3/4 cup molasses
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 eggs, beaten
4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
dash pepper
In saucepan combine molasses and butter. Cook and stir until butter melts. Cool to room temperature. Stir in eggs. Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and pepper. Add to molasses mixture; mix well. Chill several hours or overnight. Shape chilled dough into 1 inch balls. Bake on greased baking sheet at 375 degrees F for 12 minutes. Cool; roll in confectioner’s sugar.
Makes about 4-1/2 dozen cookies.