Molasses Pecan Cookies

Halloween's a coming, and thanks to this silly holiday my friend has asked me to whip up some goodies for a party. I didn't want to do anything too crazy, so I thought that cookies would be the best bet. I love the taste of molasses cookies and they are definitely a Fall flavor (don't ask me why, they just are :P) and nuts are always delicious, so I decided to make some molasses nut cookies.

Molasses Pecan Cookies
Yields 30 large cookies

Ingredients:
- 2 1/3 cups all purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp each ground cinnamon and cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground allspice
- 3/4 cup butter, room temperature
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup crushed pecans (or your favorite nut)
- 30 whole walnuts to decorate
- 1/2 cup of sugar for rolling

Method:
1. Mix together flour, baking soda, salt and spices
2. Beat the butter until creamy, then add brown sugar and molasses until smooth. Add in egg, continue mixing until well incorporated.
3. Add flour mixture to butter mixture and stir until just combined.
4. Split the dough into two portions, rolling them into logs and wrapping each in plastic wrap. Place dough in the fridge for 1hour to settle.
5. Cut each dough log into 15 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, coat with rolling sugar and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Ensure at least 2 inches between cookies, as they spread out significantly. Flatten the sugar-coated ball with the bottom of a glass and gently press a decorative pecan into the center of the cookie. Repeat for all the dough pieces.
6. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 14 minutes. Allow to cool for 1 minute on the tray, then remove to cooling rack.

I doubled this recipe with no problems, and the cookies turned out fantastic! I brought half of the doubled batch to my family and they simply loved them. (I also made a special batch for my sister who's allergic to nuts; in it I added chocolate chips, coconut, oats and sunflower seeds... not your traditional molasses cookie, but she enjoyed them). Now all I have to do is complete my Halloween costume... that's right, I'm sewing my own! If it turns out right then I might post pictures... we'll just have to wait and see.