Make the Dough:

1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt until fully combined. Set aside.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
3. Add Molasses, Egg, and Vanilla: Mix in the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
4. Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until the dough comes together. You may need to switch to a spatula towards the end to fully incorporate the flour.
5. Chill the Dough: Divide the dough into two discs, wrap them in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight. This chilling step helps the dough firm up and prevents spreading during baking.

Roll Out and Cut the Cookies:

6. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
7. Roll the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about 1/8-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out your desired shapes (stars, gingerbread men, trees, etc.).
8. Place on Baking Sheet: Transfer the cut-out cookies to the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch of space between them.
9. Bake the Cookies: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are firm and lightly golden. The baking time may vary depending on the size of your cookies.
10. Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.