Soft Ginger Molasses Cookies

Play around with the amount of spices used depending on how intense you like the flavor.

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
6 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup margarine, softened (butter will make a flatter cookie)
2 cup white sugar
2 egg
2 tablespoon water
1/2 cup molasses
4 tablespoons white sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 4 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.
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. Store in an airtight container. Yield 48 cookies.