Spice Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 210 grams sugar (about 1 cup)
• ¼ cup molasses
• 1 large egg
• all-purpose flour (about 2 cups)
• baking soda (about 2 teaspoons)
• ground cinnamon (about 1 teaspoon)
• ground ginger (about 3/4 teaspoon)
• ground cloves (about 3/4 teaspoon)
• fine sea salt (about 1/2 teaspoon)
• confectioners’ sugar (about 3 3/4 cups)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream or milk, more as needed
• 1 to 2 tablespoons Irish whiskey, optional

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line several baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick liners.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat 12 tablespoons butter with the sugar, molasses and egg until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Slowly beat in flour, baking soda, spices and salt.
3. Shape dough into walnut-size balls and place 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Bake until firm, about 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on wire racks.
4. To make the icing, beat remaining 4 tablespoons butter with confectioners’ sugar until smooth (go slowly so you don’t create a sugar storm). Beat in vanilla and enough cream or milk, and whiskey if using, to make a spreadable frosting. Use on fully cooled cookies.