Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening
1 egg
1/2 cup light or dark molasses
1/2 cup water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Vanilla Butter Frosting (see below)

Mix sugar, shortening, egg, molasses and water. Stir in remaining ingredients except frosting. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until almost no indentation remains when touched, about 8 minutes. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Cool. Frost.

Directions

For Vanilla Butter Frosting: Mix 1/4 cup margarine or butter, softened, and 2 cups powdered sugar. Beat in about 1 tablespoon milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth and of spreading consistency.