Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies

On a rainy Sunday afternoon, these molasses cookies are the cookies to have next to you when you’re camped out on the sofa watching old movies. These cookies are soft, the texture is more cake-like than a crisp cookie. They’re can’t-just-eat-one delicious!

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 tablespoons hot water
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 large egg
• 6 tablespoons cold water
• coarse sugar for sprinkling

1. Preheat oven to 400º. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with baking spray.
2. Sift flour, ginger, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl, set aside. Dissolve baking soda in the hot water.
3. In a large bowl, mix shortening, sugar, molasses, and egg until light and fluffy. Mix in flour mixture, alternately with cold water, then mix in the baking soda.
4. Drop by rounded tablespoons, 2 inches apart onto baking sheet, and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 10 minutes, cool on a wire rack.