Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with both brown sugar and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.

Add in the large egg, pure vanilla extract, and molasses to the butter-sugar mix and mix until fully incorporated.

Gradually add the whisked dry ingredients into the wet mixture and mix on low speed until just blended.

Fold in the chopped pecans or walnuts if desired for added crunch.

Drop balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spaced about 2 inches apart.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are golden and the centers look slightly soft.

After baking, let the cookies sit on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.