Servings: 4 dozen

2½ cups flour 2½ cups flour
2 tsp ground ginger 2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves 1 tsp ground cloves
2 tsp baking soda 2 tsp baking soda
½ Tsp salt ½ Tsp salt
1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional) 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
1 cup brown sugar 1 cup brown sugar
½ cup shortening ½ cup shortening
¼ butter ¼ butter
1 egg 1 egg
½ cup molasses ½ cup molasses
½ cup chopped crystallized ginger ½ cup chopped crystallized ginger
1 Tbs grated fresh ginger 1 Tbs grated fresh ginger

Combine: flour, ground ginger, soda, cinnamon, cloves, salt and cayenne.
Cream: brown sugar, shortening and butter
Add: flour mixture
GENTLY STIR in crystal ginger and fresh ginger
Cover and refrigerate- hour or overnight.
Shape into 1" balls, roll in sugar (optional), flatten.