Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Combine spices and salt. Whisk into flour.
Cream the sugar and butter in a mixer until just combined. Do not over mix, mixture should be dense, not whipped. Add molasses and vanilla.
Slowly add in the flour mixture until cookie dough is formed. It will be crumbly but not dry, hand knead into a ball.
Generously flour surface and roll dough to 1/4" or slightly thinner. Dough should only be used at room temperature.
Bake 7-9 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on a rack completely before decorating.
