Great Grandmother Louries Molasses Cookies

[krs]

I'm always on the lookout for good molasses recipes so I thought I'd give these a try since they haven't been reviewed yet.  I guess this won't be a very accurate review of the recipe as stated, but I actually made very few modifications initially.  I subbed half a cup of applesauce for half of the shortening but when I was mixing it up, the dough seemed stiff enough after adding only two (three total counting the one cup soaked in water) of the additional five cups of flour (WW and AP mixed).  I made one dozen but they hadn't cooked thoroughly even after twenty minutes so I added another half cup of AP flour to the rest of the dough (the first dozen were tasty even though they were really soft).  The second dozen (with the additional flour) cooked better in eighteen minutes, but then they weren't spicy enough.  I added more spices and baked the additional two dozens for eighteen minutes.

So, not exactly as described, but I did try to follow it closely.  I would suggest to start with double the spices (if you like them spicy) with three of the additional cups of flour and go from there.  They are a bit puffy, but they bake better when you let them go longer (I did eighteen minutes).  Overall, I would say these are pretty good.  Maybe subbing some of the shortening with margarine or frosting them as suggested would give them a little extra flavor.

[annamaye]

This is the recipe I submited a couple of years ago and I still make them every advent...  I would highly reccomend not changing the recipe, if you don't like the ammt of spices, fine, but as far as changing the shortning to margerine or oil or applesauce, not reccomended for these.  If you feel there is too much shortning, try a different recipe...  Also these are intended to bake flattned wich is why the other gal maybe had them take a lot longer to bake.  The puff up quite a bit, so they do better rolled out and cut into shapes or done as drop cookies but flattned a bit first.  They aren't supposed to be sweet, just very addictive, with or with out frosting, but frosting makes them all the better.  Enjoy!  My 6 kids and picky husband and I sure do!