Chocolate Ginger Molasses Cookies

I have a really nice neighbor. He comes over and snow blows our driveway after every storm. We never asked him to, he just started doing it. I baked him these cookies and delivered them as a thank you. I told him he was a good Samaritan. He said that someone used to it for him when he was working overnights and he wanted to pay it forward. I pay forward with sweet treats.


Chocolate Ginger Molasses Cookies
Source: Baked Explorations
Yield: 2-3 dozen

3 1/4 cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1 T ground ginger
2 t cinnamon
1 t ground cloves
1 T baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
1 t salt
5 T unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup molasses
2 oz bitter sweet chocolate, melted and cooled

Glaze
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 egg white
1 t lemon juice

Whisk the flour, cocoa, spice, soda, powder and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of mixer beat butter and shortening. Add the sugar and beat until fluffy. Add the egg and beat. Add the molasses and then the chocolate and beat after each. Add the dry mixture in 3 batches. Divide the dough into two disks and refrigerate until chilled.

Preheat oven to 350.

Roll the dough out on floured surface. Cut into shapes. Bake about 7 minutes.

Glaze: mix confectioner's sugar, egg white and lemon juice and either decorate or drizzle over cookies. Allow to harden.