Heat the oven to 350 °F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Whisk the flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
Beat the softened butter and brown sugar in a large bowl for 2 minutes until creamy, then beat in the molasses and egg until smooth.
Add the dry mix in two additions and stir just until a soft dough forms. Cover and chill 30 minutes so the dough firms up.
Roll the dough into 1 1/2-inch balls, roll each ball in the granulated sugar, and place 2 inches apart on the sheets.
Bake 10-12 minutes, until the edges are set and the centers still look soft. Cool on the sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
