Gingerbear Cookies

1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon milk
2 or 3 tablespoons of water if needed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
2 cups flour
Mix together all dry ingredients
In heavy sauce pan, heat molasses to boiling
Add sugar, butter and milk
Remove from heat and add dry ingredients, mix thoroughly
Add water if necessary so that dough sticks together and handles easily Turn dough out on lightly floured dough board
Pat or roll out to 1/4 inch thick
Preheat oven to 325 F
Spray non stick vegetable oil onto cookie sheets
Using a teddy bear cookie cutter, cut out cookies
Bake 5 to 7 minutes
Cool and frost if desired with confectioners frosting if desired
We do not frost these cookies because my daughter thinks that teddy bears should not have to wear cloths.