Ginger-Molasses Cookies

Step 1

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and allspice.

Step 2

In another bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together butter, molasses and sugar on medium-high until the mixture is superlight, fluffy and pale, about 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add in eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla extract, and beat until everything is well combined, again stopping to scrape down bowl as necessary.

Step 3

Add dry ingredients all at once, and mix on low speed until just incorporated.

Step 4

Chill dough in refrigerator for 30 to 45 minutes, until firm enough to roll.

Step 5

Heat oven to 325 degrees.

Step 6

Using your hands, roll heaping tablespoons of dough into balls, then roll them in coarse sugar. (Sanding sugar is festive, but turbinado or coarse sugar will do the trick as well.) If dough becomes too soft to roll, put back in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes. Place balls on a parchment-lined baking tray 2 inches apart and bake until the cookies are puffed, golden brown around the edges and baked through and the tops spring back slightly when touched, 12 to 15 minutes.