These are easy to make and are really, really soft and good.
Molasses Cookies
1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. Baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 sticks butter, softened
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg yoke
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup light or dark brown molasses
Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 375 degrees. Spread 1/2 cup of the sugar in a shallow dish for coating and set aside. Whisk the flour, baking soda, spices and salt together in a large bowl and set aside.
Beat the butter, brown sugar, and remaining 1/3 cup sugar together in a large bowl using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 6 minutes. Beat in the egg yoke and vanilla until combined, about 30 seconds. Beat in the molasses until incorporated, about 30 seconds, scraping the bowl down as needed.
Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly mix in the flour mixture until combined, about 30 seconds (the dough will be soft). Give the dough a final stir with a rubber spatula to make sure it is combined.
Using wet hands, roll 2 tablespoons of dough at a time into balls, then roll in the sugar to coat and lay on baking sheet, spaced about 2 inches apart. Bake the cookies until the edges are set and the tops are cracked but the centers are still soft and underdone (peek through the cracks and check the centers), 10-12 minutes.
Let the cookies cool on the pan for about 10 minutes, then serve warm or transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.