Old Time Ginger Snaps

1 cup molasses 1/2 cup butter 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 to 2 teaspoons ginger 1-1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons sugar 3-1/4 cups flour

Directions:
Sift dry ingredients together and set aside. Heat molasses to the boiling point in a heavy saucepan. Add 1/2 cup butter and stir until melted. Add dry ingredients a little at a time, stirring until well blended. (Mixture will become stiff.) Shape dough into a roll and chill. Cut into thin slices and bake on a lightly greased sheet at 350° F. Store in a tightly covered container.

Notes:
My mother Doris Hill collected this recipe for old-fashioned gingersnaps and hand-wrote it on a card for her recipe files. I think the Fannie Farmer Cookbook Gingerbread Cookie recipe has a few more spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg), but it's very similar.

Molasses Cookies ("Farmer Cookies")

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons molasses 1/3 cup chopped walnuts 1 teaspoon soda

1 tablespoon warm water 3 cups flour 1/4 teaspoon. salt 1 tablespoon milk

Directions:
Cream butter; gradually add sugar and molasses; beat until light. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Shape into a roll. Cut into 1/8" slices and arrange on greased cookie sheet. Bake in 350° oven for about 12 minutes. (About 6 1/2 dozen.)

Notes:
These are good and a little different than the usual.

Crackled Gingersnap Cookies

3/4 cup soft butter 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/4 cup dark molasses 1 egg 2-1/4 cups sifted flour

1-1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves Sugar

Directions:
Cream butter and brown sugar together; add molasses and egg. Beat thoroughly. Sift dry ingredients together and stir into the molasses mixture. Shape the dough into a flattened ball. Wrap it in plastic wrap and chill it for one hour. Then shape the chilled dough into balls the size of walnuts and place them on a greased cookie sheet about two inches apart. Flatten the bottom of each ball with the bottom of a greased drinking glass which has been dipped in sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.

Ginger Bread

3/4 cup margarine 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 cup dark molasses

1 teaspoon ginger 1 teaspoon powdered cloves 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon soda 3 cups flour

Directions:
Blend margarine and sugar. Stir in eggs and molasses. Sift remaining ingredients together, and add to molasses mixture, mixing well. Coat an 8x8" baking pan with cooking spray. Spread batter into baking pan and bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until gingerbread tests done.

Notes:
This recipe was collected by my mother, Doris Hill. She wrote it by hand on a recipe card for her files.

Christmas Fruit Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup flour 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ginger 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup shortening 1/3 cup dark molasses 2 eggs, slightly beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup chopped raisins 1 cup chopped nuts

Directions:
Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir together. With a fork, blend in shortening. Add eggs and molasses; mix well. Spoon into a 9x9 pan and bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 or until it tests done.

Notes:
My mother, Doris Hill, collected this recipe and wrote it by hand for her recipe files.