Ingredients
1½cupsmolasses
1cupbrown sugar,packed
⅓cupvegetable shortening
⅔cupcold water
6cupsall-purpose flour
2tspbaking soda
1tspground cinnamon
1tspground cloves
1tspground allspice
1tspground ginger
1tspsalt
cooking spray
Preparation
Combine molasses, brown sugar, and shortening in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add cold water and blend until smooth.
Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, ginger, and salt in a separate bowl. Add flour mixture to molasses mixture, blending until incorporated and dough is soft.
Shape dough into 2 balls and place in the refrigerator until chilled, 10 to 15 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
Working in batches, place one ball of chilled dough on a lightly floured surface and roll to ¼-inch thickness, or ½-inch thickness for softer cookies.
Cut out cookies with desired cookie cutters and place 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough.
Bake cookies in the preheated oven until edges are firm, 12 to 13 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack immediately after baking to cool. Allow to cool completely if frosting.
