1-First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to make cleanup easy and ensure even cooking. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt to combine the dry ingredients uniformly. If the original recipe is your guide, remember to use the exact measurements provided for the best results.

2-Next, in a large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, which takes about 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer for that perfect texture. Beat in the egg and molasses until fully mixed, then gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ones, stirring until everything combines smoothly.

3-Form the dough into balls slightly smaller than a golf ball and roll them in granulated sugar if you want that extra crunch. Place them on the baking sheet about 2 to 3 inches apart to give them room to bake evenly. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, then let them cool on the sheet for 10 minutes before moving to a wire rack.