1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 large eggs
3 tablespoons mild molasses
2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest (from about 1 medium navel orange)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
4 ounces chopped pecans
4 ounces chopped dried apricots

Heat oven to 350°F. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

Combine butter, sugar, brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Add eggs; continue beating until well mixed. Add molasses and orange zest; continue beating until well mixed. Add flour and baking powder; beat at low speed until well mixed. Add chopped pecans and chopped apricots in a mix until incorporated. Transfer dough to a parchment lined pan and shape with your hands into a flattened rectangle about 12” x 8” and cover with plastic wrap. Chill for at least an hour – this will help you form the logs easier as the dough tends to be sticky.

Divide dough in half. Shape each half into 12-inch log on lightly floured surface. Place logs 3 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheet. Flatten logs slightly.

Bake 25 - 28 minutes or until lightly browned and tops are slightly cracked. Remove from oven; cool 15 minutes on cookie sheet.

Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.

Carefully place logs onto cutting surface. Cut into 1/2-inch diagonal slices with serrated knife. Place, cut-side down, onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Return to oven. Bake 9 minutes; turn slices. Continue baking 5-7 minutes or until cookies are dry and crisp. Cool completely.