Ruth Moulton's Spice Balls

A classic spice cookie. The dough balls flatten into delicious discs.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 48

Ingredients

• Cookie Dough

• 12  tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 1  large egg
• 1⁄4 cup molasses
• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 2  teaspoons baking soda
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon ground cloves
• 1⁄2 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1⁄2 teaspoon table salt

• Topping

• 1⁄4 cup sugar

Directions

1. Combine the butter and 1 cup of the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in the egg and molasses.
2. Sift the flour, soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and salt together onto a piece of parchment. Add to the butter mixture in 2 batches, beating just until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 2 to 3 hours.
3. Preheat the oven to 350°F Place the remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a pie plate. Shape the dough into walnut-size balls and roll in the sugar to coat. Arrange 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets and bake until cracked and dry but still soft, about 10 minutes. Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to cool on wire racks.