Classic Iced Molasses Cookies

Time :25

Yield :36 servings

Recipe Background

Molasses brings the wonderful contrast of sweet and smoky, a depth of flavor that makes desserts like Classic Iced Molasses Cookies such a treat! Tender and moist, with plenty of warming aromatic spices and a creamy, cool icing lusciously spread on top, Classic Iced Molasses Cookies can bring a smile to your face during even the coldest winter days; they'll certainly make the most of your next party! Classic Iced Molasses Cookies aren't just called classic for fun—they're an old-fashioned dessert that feels like a new invention!

Ingredients

For the cookies:

2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon allspice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup unsalted butter softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup molasses light and unsulphured

For the icing:

4 tablespoons solid vegetable shortening
2 cups confectioners' sugar
2-3 tablespoons water

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl, combine the sifted flour, the baking soda, the salt, the allspice, and the cinnamon and sift the mixture.
In another large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter and the sugar until it is smooth, about 3 minutes.
Add the egg to the butter mixture and mix well.
Beat the molasses into the butter mixture.
Add the dry ingredient mixture to the butter mixture and mix thoroughly.
Drop the batter by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets, leaving several inches between for expansion.
Bake the cookies until golden, about 8-10 minutes.
Cool the cookies on the sheet for 1 minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
While the cookies cool, in a bowl, combine the shortening, the confectioners' sugar, and the water and beat until it is smooth.
Use a small knife or spatula to spread a thin layer of the icing on each of the cooled cookies.
Serve.