Joe froggers (old marblehead cookies)

36 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
½cupVegetable shortening
4cupsAll-purpose flour
1teaspoonBaking soda
teaspoonGround ginger
teaspoonSalt
1cupBlackstrap molasses
1cupSugar
½cupWater
¼teaspoonAllspice
½teaspoonGround cloves
½teaspoonNutmeg

Directions

Mix shortening and sugar well. Stir in molasses nad water. Stir dry ingredients together separately, then vlend into shortening mixture.

Chill dough for several hours or overnight. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Roll dough ¼" thick on floured board or sprinkle Saran wrap with flour. Cut into 3" circles. Sprinkle with sugar. Place on well-greased baking sheet.

Bake 10-12 minutes. Leave on baking sheet for a few minutes before removing to prevent breaking. Store in covered jar.

NOTES : Legend has it that an old man named Joe who lived by a pond would trade these for rum to the seafarers coming home to Mystic. Since the pond had lots of frogs in it, the large 8 inch cookies were given the name "Froggers".

Recipe by: Mystic Seaport Cookbook Posted to EAT-L Digest 16 Feb 97 by Frank Cavalier <cav@...> on Feb 17, 1997.