from the Rosie’s Riveting Recipes historic cookbook
While it may not used as much today, molasses was a sweetener our grandmothers used. Sugar was rationed during WWII, so housewives had to find sugar substitutes. Molasses was one of those substitutes, and unlike many of today’s sugar substitutes, molasses is natural.
The following is a historic recipe from Rosie’s Riveting Recipes. If you’re a cookie lover like I am, you may want to try it.
Gayle Martin
soft molasses cookies
- 3 cups sifted cake flour*
- 1 1/2 teaspoon soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg, unbeaten
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 cup sour milk** or buttermilk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Sift flour once, measure, add soda, salt, and spices, and sift together three times. Cream shortening, add sugar gradually, creaming until light and fluffy. Add egg and beat well; then add molasses. Add flour, alternately with milk, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla. Chill 1 to 2 hours, or until firm enough to hold shape. Drop from teaspoon on lightly greased baking sheet, placing about 2 inches apart. Bake in hot oven (400F.) 13 to 15 minutes, or until done. Makes 6 dozen cookies.
*No flour sifter? Not a problem. Simply measure the flour and pour into a large strainer and stir with a wooden spoon.
** To make sour milk add one tablespoon lemon juice of white vinegar to one cup 2% or whole milk, (fat-free milk will not work). Let sit for 15 minutes until milk begins to curdle. Add to recipe.
Rosie’s Riveting Recipes is available on Amazon and Barnesandnoble.com.