: Cool and Enjoy

Let the cookies cool on wire racks for 5 minutes before transferring them to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough, and indulge in the warm, spicy goodness of these classic winter cookies.