Chewy Molasses Spice Cookies

The stockings are not quite hung by the chimney with care ... but I'm working on it! Christmas decorating started today and to get us in the mood, I turned on Elf, lit a fraiser fur candle, and whipped up a batch of these Chewy Molasses Cookies. 

The smell of them baking filled the house with the warmth of the holidays and we literally couldn't stop eating them. They are perfectly soft and chewy, sweet and spicy, and sure to become a holiday favorite.

Chewy Molasses Spice Cookies

makes 18 cookies

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup dark brown sugar

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 large egg

1/4 cup dark molasses

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a shallow bowl, place 1/2 cup sugar; set aside.

With an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until combined. Beat in egg and then molasses until combined. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in dry ingredients, just until a dough forms.

Using a 2" cookie scoop, roll dough into balls. Roll balls in reserved sugar to coat.

Arrange balls on baking sheets, about 3 inches apart. Bake, one sheet at a time, until edges of cookies are just firm, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool 1 minute on baking sheets; transfer to racks to cool completely.