Crackletops

---

4 cups flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter or margarine, room temperature (1 1/2 sticks)
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light molasses

Mix flour, cocoa, baking soda, spices and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl beat butter and 1 cup sugar with electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in molasses. With mixer on low speed gradually add flour mixture and beat until just blended. Divide dough in half. Pat each half into a flattened 1 inch thick round. Wrap and chill 1 hour or until dough is firm enough to shape. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets. Form tablespoonful drops into 1 inch balls; roll in remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Place 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake 10 minutes or until evenly browned. Cool on cookie sheet 1 minute before removing to rack to cool completely. Store tightly covered.

(Dough can be frozen.)

Edit this recipe on GitHub