Ingredients

  • 3 12 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 12 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 12 teaspoon baking soda
  • 12 teaspoon salt
  • 12 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 12 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 14 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 14 cup dark molasses
  • 1 large egg
  • powdered sugar, sifted

Method

  • Grease cookie sheets; set aside.
  • Place flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, salt, cloves, cardamom and pepper in large bowl; stir to combine.
  • Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy scraping down side of bowl once.
  • Beat in molasses and egg.
  • Gradually add flour mixture.
  • Beat at low speed until dough forms, scraping down side of bowl once.
  • Form dough into a disc; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 30 minutes or up to 3 days.
  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • Roll dough into 1-inch balls.
  • Place balls 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.
  • Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Remove cookies with spatula to wire racks.
  • While warm, dust or roll with sifted powdered sugar.
  • Cool completely.
  • Store tightly covered at room temperature or freeze up to 3 months.