Great Grandma's Famous Cookies

Happy New Year! What better way to ring in the new year than to share a recipe with you. Maybe this will make you do a little more baking in 2011. What are your New Year's resolutions? Anything?

A fond memory I have of visiting Jared's grandparents in South Dakota are these Molasses Crinkle cookies. Grandma Rosemarie always made sure to have cookies and coffee out whenever anyone stopped by for a visit. These cookies are one I will never forget. I hope you will enjoy them as much as we do.

Here's the cast of characters.

Let's start by creaming the shortening and brown sugar.

Then add molasses and eggs. If you're really talented you can crack and add the eggs as the mixer is still going. It saves time. ;)

As much as I am not a big fan of the the smell of ginger it does add a little something to the cookies. 

The baking soda will give these cookies the perfect height and fluff!

Cinnamon is always a welcome ingredient in this house. I just love it, so don't forget to add it.

Slowly add the flour a little bit at a time until well blended.

This is the kids' favorite part. Can you tell? We live in a hands on household where the kids get their hands on everything.

Drop small balls into a bowl of sugar. Coat well.

Then smash them onto a cookie sheet.

 Bake them in the oven and watch the perfect little crinkles form.

Grandma Melius’s Molasses Crinkles

1 1/2 cups shortening
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup molasses
4 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
2 tsp ginger
4 1/2 cups flour
Small bowl of white sugar

Cream shortening and brown sugar. Add eggs and molasses. Slowly add dry ingredients. Mix well. Make small balls with dough. Roll balls in white sugar. Put onto greased baking sheet, and flatten down. Bake at 350 degrees for about 8 minutes. The cookies will crinkle nicely on the top.

These cookies have quickly become a favorite in our household.