Robert E. Lee Cookies

This recipe came from Stratford Hall, Virginia. It is said to be a favorite cookie of the Lee family, especially young Robert E. Lee. The cookies are baked at the Lee Plantation and served to visitors, along with warm cider.

1½ Cups (3 sticks) butter or margarine
½ cup molasses
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
4 cups flour
4 t. soda
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. ginger
1 t. ground cloves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter and add molasses, sugar and eggs. Beat well. Sift together the flour, soda, cinnamon, ginger and clove and add to the butter/molasses mixture. Refrigerate the dough for several hours. Break off pieces of the dough (heaping teaspoon sized) and roll into small balls. Roll the balls in sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet about 1½ inches apart. Bake until firm and brown, about 8-10 minutes. Makes about 10 dozen cookies.