2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups white sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.  In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a medium bowl combine sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, allspice and black pepper. Remove 1/4 cup of the sugar-spice mixture, set aside to reserve for rolling the cookies. Beat the butter and sugar-spice mixture until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Beat in egg and vanilla extract, combine until fully incorporated. Slowly blend in dry ingredients mixing until just combined.  Using a small scoop (2 teaspoons) roll dough into balls and then into the reserved sugar-spice mixture. Place dough balls on prepared baking sheet about 1 1/2 inches apart.  Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes.

Yield: About 4 dozen

Melt in your mouth