Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, cream the softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This should take about 2-3 minutes.

Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Beat until the ingredients are thoroughly combined.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just incorporated. Avoid over-mixing!

Scoop about a tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball. Roll each ball in sugar until thoroughly coated.

Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart, as they will spread while baking.

Bake in your preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until they are just set and the edges are slightly cracked. Remove them from the oven and let them cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.