Hermit Cookies

Most versions of this old-fashioned cookie bake up rock-hard and overly spiced. Our recipe revives this New England specialty to what it should be: soft and chewy, with a perfect balance of sugar and spice.

A cookbook recipe exclusively for ATK Essential members from The Perfect Cookie

YIELD Makes about 20 cookies

TIME 1½ hours, plus 1½ hours chilling and 20 minutes cooling

Hermit Cookies photo
The Perfect CookieA cookbook recipe exclusively for ATK Essential members from The Perfect Cookie

Why This Recipe Works

Gather Your Ingredients

Key Equipment

Key Equipment - All-Purpose Whisks
Key Equipment - Food Processors

Before You Begin

*

Crystallized (or candied) ginger is available in the spice aisle of most supermarkets. For this recipe, we prefer using mild (or light) molasses instead of the robust or blackstrap varieties.

Instructions

1.

Process raisins and ginger in food processor until mixture sticks together and only small pieces remain, about 10 seconds. Transfer mixture to large bowl.

2.

Melt butter in small saucepan over medium-low heat, swirling saucepan occasionally, until nutty brown in color, about 10 minutes. Stir in cinnamon and allspice and cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Stir butter mixture into raisin mixture until well combined; let cool completely.

3.

Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in bowl. Stir brown sugar, molasses, and eggs into cooled butter-raisin mixture until incorporated. Using rubber spatula, fold in flour mixture (dough will be very sticky). Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until dough is firm, at least 1½ hours or up to 24 hours.

4.

Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Transfer dough to counter and divide into quarters. Roll 1 piece of dough into 10-inch log on lightly floured counter. Transfer log to prepared sheet and use ruler to neatly square off sides (each sheet will contain 2 logs). Repeat with remaining dough. Bake until only slight indentation remains on edges when touched (center will appear slightly soft), 15 to 20 minutes, switching and rotating sheets halfway through baking. Let cookies cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then slide cookies, still on parchment, onto wire rack. Let cookies cool completely.

5.

Whisk confectioners' sugar and orange juice in small bowl until smooth. Drizzle glaze onto cooled cookies and let sit until glaze dries, about 15 minutes. Cut cookies into 2-inch bars before serving. (Hermits can be stored at room temperature for up to 5 days.)

Test Kitchen Techniques

FROM OUR TV SPONSORS

We are thankful to the sponsors who make it possible for us to bring you the America's Test Kitchen TV series on public television. Read more about why we have sponsors.