Hermits

Total Time

Prep: 25 min. Bake: 10 min. + cooling

Makes

14 cookies

Updated: Oct. 22, 2022
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

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup raisins
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 large egg white or 2 tablespoons egg substitute
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°. Cover raisins with boiling water. Let stand for 5 minutes; drain and set aside.
  2. 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).
  3. 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.
  4. 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

1 bar: 122 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 87mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.