1/2 cup Vegetable shortening
1 cup Sugar
3 Eggs
1/2 cup Cold water
2 teaspoons Baking soda
1 cup Sorghum or molasses
All-purpose flour (5-6 cups)
1 tablespoon Ground cinnamon
1/2 tablespoon Ground cloves
1 tablespoon Ginger
1/2 tablespoon Salt
Cream shortening and sugar in mixing bowl, beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix water and baking soda in small bowl until dissolved. Add baking soda mixture and sorghum to butter mixture. Sift 5 1/2 cups of the flour, the spices and salt together. Blend into dough. Divide dough into 4 balls. Wrap in plastic wrap. Flatten and refrigerate overnight.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Roll 1 portion of dough out at a time on lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes. Bake on a greased cookie sheet until puffed, 10 to 12 minutes. Do not over-bake.
When cool, decorate with buttercream frosting and/or candies as desired. Sorghum gives these cookies a special flavor, but molasses can be used as a substitute.
From the Chicago Tribune second annual Food Guide Holiday Cookie Contest December 14, 1989
Brought to you by Grassroots Recipes Mastercook Collections and Deirdre Dee Cox
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