from Karen Shelton
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons anise extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting
- Stir together the molasses, honey, shortening, and margarine in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir until creamy.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Stir in the eggs.
- Combine the flour, white sugar, brown sugar, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, anise, cinnamon, baking soda, pepper, and salt in a large bowl.
- Add the molasses mixture and stir until thoroughly combines.
- Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
- Roll the dough into acorn-sized balls.
- Arrange on baking sheets, spacing at least 1 inch apart.
- Bake in preheated oven 10 to 15 minutes.
- Move to a rack to cool.
- Dust cooled cookies with confectioners' sugar.