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My grandmother always made this recipe around Christmas time. The recipe has been passed down thru a few generations, and my daughter just surprised me with a batch this past Saturday at her home for Thanksgiving. So Christmas came early this year!

Tom Beery

Grandma Beery's Old Fashioned Chocolate Molasses Cookies

1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup (lard) shortening
3 tblsp. cocoa
1 cup dark molasses
2 eggs (well beaten)
1 cup sour cream or butter milk or sour milk
3 level tsps. baking soda, added to milk
1 tsps. vanilla

Mix in the order given. Next, add at least 6 cups flour (more if necessary). Test
by laying hand on dough. If fingers come up with only greasy feel and no dough, it's perfect.
Roll, cut and bake 10-12 minutes at 325*.

We've found that 7-8 cups flour is more reasonable. Do not roll the dough thin, but to about 1/4" to 3/8" thickness. We prefer using half-'n-half for the milk portion. Makes a nice cake-like cookie, with a mild molasses and cocoa taste.