As much as I love good old traditional christmas treats that make me nostalgic for my youth, I equally love trying out new recipes, and Martha never disappoints in providing me with ample selection of fancy goodies.
It wasn't until I had already started making these that I read the not-so-great reviews of the recipe: "Horrible!", "Molasses overkill!", "Will never make these again!", "Had to throw them out".
Yikes...
Well you'll be happy to know that those reviewers obviously just don't like molasses and nuts. And they most likely prefer overly sweet, boring, cookies. Cookies that no one will remember.
These cookies though are definitely different, memorable and really delicious.
As long as you like molasses and nuts, that is.
Adapted from Martha Stewart
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon allspice*
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup molasses**
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup bourbon
1 cup brown sugar
4 cups chopped toasted pecans
Mix the flour, salt and spices in a bowl and set aside.
Melt the molasses and butter in a saucepan over low heat, then remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Add bourbon to saucepan and stir.
Transfer to bowl and slowly whisk in sugar until well combined. Add flour mixture and 1 cup of pecans, mix well.
Chill dough for at least an hour. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Roll dough into small balls and roll in chopped pecans. Space 1 1/2" apart on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes. Cookies should be flattened and lightly coloured around edges. Let cool slightly and transfer to rack to cool completely.
*I used 1/2 of each cinnamon and nutmeg with a pinch of black pepper instead
**Because of the crazy negative reviews, I reduced the molasses by no more than a 1/4 cup. It definitely helped in making them easier to roll, but also kept the texture more like just a chewy cookie (as opposed to how flat and really chewy they look in Martha's picture). The flavour is great, but I don't think the full amount of molasses would be overkill. Use your discretion in deciding whether or not to use the full cup.
I often make a very favorite cookie from the Martha website- coconut balls. They are divine- not too sweet and as you chew the coconut flavour gets better and better. BUT the other reviewers posted that they had no taste, were dull flavorless, etc. Unless they hoovered them down without chewing- very possible- or their overly desensitized Dunkin' Donut taste buds weren't used to the less sweet taste- I have no idea why they would say those things.
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