Preheat your oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F. This ensures that your cookies bake evenly and turn out perfectly. Grease two cookie sheets or line them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Make the cookie dough: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, sift together all-purpose flour, salt, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground ginger. In a separate large bowl, mix 1 cup of sugar with the butter until creamy and smooth. This will take about three to five minutes. Adding in the egg and molasses, mix until well combined. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a dough forms. Look for a thick consistency that holds its shape.
Form the cookies: Place the remaining ½ cup of sugar in a small bowl. Using a small cookie scoop, portion out the dough and roll it into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in the sugar to coat, adding an extra layer of sweetness and a delightful crunch.
Bake and cool: Arrange the rolled cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, giving them enough space to spread. Transfer the sheets to the preheated oven and bake for about 13 to 15 minutes or until the edges are slightly crisp and the centers look set but still soft. Once baked, let them cool on the cookie sheets for about three minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
