Making the Dough

1. Gather the ingredients.
   
2. In the bowl of your standing mixer, combine the warm water and yeast. Using the paddle attachment, stir for about 1 minute or until yeast is completely dissolved.
3. Next, add the mashed potatoes, salt, sugar, melted butter, milk, eggs and 2 cups of the flour. Mix well on low.
4. Change the paddle attachment to the dough hook. Add the remaining 2 cups of flour and mix on medium speed for about 5 minutes, scraping the sides as needed. Dough should be very sticky and stretchy when pulling dough between your fingers. Add a little bit of extra flour if dough doesn’t feel like it has enough body…wetter is better than dry!
   
5. Smooth the top of the dough with an oiled rubber spatula and cover bowl with a towel. Set in a warm area of your kitchen and let rise for about 1 1/2 – 2 hours. (Dough should double in size).
6. Spray 2 jelly roll pans with non-stick spray.
7. Divide the dough in half between the 2 jelly roll pans. Spray the dough and your hands with the non-stick spray and begin patting and stretching the dough until it fills each pan – alternate between the pans to allow the dough to relax and stretch on its own.
   
8. Spray the dough with non-stick spray and cover with plastic wrap. Set in a warm area to let rise once again, about 1 hour.
   

Making the topping

1. Place the oven racks in top third and bottom third of your oven. Preheat to 400 degrees.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Mix very well.
   

Putting it all Together

1. Once the dough in the pans has risen and become puffy, dimple the dough thoroughly using your greased fingers – do not worry if you puncture all the way through to the pan.
2. Next, brush the tops of the dough with 4 Tablespoons of the melted butter per pan. Butter should pool in the dimples that you created.
3. Sprinkle half of the sugar mixture onto each of the cakes until you can no longer see the dough.
   
4. Place the cakes on the oven racks (one on the top rack and one on the bottom rack). Bake for 7 minutes.
5. Switch the cakes on the racks. Bake for another 7 minutes.
   
6. Let cakes cool in the pans for about 5 minutes.
   
7. Using a large spatula and your hands, transfer to cooling racks – this keeps the bottoms from getting soggy.
8. Serve warm or wrap very well in freeze-proof bags to freeze for up to 2 months.
9. Enjoy these yummy cakes throughout the holidays!
   
10. They make the PERFECT Holiday Gifts for friends and family 🙂

Making the Chocolate Filling

1. Gather the ingredients
   
2. Bake a 9″ pie crust and let cool while preparing the chocolate filling.
   
3. Using a Stand or Handheld Mixer, cream the first 3 ingredients together on medium to medium high speed until light and creamy.
4. Add the melted chocolate and continue beating until well blended.
5. Add one cold egg and mix for 5 minutes on medium-high. Scrape the sides of the mixing bowl, then add the second cold egg and mix for another 5 minutes. Filling should be light and fluffy.
   
6. Pour into the baked and cooled pie shell, spreading evenly. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
   

Making the Whipped Topping

1. Using a Stand or Handheld Mixer, whip the cold Heavy Whipping Cream, 2 heaping Tablespoons of Powdered Sugar and 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract on medium-high for about 3-4 minutes (until stiff peaks form).
   
2. Spread the whipped cream onto the chocolate filling and add chocolate shavings, if desired (I grated 1 Hershey Kiss for the shavings).
   

1. Gather all your ingredients.
   

The Flour Mixture

1. In a large bowl, combine the Flour, *Xanthan Gum (only if needed), Baking Soda and spices. Mix well and set aside.
   

The Shortening Mixture

1. In a small saucepan, melt the shortening, remove from heat and cool for about 10-15 minutes (this is so you don’t cook the eggs when you add it).
2. While the shortening is cooling, combine the Molasses, Sugar and egg using a Stand or Handheld Mixer. Add the cooled shortening and mix well.
   

Combining the Wet and Dry Ingredients

1. Slowly add the Flour Mixture to the wet mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, blending well after each addition.
   
2. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours – I find that chilling the dough overnight gets the best results.
3. When ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
4. While the oven is preheating shape the dough into small 1″ balls (you can use a small cookie scoop to get more uniform cookies) and roll in a bowl of granulated sugar, coating well.
   
5. Space cookie balls at least 2″ apart on an ungreased cookie sheet lined with a baking mat or parchment paper.
   
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until they are covered in “cracks.”
   
7. Let cool for about 2 minutes on the cookie sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely…try one (or two) while they’re still warm!
   
8. Once they are completely cooled, you can package them in cellophane gift bags
9. Enjoy!