Molasses Jumbles Recipes

CHOCOLATE-MOLASSES COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Melt butter in a small pot over medium heat and add ginger, if using. Remove from heat and let sit a few minutes while you prepare everything else.
• In a large bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ground ginger and salt.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, molasses, egg and ginger butter. Using a spatula, slowly mix into dry ingredients, mixing until no dry spots remain.
• Using your hands, roll small balls of dough about the size of a quarter (dough will be soft - if it is too soft for you to handle, pop into the fridge for a few minutes to firm up). Roll the balls in the sanding sugar and place on the prepared baking sheets about 1-inch apart.
• Bake until just puffed and baked through, 6 to 8 minutes. Let cool completely before eating.

JUMBO MOLASSES COOKIES

Steps:

• Beat 1 cup sugar and the butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in remaining ingredients except sugar. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours until dough is firm.
• Heat oven to 375°. Generously grease cookie sheet with shortening. Roll dough 1/4 inch thick on generously floured cloth-covered surface. Cut into 3-inch circles. Sprinkle with sugar. Place about 1 1/2 inches apart on cookie sheet.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until almost no indentation remains when touched lightly in center. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

GRANDMA WOLCOTTS CHOCOLATE JUMBLES (1912)

Steps:

• Mix soda into molasses then add brown sugar, eggs cinnamon, and cloves.
• Melt lard, butter and chocolate, then add to mixture.
• Sift in flour gradually, until stiff.
• Refrigerate to make dough hard and easy to roll.
• Roll out dough on floured surface until about 1/4 inch think.
• Cut using a "jumble cutter" (great grandma use to have these custom made) or cut ino 4 inch circles with a 1 inch hole in the middle. You can also use cookie cutters.
• Bake on ungreased cookie sheets for 7-9 minutes in 350 degree oven. The cookie edges will start to turn brown.
• Make a frosting with water and powdered sugar and frost cookies.
• Tip: If cookies dry out, place the heal of a piece of bread in the storage container.