01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes.
04 - Beat in the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract until fully combined.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until incorporated.
06 - Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough, roll into balls, then coat each ball evenly with granulated sugar.
07 - Place dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
08 - Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, until edges are set but centers remain soft.
09 - Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.