Dry Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted before measuring
• ⅓ cup sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1½ tsp ground ginger
• ½ tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp nutmeg

Wet Ingredients

• ¼ cup hot water
• 1 cup molasses
• ½ cup melted butter
• 1 egg

1. Preheat oven to 350º
2. Sift together flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and spices
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer blend the dry ingredients
4. Gradually add water just until dough comes together. Add melted butter, molasses and egg. Dough will be a little wet to the touch
5. Flour a work surface and your rolling pin and roll dough to 1/4" thick
6. Cut dough into shapes
7. Place shapes on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or sprayed with non-stick spray
8. Bake at 350º for about 8-10 minutes
9. Allow to cool before decorating