Position one of the oven's racks in the center and preheat oven to 375F degrees.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease them.
In a large bowl beat together the sugar and shortening until creamy.
Add the eggs, molasses, and vanilla and beat well.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger until well blended.
Add the dry mixture to the sugar mixture in several additions, alternating with the buttermilk until well combined.
Stir in the nuts.
Drop the cookie dough by teaspoonfuls (or if you want monster-sized cookies, you tablespoons!) spaced 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for about ten minutes, until golden around the edges.
Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer them with a spatula to wire racks to cool completely. LEMON FROSTING:
/2 c. powdered sugar
tbsp. butter
tbsp. lemon juice
Cream to moisten.
Recipe by Amish 365 at https://www.amish365.com/amish-molasses-cookies-with-lemon-frosting/