Martha's Chewy Molasses Spice Cookies

From Martha Stewart's Everyday Food as found online.

• Ready In: 15 mins
• Yields: 3 dozen

Ingredients

• 2  cups unbleached flour
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  ground fresh nutmeg
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves (my addition)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄2 cups sugar
• 3⁄4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1  large egg
• 1⁄4 cup unsulphured molasses

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt.
3. In a shallow bowl, place 1/2 cup sugar; set aside.
4. With an electric mixer, beat butter and remaining 1 cup of sugar until combined. Beat in egg and then molasses until incorporated.
5. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in dry ingredients, *just* until a dough forms.
6. Pinch off and roll dough into 1" balls. Roll balls in the reserved sugar to coat.
7. Arrange balls on parchment lined baking sheets, about 3 inches apart. Bake, one sheet at a time, until edges are just firm and top of cookies have a "crackle" effect, 10 to 15 minutes.
8. Cool cookies 1 minute on baking sheets; transfer to racks to cool completely.