Friendship Cookies

FRIENDSHIP COOKIES
Friendship is something of which we could all use more. Of course, cookies by the same name are nice, too! This recipe was a fourth-place winner in the 1995 Chicago Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest: by Agnes Da Costa of Countryside, Illinois.

2 1/4 cup Unsifted all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Vegetable oil
1/2 cup Sugar
1 Egg
1/4 cup Pure maple syrup
1/4 cup molasses
2 teaspoon Baking soda
1 teaspoon Ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon Salt
Additional sugar for coating

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Have ungreased baking sheet(s) ready.

2. Combine all ingredients, except sugar for coating, in large bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on low speed until combined. Refrigerate to firm dough slightly, about 20 minutes.

3. Roll into large balls, using 1/4 cup dough each for large cookies or a scant tablespoon for smaller cookies (dough will be soft). Roll in additional sugar to coat. Arrange on baking sheet, spacing them 3 inches apart.

4. Bake until set, about 15 minutes for large cookies and 10 minutes for smaller ones. Cool on baking sheet 1 minute before transferring to wire rack to cool.