Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves until well combined. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and 1 ½ cups of granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
Gradually add the dry ingredients from the medium bowl into the butter mixture, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
In a small bowl, combine the ¼ cup of granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon for rolling.
Scoop about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball. Then roll the ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until evenly coated.
Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are set and the tops look slightly cracked. The cookies will continue to firm up as they cool.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Serve the cookies stacked on a rustic wooden platter, with a small pot of chai tea alongside for a cozy presentation.