Cookbook:Lumberjacks

Lumberjacks are a cookie from the Old Sturbridge Village Cookbook, and they reflect baking from 1830s New England.

Ingredients

 * 1 cup caster sugar
 * 1 cup white vegetable shortening or butter
 * 1 cup dark molasses
 * 2 eggs
 * 4 cups sifted flour (not self-raising)
 * 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
 * 2 teaspoons cinnamon
 * 1 teaspoon ginger

Procedure

 * 1) Cream together the sugar and shortening.
 * 2) Add molasses and eggs, and mix well.
 * 3) Sift together the flour, spices, and bicarbonate of soda. Add this mixture to the egg-butter mixture, and mix well to make a dough.
 * 4) Put ¼ cup additional white sugar into a small bowl.
 * 5) Dip fingers into the sugar, then pinch off a ball of dough and roll it into the size and shape of a walnut.
 * 6) Roll the cookie dough ball into the sugar and place on a greased cookie sheet.
 * 7) Repeat the shaping and sugar-coating process with the remaining dough, spacing the cookies about 3 inches apart on the sheet.
 * 8) Bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 10–15 minutes.
 * 9) Let cool completely—the cookies should be soft when cooled.

Notes, tips, and variations

 * Different countries use different strengths of molasses. If you can find the American brand of Grandma's dark molasses then that is perfect.
 * If you use some muscovado sugar, then add the white and muscovado sugars at the same time.