ginger spice

Not to be confused with Geri Halliwell. Any Spice Girlsfans out there? No? I won't lie, I liked 'em for a hot second. Correction: I liked a few of their songs; I was never a great admirer of the girls themselves.*

Nope, I prefer my spices alphabetically arranged in my spice rack, ready to be used in baking. I've learned to accept the unrelenting cold of winter simply because it occurs at the same time as the emergence of heavy spice usage. You can't walk near a bakery in October without detecting the aroma of cinnamon, cloves, or ginger, and I love it.

These cookies are the quintessential batch of fall cookies. Not only do they have all the important spices of the season, but they also crackle like my skin upon contact with the cold, dry air. The scent alone is reason enough to make these, but their flavor is a nice bonus. The coating of sugar that dissolves on your tongue is simply the crowning touch.

*Oh, Spice Girls. You could've been great. What about you, friends? Did you care for them at all? Did you come up with your own Spice Girl name? I think I would've been Snarky Spice.

Spice Up Your Life Crinkle Cookies
Makes about 3 dozen
Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus more for rolling
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, tightly packed
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions:
In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugars.
Add egg and beat well.
Beat in molasses.
Combine the flour, baking soda, salt and spices; gradually add to creamed mixture.
Refrigerate for one hour or until dough is easy to handle.
Roll dough into 1-inch balls, then roll in sugar.
Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes, until cookies are lightly browned and cracked on top.
Cool one minute before removing to wire racks.

Th-th-th-that's all, folks!