Chewy Molasses Sparkle Cookies for the New Year

Happy New Year's Eve! 

This isn't the healthiest of desserts, but they look pretty to bring to a New Year's Eve party.  I used raw brown sugar on the top to make them sparkle!

Chewy Molasses Sparkle Cookies

Ingredients

1. 2 cups all purpose flour
2. 1/2 tsp baking soda
3. 1/2 tsp ground ginger
4. 1/2 tsp ground cloves
5. 1/2 tsp cinnamon 
6. 1/4 tsp salt
7. 6 tbsp butter softened
8. 1/2 cup granulated sugar
9. 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
10. 1 egg
11. 1/4 cup molasses 
12. 1/2 cup raw brown sugar for SPARKLE

Directions

1. Mix wet ingredients: butter, granulated sugar, dark brown sugar. egg, molasses
2. Mix dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cloves and cinnamon
3. Combine dry and wet mixes together 
4. Put dough in re-fridge for 30 minutes (15 minutes worked for me ha)
5. Take dough out of re-fridge and turn oven on to 350 degrees F
6. Use small spoon and roll into 24 balls 
7. Flatten balls and drop top of cookie into granulated sugar
8. Placed on sheet pan with parchment paper
9. Let cook for 13-14 minutes

Granulated vs. Raw Sugar Some Extra Nutrition Information 

Granulated sugar is white because all of the molasses is removed.  Sugar in the raw, like I used for the sparkle, has some of its natural molasses.  The amount of molasses in sugar determines if it is light or dark brown sugar.  Unfortunately, one sugar is not healthier than the other.  Both are made of sucrose, a two component sugar made from glucose and fructose.  And, both are "empty calories," meaning there are no other nutrients in sugar.  Yes, they make cookies taste great and look pretty, but we should limit our sugar intake to eat well to live well.  At the same time, tonight is NYE's so let's have fun and eat our cookies in moderation!  

Have a fun and safe NYE's everyone!