Sift Ingredients: Sift the flour, baking powder, ginger, allspice, cloves, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
Make the dough: In the bowl of your mixer, add the melted shortening, molasses, brown sugar, egg, vanilla and water. Using the paddle attachment mix on medium until smooth. Add the dry ingredients to the mixer bowl. Start on low, mix everything together until all the dry ingredients are completely incorporated.
Chill the dough: Divide the dough into two equal portions. Use your hands to form into a ball then flatten into discs. Wrap each disc with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour or until the dough is chilled but still pliable. Take the dough discs out of the refrigerator 20 minutes before rolling.
Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
Roll and cut dough: Unwrap the dough and place it on a floured work surface. Using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough until it's about ⅛-¼ inch in thickness. Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut the dough into cookies. Transfer cut cookies onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining cookie dough and re-roll leftover dough until finished.
Bake: Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. The cookies are done when they no longer look dry but still soft to the touch.
Cool and frost: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. When cool, you can frost or ice your cookies.