New England Hermit Cookie Bars

The best hermit cookie bars you’ll find! Similar in taste to a gingerbread cookie, these hermit cookies are soft and chewy and made with ginger, molasses, and raisins.

For those that know me, know that I’m a bigger fan of savory than sweet. So baked goods aren’t usually on my agenda, but I had to share these New England Hermit Cookie Bars that were actually shared with me by my husband! A Boston Massachusetts native, when he was growing up he would find these cookies in a local bakery and purchase them by the bag for a couple of dollars.

Table of Contents

How to Make New England Hermit Cookie Bars

Start your hermit cookie bars by greasing your pan. I like to use both crisco and flour to make sure that nothing sticks.

Then take a large mixing bowl and add in the flour to mix your dry ingredients.

To the flour, add in your warm spices of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.

Then add the salt, baking soda, and baking powder.

Whisk all of the dry ingredients together, and then set this bowl aside.

Then in the bowl of your stand mixer, add your brown sugar.

Add your softened butter to the brown sugar, and cream them together until fluffy and creamy.

Then pour in your molasses while mixing on low.

Then add in your eggs, and mix until fully incorporated.

With your mixer on low, slowly add your dry ingredients until fully mixed.

Finish by folding in your raisins, weither with a wooden spoon or your mixer on the lowest setting.

Spreading out hermit bars dough onto pan

Take your dough and spread it evenly on your prepared baking sheet. Toss them in the oven at 350 for roughly 17 minutes.

Let the hermit bars cool, then cut into squares with either a pizza cutter or a knife.

Picking up a New England hermit cookie bar.

Serve and enjoy your New England Hermit Cookie Bars!

Substitutions

Swap the raisins. You could use other dried fruits or nuts in place of the raisins.
Add some chocolate. Plenty of people will throw in some chocolate chips with their hermit cookie bars.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do you store hermit cookies?

Hermit cookies store well. Up to a week in an airtight container at room temperature and they will still taste great!

Why are hermit cookies called hermits?

Because of it’s longevity, this cookie was often sent with sailors and other travelers as something to eat on longer journeys. So it traveled, as hermits often did.

What’s the easiest way to cut cookie bars?

Use a pizza cutter or knife and cut them into squares (or any shape you prefer).

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Liz enjoying new england hermit cookie bars.

Whip up a batch of these soft and chewy hermit cookie bars for your next cookie swap, classroom party, hostess gift, or holiday open house!

No fork required.