New England Hermit Bars (2024)

Hermits are a classic New England recipe. These chewy and spicy bars will remind you of gingerbread because of the flavor.

How to Make New England Hermit Bars

I have extensive knowledge of sweets and treats from growing up with a Nana, Mom, and Auntie who always loved to have a little something with their tea in the afternoon! One of our favorites is these old-fashioned New England hermit bars.

Yes, hermit is a funny name…one theory is that the name came from the fact that people could store them away in a dark cupboard and they would stay fresh for ages. I’m not sure if that’s the origin but it sounds right!

This hermit recipe was given to me years ago by an old neighbor, Muriel. One day she shared a batch with me and I had to have the recipe because they were the best ones I had ever had! She wrote out the recipe on a card for me…remember recipe cards??

At the time I was newly married and just learning how to cook and bake so I loved how simple it was to make hermit bars.

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Ingredients Needed:

• ½ CUP BUTTER (SOFTENED)
• 1¼ CUPS SUGAR
• ¼ CUP MOLASSES
• 2 EGGS
• 3 CUPS FLOUR
• 1½ TSP BAKING SODA
• ½ TSP SALT
• ½ TSP CINNAMON
• ½ TSP GROUND CLOVES
• ½ TSP GROUND GINGER
• 1 CUP RAISINS
• ⅓ CUP CHOPPED WALNUTS (OPTIONAL)
• 1 BEATEN EGG (TO BRUSH TOPS OF BARS)

STEP 1.

PREHEAT OVEN TO 375°

Soak the 1 cup of raisins in boiling water.

Cream 1 stick softened butter, 1¼ cups sugar, and ¼ cup molasses together in a mixer. Add the 2 eggs. Blend until combined.

STEP 2.

In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients.

Slowly add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter mixture at the lowest speed.

STEP 3.

Drain the raisins and pat dry.

Add the chopped walnuts (if using) and the raisins to the hermit batter. Stir to combine.

STEP 4.

On a floured towel, cut the batter into 4 sections.

Roll 1 section at a time like a sausage on the towel.

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STEP 5.

Place the hermit bar logs onto a greased cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. I use silicone baking mats (Love, love these things!!) and a half sheet pan.

Flatten the logs slightly with your hand.

Brush tops with a beaten egg.

BAKE AT 375° FOR 15 MINUTES

STEP 6.

Let the hermits cool before cutting them diagonally into bars.

I find that using a dough scraper works great to cut the bars!

Store the New England hermit bars in an airtight container. They do stay fresh for a long time!!

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• Glazed Lemon Loaf Bread
• Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins
• Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
• Mint Chocolate Bark
• Double Chocolate Oreo Bark

New England Hermit Bars

Yield: 16

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

These chewy and spicy bars are a New England classic!

Ingredients

• ½ CUP BUTTER (SOFTENED)
• 1¼ CUPS SUGAR
• ¼ CUP MOLASSES
• 2 EGGS
• 3 CUPS FLOUR
• 1½ TSP BAKING SODA
• ½ TSP SALT
• ½ TSP CINNAMON
• ½ TSP GROUND CLOVES
• ½ TSP GROUND GINGER
• 1 CUP RAISINS
• ⅓ CUP WALNUTS (OPTIONAL)
• 1 BEATEN EGG (TO BRUSH TOPS OF BARS)

Instructions

- PREHEAT OVEN TO 375°

-Soak the 1 cup of raisins in boiling water.

-Cream 1 stick softened butter, 1¼ cups sugar, and ¼ cup molasses together in a mixer. Add the 2 eggs. Blend until combined.

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-In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients.

-Slowly add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter mixture at a low speed.

-Drain the raisins. Pat dry.

-Add the chopped walnuts (if using) and the raisins to the hermit batter. Stir to combine.

-On a floured towel, cut the batter into 4 sections.

-Roll 1 section at a time like a sausage on the towel.

-Place the hermit bar logs onto a greased cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. I use silicone baking mats

-Flatten the logs slightly with your hand.

-Brush tops with a beaten egg.

BAKE AT 375° FOR 15 MINUTES

Let bars cool before cutting them diagonally into bars.

I find that using a dough scraper works great to cut the bars!

Store the New England hermit bars in an airtight container. They do stay fresh for a long time!!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 16Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 269Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 253mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 1gSugar: 25gProtein: 4g

Doesn’t everyone’s treats look so yummy!! Which one is your favorite??….I can’t decide!!

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