Dixie's Base Cookie Recipe

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 tbsp molasses
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups AP flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F.  Then line your baking sheet with parchment paper or coat with nonstick cooking spray.

Add butter and sugar to a bowl and beat until fluffy.  To the butter mixture add molasses, eggs and vanilla.  Beat on medium until well combined.

In a separate bowl whisk together flour, salt and baking powder.  Add flour mixture to butter mixture in two or three batches, mixing in between each addition.  Continue to mix until well combined.

At this stage you can add in whatever you would like or proceed without adding anything.  Here's a list of suggestions: 1 bag baking chips (any variety), 3 cups oatmeal (reduce flour by 1 cup if using oatmeal), 1 cup chopped nuts, 1 cup raisins, 1 cup dried cranberries, 1 cup peanut butter (if adding peanut butter also add 1 cup flour and add the PB to the butter mixture) or whatever else you can dream up.  Try to not overload the dough with add-ins.  The most I'll do per batch is three.

Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets, spaced about 2-inches apart.  Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges just begin to brown.  Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let stand for 2 minutes before removing cookies to a cooling rack.

Let cool and store in an airtight container.

For Salted Caramel Cookies: After scooping the dough onto the baking sheet sprinkle each raw cookie with a pinch of large salt flakes.  Bake as normal.