These are close copies of Archway molasses cookies. They're chewy, gooey, and a perfect addition to any holiday feast. The Pilgrims would have been a happier bunch if they'd had these laying around.

Original recipe includes this folk lore:

The known history of this recipe starts from eavesdropping on a party-line telephone during the early 1900s. The age of this recipe appears to explain many odd features. At the time, baking powder did not exist. Thus this recipe uses baking soda, with sour milk (now created via vinegar, so don't panic) as the acid. Ginger would have been expensive. The recipe originally called for an undefined amount of flour that turned out to be around 8 cups (1/2 gallon), which would feed a family of a dozen or so. The recipe has been cut in half for the benefit of less-productive parents.

Step 1: Ingredients

1/2 Tbsp vinegar
1/2 c milk (minus 1/2 T for the vinegar)
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c shortening (butter or lard will also work)
1 egg
1 c molasses
4 c flour (approximate upper limit; see instructions below)
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger

Step 2: Mixture #1: Shortening, Sugar, Molasses, and Egg

The batter for these cookies is mixed in 3 steps, the first of which is to combine all the gooey bits:

Cream the shortening and sugar in a large bowl. As you can see, an electric mixer isn't necessary, but it sure would be easier.

To this creamy white mixture add the molasses and egg. Combine thoroughly.

Step 3: Mixture #2: Flour, Baking Soda, Ginger, and Cinnamon

Mix the baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and 2.5 c (not all 4 c) of flour in a separate bowl.

Step 4: Mixture #3: Sour Milk

Combine the vinegar with enough milk to make 1/2 c (alternately, use buttermilk or real sour milk).

Step 5: Mix It All Together!

To the sugar+shortening+egg+molasses mixture, alternately mix in small amounts of the other two mixtures until everything is in one bowl. Mix this well.

Step 6: Add More Flour

Bit by bit, mix in more flour as needed. For drop cookies, you might not add any more. We usually add about 1/2 cup extra flour, but if you like a more cake-like cookie, you can add up to an extra cup. Look at the video for a consistency reference.

Step 7: Form the Cookies

Plop some batter onto a greased cookie sheet. Using a bit of sugar to prevent sticking, squish the cookie with a glass. If you want to ruin a perfectly good cookie, push some walnut pieces into the top of the cookie.