In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat the dairy free butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar for 2 minutes until fluffy. Beat in the egg, molasses and vanilla until fully combined.
Add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until a soft, sticky dough forms. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours, as this step is key for thick, soft cookies with crackly tops.
Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll the dough into 1 1/2 tablespoon balls, roll each one in the coarse sugar and place them 3 inches apart.
Bake for 9-11 minutes, until the edges are set and the tops are crackled but the centers still look soft. Cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.