Grandma Josie’s Molasses Cookies

One of my favorite things about the holidays has always been spending time in the kitchen making cookies, and eating them too!

I thought you might be getting ready to do a little baking this weekend and may benefit from a new recipe to add to your stash of cookie recipes.  Thus, I give you Grandma Josie’s Molasses Cookies.  This recipe is near and dear to my heart because it was my grandmother’s favorite cookie to make.

You know how a certain song, smell, or taste takes you back in time?

Kind of like when you hear The Outfield playing on the radio and you remember the time your friend Amber was driving and you saw a car full of cute boys and you were both so busy waving at them and looking cute on your way to the mall and while you were waving at the boys, Amber rear ended the car in front of you?  Oh wait…that’s just my memory of that song.

Well, this cookie is like that minus the cute boys and the tragic car accident.  This cookie is all cinnamon and cloves and molasses goodness that makes your home smell divine and your heart feel warm.  It’s the holidays in a cookie…if there were such a thing.

One smell and taste of it takes me back to my Grandma Josie’s kitchen with the white metal table, red vinyl chairs, black and white speckled pots and pans,  and jars ready for canning.

I inherited her love of crafts and music.  She played the organ, canned, baked, gardened, and made so many crafts…people would stop at their house on the way to the lake just to see what new things Josie had made.  She had a little shop in the front of her house.

These cookies are soft, almost like a little cake and they are filled with flavor.  They can be iced or not iced with a simple powder sugar and water icing.  I prefer them without icing, but my boys like a little extra frosting.

Here’s the recipe if you would like to make Grandma Josie’s Molasses Cookies too.

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup of shortening
• 2 cups of brown sugar
• 1 cup of molasses
• 2 tsp. soda
• 2tsp. cinnamnon
• 1 tsp. cloves
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 6 cups flour
• 1 cup warm water
• 1/2 cup nuts (optional)
• 1/2 cup raisins (optional but they are what make the cookie)

Mix well.  Drop onto buttered tins with a teaspoon.  Bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Have a fantastic day!

Nancy