This recipes comes from a booklet: Better Homes and Gardens “Cookies for Santa”. It's great if you're looking for a Christmas cookie recipe that doesn't need rolling and cutting and frosting (and don't have room for that as I didn't for many years). But I might make the cookies a bit bigger than suggested because I've never gotten 90 cookies - more like 4 1/2 dozen. Last night I got 50. Also, I've always used butter and not shortening and last night I used dark brown sugar as that's what I had open - I don't think it matters.
1 cup shortening
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
1 ½ tsp baking soda
1 ½ tsp ground ginger
1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground cloves
⅓ cup molasses
2 eggs
1 Tbsp milk
3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup raisins
½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1. In a large mixing bowl beat shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Beat till well combined. Beat in molasses, eggs, and milk till combined. Beat in as much flour as you can with mixer. Stir in any remaining flour with a wooden spoon. Stir in raisins and nuts. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
2. Bake in a 375* oven about 8 minutes or till bottoms are lightly browned. Transfer cookies to wire racks; let cool. Makes about 90.
