Similar in taste to a gingerbread cookie, these hermit cookies are soft and chewy and made with ginger, molasses, and raisins.
Credit must be given where credit is due: Hermit Cookie bars are my husband’s specialty.
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.
History of hermit cookies:
Many people ask where these hermit cookies came from. As far as he could tell, they originated in New England back in the 1800s because of the molasses in the cookies they kept well on long voyages.
Dense and moist, hermits age very well and were given to sailors in tins to last on long expeditions. Sweet, chewy, spicy (from the ginger), buttery and perfectly balanced with the right amount of salt, a chef friend of ours describes hermits as “sweet crack.”
Once the dough is prepared, you spread it in a well-floured baking sheet using well-floured hands. Why do you need to flour your hands? Because this moist and soft dough is extra sticky!
The more flour on your hands, the easier it will be to spread out on the pan. Don’t worry if the dough doesn’t reach each edge, just push it out about 1/2-inch thick. It doesn’t need to be a perfect rectangle.
Once baked, I liked to slice them into squares but you could also use cookie cutters to cut them into cute shapes. A fantastic edible holiday gift, these babies will stay moist and delicious for weeks – if you can avoid eating them all first! We’ve also made them for classroom parties as they are nut free.
Whip up a batch of these soft and chewy hermit bar cookies for your next cookie swap, classroom party, hostess gift or holiday open house!
What are your favorite holiday cookies? I’d love to hear from you.
How to store hermit cookies:
Hermit cookies store well. Up to a week in an airtight container and they will still taste great!
Can you overcook hermit cookies?
These molasses cookies have a forgiveness factor. While the time states 17 minutes, they are hard to burn if you put them in for a little longer than that.
Can hermit cookies be bought in a bakery?
You may be able to find them in a local bakery. If you’re going to find them you may find in a local bakery in the Northeast United States.
How to cut hermits:
Use a pizza cutter or knife and cut them into squares (or any shape you prefer).
No forks required.
📖 Recipe
New England Hermit Cookie Bars 🍪
Ingredients
- 4 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 cups brown sugar packed
- 1 cup butter 2 sticks softened - preferably unsalted
- 2/3 cup dark molasses
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups raisins
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease (I typically will use Crisco which is preferred or Pam Baking spray) and flour one standard jelly roll pan ( 9x13 cookie sheet) and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients: flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, nutmeg, salt, and cloves.
- With the mixer on medium, beat together brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add in molasses then egg and mix until well combined.
- Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add in the dry ingredients until just combined.
- Use a spoon to stir in raisins.
- Scrape edges of the bowl with a plastic spatula to get the mixture together in a ball then scrape out onto a cookie sheet.
- Flour hands then carefully press dough into even layer on the floured cookie sheet.
- Bake 17-19 minutes depending on oven. Typically I'll spend half the time on the top rack and the other half on the bottom. Remove from the oven when toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool completely before slicing into bars.
Video
Chef's Notes
Nutrition
Kim
I haven’t had these in years. Made the recipe and all the memories came flooding back. These are spot on. Thank you for this great recipe.
Liz DellaCroce
Aren’t they amazing? So glad you enjoyed!
JoLee
A solid five stars! I made the full recipe with only a few changes: added a pinch of mace, sifted dry ingredients instead of whisking them, and used a wooden spoon to mix (no electric mixer). Easy and fast! My husband, Ed, was born in VT in 1937. His mother made hermits, and of course they were his favorite. I was born in New Orleans and had never heard of a hermit cookie. Having tried several different recipes (resulting in several batches of “not-hermits”), I am thrilled to report: I just cut into this pan and gave two squares to my husband. And… success! Ed says I have captured the elusive HERMIT! Thank you so much.
Liz DellaCroce
I’m so glad you enjoyed these!!!! Your comment made my husband’s day!! Thank you so much!!! :)
DV
Here’s FIVE STARS***** from someone who actually made these! These cookies are fantastic. I made 1/2 the recipe and it almost filled up the entire 9×13 sheet pan (so 1/2 the recipe is still a good amount!). The recipe was super easy to follow, very quick to make and baked perfectly in 17 mins in my oven. The dough wasn’t super sticky to work with so no trouble pushing it out on the pan. I haven’t cut them into bars yet, they’re still cooling, but I did tear off a corner to taste and wow, these are so good. The store nearby adds a vanilla glaze to their hermits, but these are delicious plain. Thank you for a great and quick/easy recipe!
Liz DellaCroce
This makes us so happy to hear!! So glad you enjoyed them!!!!! :)
lorraine shicko
I grew up in the South end of Hartford, CT and hermits were always in the house…Dad always bought them at a local bakery on Franklin Ave. Later in life when my Mom and I lived close by (because Dad had passed on) Mom and I went grocery shopping together and we found hermits at a local Big “Y” and Mom scooped them up….when my son visited from Virginia he absolutely LOVED our hermits and just lately he said that he was not going to visit again without me making those “hermit cookies”(I since have moved to SC where hermits aren’t even heard of and Italian grinders with my homemade peppers)…so here I am searching for a hermit recipe…and VOILA!…i found you!…I will try your recipe and let you know….sounds so good and bring back so many wonderful childhood memories!
Thanks!!!!!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh this makes me so happy Lorraine! I just passed your note along to my husband as well. Be sure to make these – I can assure you that you will love them! Let us know!
sharon stephens
What size pan should i use?
Liz DellaCroce
We like to use a 9 x 13 baking (cookie) sheet!
Julie
Loved this recipe! I grew up in Danvers so I love knowing these came from Saugus/Lynn native! Really nice and moist.
Liz DellaCroce
Oh that’s so cool!! Rich used to take me to Hilltop on Route 1 when we were dating. :)
Jeanette Devevo
These were great! Best recipe for hermits. Have gone through many others. This’ one of my favorite cookies–from Em’s Bake Shop in Avon Connecticut when I was a kid. Now your recipe is the one I will always use.
Liz DellaCroce
I’m so glad you enjoyed them!!
Maine Grammy Linda
LOVE these bars! Flavor is PERFECT!!! Only problem I had was using wrong size pan (my idea of standard jelly roll pan is different) and had to bake way longer than stated. The correct size must be what I consider a large cookie sheet (12×17). Thanks for sharing this great recipe!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I’m so glad to hear it!!!
Suzeraine
Every autumn my grandfather would drive down from NY to FL for a month long visit with all sorts of goodies in his car. One of those goodies was Freihoffer’s Hermit cookies. I don’t think Freihoffer’s exists any more, and I haven’t seen any sort of hermit cookie in YEARS. But I had a hankerin’ and went looking on the internet…
Made these and they brought back so many memories! Even my kid who doesn’t like raisins liked these – they were gone in about 4 days, which says a lot around here. Superb recipe! Thanks so much!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh this makes me so happy!!! I love this story!
Dave H.
Hermit cookies were always a huge favorite in and around my childhood city of Portland, Maine. This recipe is not only easy, it is the best I’ve come across to replicate that ole time taste!
Thank-you!
Liz DellaCroce
YES!! Aren’t they the best?!?
Judy
Dear girl thank you so much for this recipe. My mother loved Hermits they are big in the New England area where I live. I baked these for a bake sale at work and people were scooping up five and six of them at a time !!!!!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh that makes me so happy!!!!! So glad to hear Judy!
MJ Paley
Great recipe! Just what I’ve been searching for. Rich in flavor and moist and chewy. Thanks!!! This is definitely a Keeper!
Liz DellaCroce
Aren’t they so good??
Audrey
On wow!!! These are delicious!! I make these every Christmas and signed up just to comment. Thank you for the recipe!
Audrey
I also added about two tablespoons of instant coffee. The coffee didn’t change the texture and made them extra yummy.
Liz DellaCroce
Great idea!!!!!!!
Dave H.
Another trick is to allow the raisins to soak in coffee. Gives a little extra flavor and moisture.
Liz DellaCroce
That’s a great idea!! I’m going to tell my husband!
Liz DellaCroce
So glad you like them Audrey!!
Julie Belanger
HERMITS – CHEWY MOLASSES COOKIE BARS
Wow! Lovely recipe. Cooking time was bang on for 19 minutes with a gas oven. I cut them up into squares and left them on the counter overnight. Chewy and delicious! I added walnuts.
They just may become a Canadian Thank`s Giving tradition in my home.
.jb
Liz DellaCroce
So glad you enjoy them!!
Kathy
Have you made these as a cookie? Making to give away and a cookie would be easier to package. When I made these this summer it took much longer to bake than called for, the insides were still very gooey at 17 min. so want to do cookies to be on the safe side. Otherwise they were AWESOME, I loved them. Just not sure how long to bake for. thanks!
Liz DellaCroce
You know I’ve only ever made them as a bar! I’m glad you liked the flavor!
Maria Moore
Salted or unsalted butter?
Liz DellaCroce
Unsalted!
Melissa @ Bless this Mess
These look so tasty and I can’t get over the name. I can’t wait to try them!
Liz DellaCroce
Did you make them yet?!
Caroline @ Caroline Kaufman Nutrition
I made these bars and they were perfect! I grew up eating them in Boston and they hit the exact same notes I was looking for. 5-stars, thank you!
Liz DellaCroce
So happy to hear it!!
Polly
As a child I loved Nelson’s Bakery’s hermits in Maplewood,(Malden) MA and have not found a comparable recipe until now. Thank you for renewing wonderful memories!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I’m so thrilled to hear that! My husband is from Saugus/Lynn area!!
Liz DellaCroce
Wow small world!!!
carolyn thurston larkin
I grew up in Maplewood Square and loved Nelson’s Bakery. I have been searching for the recipe for those wonderful coffee rolls that were frosted and sprinkled with walnuts. If you know of that recipe could you please respond back to me. I have so many fond memories of Maplewood Square and growing up there.
Liz DellaCroce
Hi Carolyn – We don’t know a recipe for those but they sound delicious!! I hope you try these hermits – they are so good!
Polly Vraneza
Hi Carolyh, I would love to share my Swedish nut roll recipe with you. Could be communicate by email? Don’t know how to do this, but hope we can figure it. Out!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips
I have to make these for my husband. He would love them!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh man they are the best!!! Let me know if he likes them!!
Melissa
I made these today and they came out wonderfully. I had to cook mine for about 25 minutes. Thanks for a great recipe, it’s nice to see something different out in the blog world.
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I’m so thrilled to hear it!! They are the best! I’ll be sure to let my husband know!
Gina
Have you tried making these with gluten free flour?
Gina
I think I will try it. Been using Bob’s AP GF flour too for converting things, have had a lot of luck with cookies and bars.
Liz DellaCroce
Let me know how it turns out!!
Michelle
My mom’s favorite cookie is molasses, she hasn’t been able to make them for years because of her arthritis. I’m going to surprise her with these, but I’m trying to remember what she put in her cookies – I think dried fruit? Like cherries & such? Not sure about the raisins …. but I’m excited to try these!
Liz DellaCroce
Yes I’ve heard of other versions using other types of dried fruit! I hope you like this!!
Jennifer
Was just about to ask what size/type of pan, then sifted through comments and found the answer “a standard size jelly roll pan.” I think it would be really helpful if this was included in the directions of the recipe. I have the dough ready and can’t wait to try these, it’s already delicious!
Liz DellaCroce
I will revise the recipe shortly to include that/ so sorry for any confusion! I hope you love the hermits as much as we do!!
Suzanne LaBombard
Question: i have baking sheets, 12 by 17. Are you using a regular jelly roll pan? What size?
Liz DellaCroce
Hi Suz, We usually use a jelly roll pan- whatever the standard size is!! Hope that helps. Enjoy!
Suzanne LaBombard
Thanks for such a prompt response! I am looking forward to making them for a senior citizen cookout!
Liz DellaCroce
I hope everyone enjoyed them!
Suzanne LaBombardsu
Made a double batch and the seniors LOVED them!! Big hit, they went quickly! Very moist and yummy.
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I’m so glad!!! I can’t wait for my husband to make them again soon. :)
Barbara
When I make my hermit bars, I use equal amounts of raisins, dates and walnuts. I chop them in the food processor with some of the flour.
Liz DellaCroce
That is such a great idea! We will definitely try that next time!!
Joy
Mmmmmm, these bars sound delicious! I do have one question before trying the recipe: What size cookie sheet do you use? 15 x 10? 13 x 18? If you are willing/able to tell me, I would be very appreciative.
Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season! :)
Liz Della Croce
Hi Joy! We use a 12 x 17 sheet pan. Thanks for asking- I will be sure to edit the recipe! Let me know how they turn out.
Liz
Shelly
I made these today, but used chocolate chips instead of raisins because I’m not a fan. They smelled amazing while baking and tasted even better!
The Lemon Bowl
That sounds incredible- we may need to try it with chocolate next!
Mackenzie {SusieFreakingHomemaker}
I am going to have to make these – hermit bars – they just sound so dense and rich and DELISH!!
The Lemon Bowl
You’ve gotta make them!! They are so tasty!!!
Cate
OMG- I love hermits so much (grew up in New England) and I haven’t had them in so so long. I’ll have to try and covert these to gluten-free :)
The Lemon Bowl
That’s so cool you’ve had one before!!! Let me know if you come up with a GF version!
Donna
I’ve never made hermit bars or hermit cookies, but these look great. I’ll have to put them on my to-do list really soon.
The Lemon Bowl
You must put them on your to do list!! I promise you won’t regret it. :)
Deborah
I need to try these asap! They look amazing!
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen
Oh, I love hermit cookies and I know these bars must be fantastic.
The Lemon Bowl
They are so tasty – perfect for bringing to a party. :)
Luv What You Do
These look right up my alley. I can’t wait to come up with a reason to bake a batch!
The Lemon Bowl
Let me know what you think when you make them!!
kita
I have never had a hermit bar. But damned if I don’t want one now. Since they last so long, you should totally whip up a batch for me? I’ll pretend I’m pregnant, counts for something, right?
The Lemon Bowl
LOL!! I wish I had them in front of me myself!!
Barbara | Creative Culinary
Molasses cookies are one of my favorites; I just know I would love these bars. How lucky you are to have actually met Rachel!
The Lemon Bowl
You must give these a try Barbara- I know you’ll love them!
Steph
These sound like they are bursting with fall flavor
The Lemon Bowl
They are the perfect Fall cookie!! I hope you try them!
Kathryn
I’ve never heard of hermit bars before but they sound right up my street – especially with that pinch of salt!
Skye
If these treats could go on long voyages with sailors, I’m guessing they might survive being mailed across country and overseas? ;) They sound like just the right treat for some young relatives facing college finals and for some young folks I know who are in the military and away from home for the holidays this year.
The Lemon Bowl
These would be ideal for shipping!! Great idea and very thoughtful!
Nutmeg Nanny
These bars look amazing!!! I love hermit bars but have never made them homemade. Things are going to change around this house! Thank you so much for being a part of this event!!!
diabeticFoodie
My ex introduced me to hermits – haven’t made them in ages! Thanks for the reminder. So jealous you’ve actually met Rachel in person :)
The Lemon Bowl
If you haven’t had them in a long time you must give them a try!! I love them because you really only need a small square to satisfy the sweet tooth. :-)
Cassie | Bake Your Day
This is so sweet! I love the ginger in these. It’s so perfect for this time of year!
The Lemon Bowl
The ginger is key! So is the cloves. Please give these a try – I just know you’ll love them, Cassie!
Heather | Farmgirl Gourmet
I’ve never heard of these, but WHOA…I want one or 3. They look delish!! Love the pic of you and Rach.
The Lemon Bowl
Thank you Heather!! You must try these some time – there are never any left over when I bring them to a party!!
Sheila
Very sweet post! And your bars lookd TDF! xoxox
The Lemon Bowl
You need to make them Sheila!! I will cut my arm off if you don’t like them. :)
Jamie @ Thrifty Veggie Mama
These look great! I might have to try them today. Rainy days are great for baking!
The Lemon Bowl
Please give them a try – I’m serious, they are so incredibly good. Let me know what you think!!
Jamie @ Thrifty Veggie Mama
Yummy! These look delicious. Might give them a try today. Rainy days are great for baking.
Sarah W. Caron
Wow, they sound incredible. I don’t think I’ve ever had a hermit bar here in New England, but the flavoring sounds like one of my favorite regional cookies — the spice cookie.
The Lemon Bowl
You must give them a try, Sarah!! I promise you won’t be disappointed. :)
Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray
I’m totally swooning over these…I love anything sweet and chewy!!
The Lemon Bowl
Please give these a try!! Money back guarantee you will love!! :)
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective
Ooo, I bet those are amazing!
The Lemon Bowl
I can’t lie- they are out of this world. Must try!!
Carrie @ Bakeaholic Mama
My mom LOVES hermits, I think I should make these for her Christmas basket!
The Lemon Bowl
I love that she knows what hermits are!! Please let me know if you try these- they are always a crowd favorite.
Rachel Cooks
Love you Liz!!!! Thanks for being a part of this. You guys really pulled it off, I was completely surprised! It means the world to me. xoxo
And a big thanks to Rich for the yummy bars, too :)
The Lemon Bowl
I’m so glad it was a big surprise!!! I’ve been waiting for this day for so long – so glad you are enjoying all of the goodies!!! xoxoxo
30A EATS
Interesting tidbit about how the bars originated and love the cloves and other spices used. Perfect for my holiday cookie swap with neighbors! I brought Southern Cheese Straws to the party! :)
The Lemon Bowl
Just added your link!! You must try these bars – they are always well received and the recipe is always requested!