4 sticks unsalted softened butter (2 cups)
3 cups sugar
1 cup unsulfured molasses
3 large eggs
1 tsp salt
8 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoon baking soda
1 1/2 tablespoon ginger
1 tablespoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon cinammon
Powdered sugar (probably about 1 cup)
In a large bowl, cream butter. Beat in sugar. Beat the mixture until it is light and fluffy. Then beat in molasses, eggs (one at a time beating well after each addition), and salt. Into a bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cloves and cinnamon, and stir the mixture into the butter mixture until it is incorporated well. Roll the dough into one and one-half inch balls with sugar-coated hands. Roll the balls in sugar, and arrange them 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake the cookies in a preheated moderate oven (350degrees) for 13 minutes and transfer them with a spatula to racks to cool. Makes about 70 cookies.
