Step 1

With a standing mixer or hand mixer, cream the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.

Step 2

Add in the molasses and the egg, and beat the dough until well combined.

Step 3

Add in flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon and cloves. Mix until combined well combined.

Step 4

Chill dough for at least 1 hour.

Step 5

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 6

Roll dough into about 1 1/2" balls (about the size of a walnut), and roll in granulated sugar. Place each cookie about 2" apart on the baking sheet.

Step 7

Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until the cookies begin to puff up and crack. Let the cookies cool on the baking trays until they set (the cookies will flatten a bit--this is totally normal).

Step 8

Sprinkle with extra sugar, if desired. Let the cookies finish cooling a wire rack.