Ingredients

  • 2 cups (240 grams) unsifted all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon each ground ginger and allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup light molasses
  • 5 ounces (2/3 cup) sesame seeds

Method

  • Adjust rack to lower third of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two large cool baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Dough: Sift the flour, baking soda, spices, and salt on a sheet of waxed paper; set aside.
  • In the large bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter at medium-low speed until smooth, about 1 minute.
  • Beat in the sugar at medium speed until creamy.
  • Add the egg and beat just until fluffy, then gradually add the molasses until incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
  • Lower speed, gradually blend in the dry ingredients, and mix just until thoroughly combined.
  • Using a 16-inch pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain decorating tip (such as Ateco #6), pipe half teaspoons of dough 1 inch apart on cool baking sheets.
  • Decoration: Using a damp pastry brush, flatten the cookies slightly to remove the tip left from piping.
  • Generously sprinkle the sesame seeds over cookies.
  • With another baking sheet, press down evenly on cookies to flatten them all at once.
  • Bake, one sheet at a time, for 8 minutes, or until cookies are flat, feel slightly firm to the touch, and are cinnamon brown.
  • Place baking sheet on a wire rack to cool.
  • Lift cookies from parchment when cool.
  • Stack in an airtight metal container at room temperature and store up to 1 week.