MOLASSES CRINKLES (COOKIES)

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves, pepper, and salt in a bowl until combined. Set aside.
• Beat together shortening, butter, and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a stand mixer (preferably fitted with a paddle attachment) or 6 minutes with a handheld mixer.
• Add egg and molasses, beating until combined.
• Reduce speed to low, then mix in flour mixture (1 cup at a time, scrape down) until combined.
• Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Roll 1 heaping teaspoon of dough into a 1-inch ball WITH WET HANDS, then dip 1 end of the the ball in granulated sugar.
• Make more cookies in the same manner, arranging them, sugar side up, 2 inches apart on 2 ungreased baking sheets.
• Bake cookies, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until undersides are golden brown, 10 - 12 minutes total.
• Cool cookies on sheets 1 minute, then remove from baking sheets and transfer to racks to cool completely.