Molasses Spice Cutouts Food

SWEDISH SPICE CUTOUTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, corn syrup and molasses. Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and cloves; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or until easy to handle. , On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with floured 4-in. cookie cutters. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Top with almonds if desired or leave plain. , Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. Frost plain cookies if desired.

ROLLED MOLASSES COOKIES

Steps:

• If you want to use vegetable shortening instead of lard, increase the amount by 1/2 cup I have never done this.
• (I add cinnamon too).
• Cream lard, sugars; add eggs, salt, spices, and baking soda.
• Add molasses and beat well, add water slowly.
• Stir in enough flour to make a dough stiff enough to roll.
• (I chill dough for a few hours) Roll 1/4 inch thick (or thicker if you want cake-y cookies) and you may sprinkle with extra sugar.
• Cut cookies, place on ungreased cookie sheets, bake in a 400 oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
• They are done when you can press down with a finger and leave a dent.
• Cool on wire racks.
• I prefer to gauge doneness by looking at the underside of the cookie and seeing how brown it is.
• If you want a cake-y cookie, don't let the cookies get dark browned, you want them golden, dark tan.
• Baking time will vary with the size of your cookies too.
• Small ones take a lot less time to bake.