Preheat oven to 350°F. Have 2 ungreased baking sheets ready.
Place flour, spices, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and mix well. Set aside.
Place butter and both sugars in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until well combined. Add eggs and molasses and beat until incorporated (do not overbeat or cookies will puff up too much).
Stir flour mixture into beaten mixture. Shape into tablespoon-sized balls. Place ½ cup of sugar in a medium bowl. Dip the dough balls into the sugar and place on the baking sheets, 2.5 inches apart.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Do not overbake, cookies will still feel soft when they come out of the oven. If they puffed up to much, you can carefully push them down with the back of a drinking glass while hot (this will give you a chewier cookie).
Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Dip the cooled cookies in melted white chocolate chips, if you like.