Tag Archives: cloves

Betty’s Molasses Cookies


Day 3 Cookie Bake! My heart beats faster when I run across a recipe that is obviously well-used and treasured. This recipe came to me from mama’s recipe box and it to her from her close friend Betty Hopkins. Miss Betty’s Molasses Cookies made for a satisfying and wholesome end to cookie baking time today and I definitely see why mama insisted these cookies be included in my cookbook.  These proved to be a perfect cold weather stay-at-home-with-a book treat.

The buttermilk is in the dough, they aren’t glazed, and they have a soft, yet chewy, texture.  They bake round and tall and fill your kitchen with the aroma of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.  I love the dark raisins and the walnuts I used as they make  the cookies dense and satisfying; these are definitely cookies to sink your teeth into, and, needless to say, so perfect with a glass of cold milk (yes, for lunch). The molasses sweetly softens them but also makes for a sticky dough and these benefit from just a bit of shaping once they are on the cookie sheets. The spices layer with the molasses throughout and I have to say there really isn’t a thing that needs changing here, proving once again that old recipes are, like old friendships,  treasures indeed.

Betty’s Molasses Cookies

1/2 cup Crisco shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
2-1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup raisins
1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped

Directions  Preheat oven to 400. In large mixing bowl, cream shortening, sugar, and the molasses with a wooden spoon until well blended. Add the egg and buttermilk and beat briefly with electric mixer. Combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, cloves, cinnamon and salt in a separate bowl and stir with a fork to sift. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture gradually, blending well with a large rubber spatula after each addition. Fold in the raisins and the nuts. Bake on lightly-greased cookie sheets for 10 minutes. Store airtight. Yields 5 dozen.

A Wassil Kind of Day

wassail 2

You know the day: rainy, usually, with that little damp chill in the air. Wassail is easy prepared in a crock pot or on the stove and doing so will suffuse your house with the aroma of cinnamon, apples, and cloves. We enjoy Mamie’s recipe for this spiced winter drink on Christmas mornings while opening gifts, and I made a pot yesterday just for sipping all the rainy, chilly day long. Just set it on low heat before you walk away then return often for another mug full.

Winter Wassail

Ingredients

2 quarts apple juice
2 cups orange juice
1 cup lemon juice
18-oz. can pineapple juice (or 3-6 oz. cans)
1 stick cinnamon
1 tsp. whole cloves
1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar

Directions Place all ingredients in a large saucepan or crock pot, stir well to blend ingredients, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer on low several hours. Serve piping hot in insulated cups or heavy clear mugs. Be warmed.