Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread Cookies (by Curtis Muller)

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup molasses
4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice

Beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg and molasses, beat until well mixed. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Gradually add flour mixture to the butter mixture mixing well. Make dough into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 F. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-1/2 inch thick. Cut out cookies with cookie cutters and bake on a cookie sheet for 8- 10 minutes until almost firm when touched. Decorate with icing and candies.