Preheat oven to 375.
Make sure your shortening is at room temperature.
Next, whisk up two eggs and 2 cups of brown sugar.
Whisk in in 1/2 cup molasses and the shortening.
In a separate bowl combine 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cloves, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp ginger, a dash of nutmeg, and 1 tsp salt.
Once the spices are thoroughly mixed, whisk in 4 cups of all purpose flour.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until well combined. The dough will be thick and dense, almost like a wet bread dough.
Flour your fingers and scoop out a ball of dough. Roll in into a smooth ball.
Next, roll the ball in sugar and place it on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 degrees F for 12-14 minutes.
Let the cookies cool on the sheet for five minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
