Ginger Molasses Cookies

Add the molasses, egg, vanilla, and beat to just incorporate. Tip - When measuring molasses, first spray your measuring cup with cooking spray and the molasses will slide right out.

Add the flour, all spices, salt, and beat on low speed to incorporate until a smooth dough forms; don't overmix.

Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours to chill the dough. Tip - Do not skip the chilling step or cookies will spread a lot during baking. I prefer to chill them in the fridge than the freezer because the dough chills more uniformly.

After two hours, preheat the oven to 350F, line two baking sheets with parchment or a Silpat.

Use a small cookie scoop to form approximately 24 mounds of dough. The dough mounds will be about 1 inch in diameter, or about 1 tablespoon in size.

Place approximately 12 cookie dough balls on each baking sheet, or spaced evenly and as necessary.

Bake for about 8 minutes, or until done. Baking Tips -  If you make larger cookies, they will take longer to cook. As written, 1-inch cookie dough balls are pretty small cookies by today's standards and bake quickly, in just about 8 minutes, but all ovens vary. It's okay to pull cookies when they appear barely set because they'll continue to firm up as they cool. If possible, I suggest baking one baking sheet of cookies at a time, on the middle oven rack, rotating the baking sheet once midway through cooking for the most uniform baking results. Repeat with second baking sheet.

Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5-10 minuts, or until they're cool enough to remove with a spatula and place on a wire race to cool completely.

Eggnog Frosting - Techinically this is optional but I highly recommend it! To a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment), add the cream cheese and beat on high speed for 1-2 minutes. Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Add the confectioners' sugar, eggnog, and beat on low speed at first, gradually increasing the speed, until a smooth frosting has formed. Tips - The exact amount of eggnog (or milk) you need will depend on how thick or thin you like your frosting, your ingredients, and climate. Add additional liquid 1 tablespoon at a time if frosting is too thick; add confectioners' sugar 2 tablespoons at a time if frosting is too thin or runny.

Using a small spoon, knife, offset spatula, or small spatula, add a bit of frosting to the top of each cookies. Note - This frosting is not meant to be piped. It's applied casually and rustically. If desired, add sprinkles now.

The frosting will set on its own at room temp in a few hours, but you can accelerate the process by placing the cookies in the fridge for about 15 minutes.

Serving - I serve the cookies at room temp because they taste best to me, but some people may prefer them chilled.