Molasses Spice Cookies- Week 2

When I heard about the 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies event that Abby  was hosting, I knew that I wanted to be a part of it, even though I had already missed the first week.  As soon as the weather started getting a little cooler I've been listening on and off to Christmas music, (sorry Dad, Mom rubbed off on me!).  Heck, I've found myself looking forward to Christmas ever since the Storm Sprite arrived in July. 

Actually, these cookies are probably directly correlated with my holiday mindset.  You see, back in July, when I first made these cookies I was sitting there almost a week overdue, with completely non-functional A/C (it had died the day before) in record making heat and humidity, waiting to have my second baby.  I was trying everything to get her out when I came across this recipe for cookies that supposedly would help start labor.  Other than risking heating up my house even more, I figured I had nothing to lose.  Even if they didn't start labor, there would still be cookies to eat and I would have killed some time.

The whole house smelled like Christmas.  It was delightful.  The spices in this cookie scream Christmas to me, so much so that even after I had the Storm Sprite two days later, I have still been thinking Christmas ever since.

Molasses Spice Cookies Ingredients 2 1/2 c. flour 1 1/2 t. baking soda 3/4 t. cinnamon 1 t. ground ginger 1/2 t. ground cloves 1/2 t. salt 1/4 t. cayenne pepper 8 T. butter 1/2 c. sugar 1 c. brown sugar 1/3 c. molasses 1 egg  InstructionsPreheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine flour, baking soda and spices and set aside. Cream the butter and sugars together. Add the molasses to the creamed butter, then add the egg whites until combined. Add the dry ingredients slowly. Once incorporated, roll dough into 1 inch balls and place onto baking tray. Bake 8-10 minutes. Remove from tray and cool on wire rack. Yields: 24  Week 2 Twelve Weeks of Christmas: