Gingerbread Cookies

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup dark molasses
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 1/4 cups cake flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Cream the butter until smooth.
Add sugar.
Add egg.
Add molasses and vanilla.
Stir in the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Shape the dough into a thick disk, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Roll dough out to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out shapes. Bake 10 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before removing from cookie sheet.

Frost with Royal Icing. The cookies are not very sweet by themselves so the frosting is almost a necessity.