Spiced Cutout Cookies

Yield: 160 cookies (This depends on how thin you roll the dough and the cookie cutter you use. The original recipe noted a yield of 9 dozen/108 cookies)

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 Tbsp. molasses
1 egg
3 1/4 cups flour
1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp. ground ginger
2 tsp. ground cardamom
2 tsp. ground cloves
2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup orange juice
1 Tbsp. orange zest

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in molasses and egg. In a separate bowl; whisk together the flour and spices, add in the soda, whisk well. Separate the dough into 2 balls, wrap in saran wrap and chill for 1-2 hours to stiffen the dough a bit.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
On a well floured surface, roll the dough to around 1/16-inch thickness, may need to reflour under the dough and keep the rolling pin floured. Cut dough with 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter dipped in flour. Place on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 5-6 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned on edges. Let cookies cool on pans for 2 minutes and remove to wire racks to cool completely.

This recipe comes from Delisa Narr, West Bend, Wisconsin, in the "Taste of Home Best Loved Cookies & Bars", Fall 2006 edition, page 103.