Recipe: Moravian Christmas Cookies (Pennsylvania Dutch Cookbook, 1930's)

MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS COOKIES

8 cups flour
1 tbsp ground cloves
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
2 1/4 cups brown sugar
2 cups shortening (mixture of butter and lard)
1 quart molasses
1/2 tsp baking soda dissolved in 1 tsp vinegar

Sift the flour and spices together. Add brown sugar and mix well.

Work in the shortening with the fingertips or with a pastry blender.

Add molasses and dissolved baking soda and mix thoroughly. Chill.

Roll very thin on floured board and cut with fancy cookie cutters.

Bake at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes.

Source: Pennsylvania Dutch Cook Book - Fine Old Recipes, Culinary Arts Press, 1936