1. Gather all ingredients: flour, brown sugar, molasses, butter, egg, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
2. In a large bowl, mix flour and spices together.
3. In another bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until creamy.
4. Add molasses and egg to the butter mixture, mixing well.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a dough forms.
6. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
7. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
8. Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to 1/4-1/2 inch thickness.
9. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them on a lined baking sheet.
10. Bake for 8-12 minutes until the cookies are set but still soft.
11. Remove from oven and let cookies cool completely on a wire rack.
12. Decorate with icing, candy, or other toppings if desired.
13. Store in an airtight container or freeze for later use.
14. Enjoy your classic gingerbread cookies!