This is a great recipe! I converted it to a low fat/low calorie version by using 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup applesauce instead of 1/2 cup of shortening. I also cut down on the calories by reducing the amount of molasses in half! I decreased the salt to 1/2 tsp. And I increased the ginger to a full tsp and doubled the amount of allspice! This made the perfect low fat/low calorie, soft cookie, I was looking for! Thanks for this great recipe!!!

This recipe is so bland. I even added a touch extra of each of the spices, including some extra cloves. The finished product tastes almost like I didn't put any spices in at all.

Hi Stephanie,

I always taste any cookie dough I've mixed up and add any extra flavoring I think it may need. Before baking the cookies as much flavoring or spices as you like can still be kneaded in. What goes into the oven tasting bland will surely come out the same way!

One question: Did you purchase your spices recently? Old spices and extracts lose much of their flavor sitting on the shelf and should be tossed after 6 months or so.

-- CM

Thank you so much for the low/fat recipe this fit in perfectly with my weight loss program. I am trying to lose 15 more pounds. I plan on telling a few friends.