Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup molasses (not blackstrap)
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup hot water
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment.
- Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy.
- Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg and molasses until smooth.
- Sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt together in a large bowl.
- Gradually add flour-spice mixture to molasses mixture, beating well after each addition until well combined. Mix in water until smooth.
- Pour into the prepared pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean. If not, continue baking, checking often for doneness, 15 to 30 minutes more.
- Let cool in the pan before serving.





