In the realm of classic American desserts, Hermit Bars stand out as a beloved sweet treat with a rich history dating back to the 19th century. These delectable cookies are renowned for their chewy texture, irresistible filling, and the distinct blend of spices that give them a warm, comforting flavor. Our collection of Hermit Bar recipes offers a tantalizing array of variations, each boasting unique ingredients and preparation methods to cater to diverse preferences and dietary restrictions. From the traditional molasses-based filling to innovative interpretations featuring chocolate chips, dried fruits, and nuts, our recipes provide a comprehensive guide to crafting these timeless cookies. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, our detailed instructions and helpful tips will guide you in creating perfect Hermit Bars that will delight your taste buds and evoke nostalgic memories.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
HERMIT BARS
Rich with molasses, hermit bars are spicy, old-fashioned treats that keep for days. Martha made this recipe on episode 706 of Martha Bakes.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cookie Recipes
Yield Makes 24 bars
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter an 8-by-8-by-2-inch pan and line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang. Butter parchment; set pan aside. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, salt, and cloves; set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg; beat until combined, scraping down sides of bowl once. Add molasses; beat until combined and scrape down sides of bowl. Add the flour mixture and raisins; beat on low until dough just comes together, about 1 minute. Press dough into prepared pan. Bake until golden but still very soft to the touch, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into bars. Hermit bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.
SPICY HERMIT BARS
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Place the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, until light and fluffy. With the mixer on low, add the egg, scrape down the bowl, then mix in the molasses.
- Sift together the flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing just until combined. Mix in the raisins and crystallized ginger. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Turn the dough out onto a very lightly floured board, form it into a disk with lightly floured hands, and cut it in half. Roll each half into a log 12 inches long and place them 3 inches apart on the prepared sheet pan. Bake for 20 minutes; the logs will still be soft in the center.
- Meanwhile, whisk the confectioners' sugar with 5 to 6 teaspoons rum to make a pourable glaze. While the logs are still warm, drizzle the glaze back and forth across the logs with a teaspoon and sprinkle them with the lemon zest. Allow to cool. Cut each log crosswise into 1 1/2-inch-wide bars.
HERMIT BAR COOKIES
This recipe is probably 50 years old - Mom made it for us, and now I make it for our kids - they love these bars. Enjoy!
Provided by AUNT MAMIE
Categories Desserts Cookies Spice Cookie Recipes
Time 45m
Yield 20
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
- In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar until smooth. Stir in the molasses and egg. Dissolve the baking soda in warm coffee; stir into the molasses mixture. Combine the flour, salt, cinnamon and cloves; Gradually stir into the batter. Mix in raisins. Form dough into 4 long strips lengthwise on the cookie sheets.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheets then cut each strip into 2 inch bars while still warm.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 202 calories, Carbohydrate 36.4 g, Cholesterol 9.3 mg, Fat 5.6 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 2.5 g, SaturatedFat 1.4 g, Sodium 129.2 mg, Sugar 18.9 g
HERMITS
Dress up a cookie plate with these old-fashioned spice bars full of raisins, molasses, cinnamon, ginger and nuts. Then dip the chewy treats in coffee or hot cocoa on frosty days. It's said the cookies are called "hermits" because you can hide them out of sight, just like hermits, for days. They'll be just as good-maybe even better as the flavors blend and develop! -Jeri Tirmenstein, Apache Junction, Arizona
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 35m
Yield 14 cookies.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°. Cover raisins with boiling water. Let stand for 5 minutes; drain and set aside. , Whisk together next 6 ingredients. In another bowl, combine molasses, butter, egg white and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in walnuts and raisins (batter will be wet)., Divide batter in half; spread each half (wetting hands, if necessary) into a 12x2-in. rectangle 2 in. apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until edges are lightly browned and set, 10-15 minutes., Transfer rectangles to a cutting board; with a serrated knife, cut diagonally into 1-1/2-in. bars. Remove to wire racks to cool. Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 122 calories, Fat 4g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 7mg cholesterol, Sodium 87mg sodium, Carbohydrate 20g carbohydrate (12g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.
Tips:
- Use room temperature ingredients: This will help your cookies bake evenly and prevent them from spreading too much.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy: This will help incorporate air into the batter, making your cookies lighter and more tender.
- Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing can make your cookies tough.
- Chill the dough before baking: This will help the cookies hold their shape and prevent them from spreading too much.
- Bake the cookies until the edges are golden brown and the centers are set: Overbaking can make your cookies dry and crumbly.
- Let the cookies cool completely before frosting: This will help the frosting set properly.
Conclusion:
Hermit bar cookies are a delicious and easy-to-make treat that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With their chewy texture, sweet filling, and crumbly topping, these cookies are sure to be a hit at any gathering. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a beginner, this recipe is a great place to start. So preheat your oven and get ready to bake some delicious hermit bar cookies!
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