01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt until evenly mixed.
03 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter with dark brown sugar using an electric mixer or whisk until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
04 - Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture. Beat until fully combined.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until incorporated to avoid overmixing.
06 - Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough, roll into balls, then coat each in granulated sugar for a sparkling finish.
07 - Place dough balls on prepared baking sheets spaced 2 inches apart to allow spreading.
08 - Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or until edges are set but centers remain soft, achieving a chewy texture.
09 - Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.