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1/2 cup butter, softened
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1/2 cup brown sugar
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2/3 cup molasses
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2 eggs
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4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
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1/2 teaspoon baking soda
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
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1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
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1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
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1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
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1 pound confectioners' sugar
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1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
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3 egg whites
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
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In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown
sugar until smooth. Stir in the molasses and eggs. Combine 1 1/2 cups
of the flour, baking soda, salt, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger;
beat into the molasses mixture. Gradually stir in the remaining flour
by hand to form a stiff dough.
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Divide dough into 2 pieces. On a lightly floured
surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes
using cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie
sheets.
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Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven.
Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a
wire rack to cool completely.
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In a medium bowl, sift together confectioners' sugar
and cream of tartar. Blend in egg whites. Using an electric mixer on
high speed, beat for about 5 minutes, or until mixture is thick and
stiff. Keep covered with a moist cloth until ready to frost cookies.
