Aunt Claras Soft Molasses Cookies Recipes

AUNT CLARA'S FILLED MOLASSES COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Toss raisins and 1 teaspoon flour together in a saucepan until raisins are coated in flour. Stir 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and lemon juice into raisins. Pour 1 cup boiling water over raisin mixture; bring mixture to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, until raisins start to break down and mixture thickens, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• Stir 2 3/4 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, and salt together in a bowl.
• Whisk melted shortening and molasses together in another bowl; stir in remaining vanilla extract. Dissolve baking soda in 1/3 cup boiling water. Stir soda water into molasses mixture until mixture foams and is well-combined. Stir flour mixture and molasses mixture together in a large bowl until a stiff dough forms.
• Divide dough into 2 balls; 1 dough ball for the bottom cookie rounds and 1 ball for the top cookie rounds. Cover 1 dough ball with a damp paper towel; roll remaining dough ball out to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut dough into rounds using the top of a glass or a round cookie cutter. Place these bottom rounds 2-inches apart on a baking sheet. Top each dough round with 1 tablespoon of raisin filling mixture.
• Roll out remaining dough ball to 1/8-inch thickness and cut into rounds using the same cutter. Moisten fingers slightly with water and carefully work each top round from the center outwards until each is about 1/4-inch larger around than the bottom round. Working from one edge, place top round over bottom round and filling, pressing firmly to seal the cookie. Lightly press down tops of cookies to settle filling in the pocket.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cookie is set, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool briefly on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

MOM'S MOLASSES COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix together brown sugar, Crisco, molasses and egg; add in flour, soda and spices, mix well.
• Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 375°.
• Shape dough into walnut-sized balls.
• Dip tops in granulated sugar.
• Place sugar-side up about 3" apart on cookie sheet.
• Bake 10-12 minutes.
• Remove immediately from cookie sheet and let cool.

SOFT MOLASSES COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, shortening and sugar until light-colored and fluffy. Beat in molasses and eggs; set mixture aside. In another large bowl, combine flour (no need to sift), salt, baking soda, ginger, cloves and cinnamon. Blend thoroughly with wire whisk. Gradually mix flour mixture into creamed ingredients until dough is blended and smooth. Roll dough into 1-1/2-in. balls. Dip tops in granulated sugar; place 2-1/2 in. apart on greased baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 11 minutes. Do not overbake. Cool on wire rack. Store in tightly covered container to maintain softness.

AUNT CLARA'S FILLED MOLASSES COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Toss raisins and 1 teaspoon flour together in a saucepan until raisins are coated in flour. Stir 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and lemon juice into raisins. Pour 1 cup boiling water over raisin mixture; bring mixture to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, until raisins start to break down and mixture thickens, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• Stir 2 3/4 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, and salt together in a bowl.
• Whisk melted shortening and molasses together in another bowl; stir in remaining vanilla extract. Dissolve baking soda in 1/3 cup boiling water. Stir soda water into molasses mixture until mixture foams and is well-combined. Stir flour mixture and molasses mixture together in a large bowl until a stiff dough forms.
• Divide dough into 2 balls; 1 dough ball for the bottom cookie rounds and 1 ball for the top cookie rounds. Cover 1 dough ball with a damp paper towel; roll remaining dough ball out to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut dough into rounds using the top of a glass or a round cookie cutter. Place these bottom rounds 2-inches apart on a baking sheet. Top each dough round with 1 tablespoon of raisin filling mixture.
• Roll out remaining dough ball to 1/8-inch thickness and cut into rounds using the same cutter. Moisten fingers slightly with water and carefully work each top round from the center outwards until each is about 1/4-inch larger around than the bottom round. Working from one edge, place top round over bottom round and filling, pressing firmly to seal the cookie. Lightly press down tops of cookies to settle filling in the pocket.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cookie is set, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool briefly on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

AUNT CLARA'S SOFT MOLASSES COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Blend in the molasses and egg, beating well.
• In another bowl, combine the flour, ginger, cinnamon, allspice and cloves.
• Dissolve baking soda in the water.
• Next, add the flour and baking soda mixtures alternately to butter mixture.
• Blending well after each addition.
• Drop by rounded tablespoons onto lightly greased and floured cookie sheets.
• Bake at 350ºF about 12 to 15 minutes until done.
• Remove from cookie sheets and cool on wire racks.