Molasses cookies

[feliciakw]

scionofgrace asked for my molasses cookie recipe. I actually have three:



Mrs. Bishop's Old Soft Ginger Cookies

Cousin J and I have no idea who Mrs. Bishop is/was, but we think she was probably a neighbor of our moms' (J grew up in the house our moms grew up in; I grew up in what used to be Great Aunt Ono's house. We started out next door to each other, but when Grandmama died, J's family moved to Grandmama's house. We were always within easy walking distance of each other. Anyway, Aunt J1 (J's mom) got this recipe from Mrs. Bishop, J got it from her mom, and I got it from J. Follow?)

3/4 c. dark molasses
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. + 1 Tbs. Crisco
1 c. buttermilk or regular milk & lemon juice (to make sour milk)
4 c. flour
2 level tsp. baking soda
1 (generous) tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. salt
1 lrg. egg (for drop cookies. Omit if you're making roll-out cookies)

If making roll-out cookies, chill. Then roll out and cut. For drop cookies, drop from teaspoon.
Sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 400ºF for 8 - 10 minutes. These cookies are rather soft and cake-like.




Joe Froggers

This is a recipe from my Aunt B, who is a real Southern lady. Ironically, this is a New England recipe. This recipe was included in a cookbook Aunt B put together for my bridal shower. Everything is in her handwriting.

1/2 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
1 c. dark molasses
1/2 c. water
4 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. allspice
sugar for sprinkling (optional)

In a large bolw, combine shortening and sugar. Mix well. Stir in molasses and water. In a separate bowl, stir together all dry ingredients. Blend the two mixtures and chill several hours or overnight.

Pre-heat oven to 375ºF. On floured surface, roll dough to 1/4" thickness. Cut out desired shapes. Sprinkle with sugar if desired. Place on well greased baking sheet. Bake 10 - 12 minutes until they spring back when lightly touched. Leave on baking sheet a few minutes to prevent breaking. Store in covered container.

Makes 3 - 4 doz.




Easy Ginger Cookies

This is the recipe I made earlier this week. My mom just gave it to me a few months ago, and it's very easy and very tasty.

1/2 c. canola oil
1/2 c. sugar (brown or white)
1/4 c. dark molasses
1 egg
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
2 c. flour
1 tsp. each: clove, ginger, cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt

In large bowl, mix oil, sugar, molasses, egg. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices, and salt. Mix well. Dough is stiff; form into teaspoon sized balls and dip in sugar. Bake 8 - 10 minutes at 350ºF oven.


In other news, Geo is baking the butter cake with which to make Lamingtons in a couple of days. Yum!!!!

In other other news, my icon makes me think I should pull out the pretzel recipe I made in junior high and give it a try again. It was so tasty that no sooner were the pretzels out of the oven than they disappeared.

Comments

[scionofgrace.livejournal.com]

Oo, I think I want to make the third one: I already have the ingredients! Thanks for posting them!

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

You're quite welcome.

Let me know how you like the recipe. I like it because, yeah, chances are I have the ingredients handy. I talked to Mother today and found out a little more about this recipe. Apparently the original calls for melted butter, but she substituted canola oil and it worked fine.

Also, the original came from my Aunt J1 when she and Uncle H were vacationing in Texas next to the Mexican border. that's neither here nor there, but it's an interesting factoid.