Bonus Baking Post - Hermits

 

Former Patriot Ty Law said, "A man's gotta eat." That leaves a lot of wiggle room. 

As a boy in Wakefield, I got exposed to a rare treat from (now closed) Holiday Bakery. Hermits remain one of the best cookies available... 

Regular readers get exposure to an occasional recipe. Here's the anonymous ChatGPT Plus recipe:

Notes: 

1) I mixed with a large stand mixer

2) The dough is "nightmarish..." worse than brioche bread. I oiled clean hands to manage. 

3) I don't eat raw dough...Ellen said it was delicious. 

4) The recipe called for 12-15 minutes of cooking and these came out at about 18 minutes. Ovens may vary. Bon appetit...

🍪 Classic New England Hermits (Soft & Chewy)

Ingredients

• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 cup brown sugar (packed)

• 1 large egg

• ½ cup molasses (not blackstrap—use regular or “robust”)

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• ½ tsp ginger

• ¼ tsp cloves

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 cup raisins

• ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional but traditional)

• ¼ cup milk (helps keep them soft)

Instructions

1. Prep

   • Preheat oven to 350°F

   • Line a baking sheet with parchment

2. Cream base

   • Beat butter + brown sugar until fluffy

   • Add egg, then molasses → mix until smooth

3. Dry ingredients

   • In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, spices, and salt

4. Combine

   • Add dry mix to wet

   • Stir in milk, raisins, and nuts

5. Shape

   • Divide dough into 2–3 logs (~10–12 inches long) on baking sheet

   • Flatten slightly (they spread)

6. Bake

   • 12–15 minutes (edges set, center still soft)

7. Slice

   • Cool 5–10 minutes, then slice diagonally into bars

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🔥 Pro Tips (this is what makes them “best”)

• Don’t overbake → slightly underdone = soft, chewy texture

• Molasses choice matters → avoid blackstrap (too bitter)

• Rest overnight if you can → flavor deepens dramatically

• Add orange zest or a splash of coffee for a subtle upgrade

• Swap raisins for dried cranberries if you want a brighter flavor