Moravian Spice Cookies Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Whisk the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, pepper and mustard together in a medium bowl.
• Beat the butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until just combined and lightly fluffy. Beat in the molasses and egg yolk. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix together on low speed until dough is just combined and still crumbly, about 3 minutes. Give dough a few turns with a spatula to bring together.
• Lay out wax paper on a clean work surface and put about 1/3 of the batter on top. Lightly press down and top with another sheet of wax paper. Using your hands or a rolling pin, gently pat into a rectangle. Roll out with a rolling pin until dough is as thin as possible without breaking, no thicker than 1/16 inch thick. This is the key to these cookies: they really can't be too thin. Gently peel back the layer of waxed paper and then replace it loosely.
• Transfer rolled batter to a flat baking sheet and freeze until firm and can easily be peeled away from the waxed paper, about 30 minutes. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• Cut dough using a small (2- to 3-inch) fluted round cookie cutter and return to the freezer for 15 minutes to set. Transfer frozen cookies to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake until crisp and lightly, evenly colored (but not brown), about 10 minutes.

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl beat together the brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add molasses and egg yolk and beat well until combine.
• 2. In another bowl combine the flour and all remaining ingredients,blend well and add to the molasses mixture in small amounts at a time. Dough will be loose and crumbly. Gently press dough to make a soft mound then take 1/3 of the dough and place on a piece of parchment paper;pat into a rectangle. Place another piece of paper on top and roll as thin as possible (1/16-inch thick). Repeat with remaining dough.
• 3. Gently peel back top paper,replace paper and freeze for 30 minutes. Remove from freezer remove top paper and cut cookies with a 2-inch round or other cookie cutter. Place cookie on a clean piece of parchment paper on cookie sheet and freeze for 15 minutes.
• 4. Heat oven to 325^. Remove cookies from freezer ; sprinkle tops with cinnamon/sugar if desired. Bake for 10 minutes. Yes that is the correct time. But check on them as ovens bake differently. They should be brown but not to dark- this depends on if you used light or dark molasses and brown sugar. If you do not cinnamon/sugar the tops. You can frost with a glaze when cooled.
• 5. Glaze: 1 c. sifted powdered sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond flavoring(extract) 1 1/2 Tablespoons water as needed (milk will make the frosting too soft Blend sugar,salt and flavoring, add water to desired spreading consistency.

Steps:

• Mix molasses, shortening and brown sugar in a large bowl. Stir in flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and spices. Cover and refrigerate about 4 hours or until firm.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Roll half of the dough at a time to 1/8 inch thickness or paper-thin on a floured cloth-covered surface. Cut into 3 inch rounds with floured cutter.
• Place about 1/2 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 1/8 inch thick cookies about 8 minutes; paper-thin cookies about 5 minutes or until light brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Cool completely.
• To Make Frosting: Mix 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 1-2 tablespoons half-and-half until of spreading consistency. Spread frosting on cooled cookies.