1/2 c. butter
1/3 c. packed dark brown sugar
1 c. light molasses
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. hot water
3 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. ground mace
1/8 tsp. salt

Beat butter until fluffy in large bowl. Beat in sugar. Beat in molasses. Mix baking soda and hot water. Mix in half the combined flours, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, mace and salt. Mix in soda mixture. Mix in remaining flour mixture. Refrigerate dough until firm, 3 to 4 hours.

Heat gas oven 350. Roll cookie dough to 1/8 inch thickness on floured surface. Cut out with cookie cutter. Bake on cookie sheet until cookies begin to brown, about 8 minutes. Cool on wire rack.