Hermits

• 2 cups (275 g/9.7 oz) all-purpose flour
• ⅔ cup (65 g) seedless raisins (a handful more if you like them)
• ⅔ cup (120 g) packed dark brown sugar
• 2½ teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup (175 g) molasses
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 egg

Ingredients for 8 servings (800 g) · the original recipeShow how each ingredient was counted

Method

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 375°F/190°C.

   Oven
2. 2

   Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

3. 3

   In a large bowl, stir together flour, raisins, brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking powder, and salt until well combined; watch the brown sugar to ensure that it doesn't clump—it will want to do so and brown sugar clumps coated in flour look a lot like raisins coated in flour.

4. 4

   Stir in molasses, butter, vanilla, and egg until fully integrated. Shape the dough in two strips (approximately 6 x) separated by at least 1.5 in on the sheet pan.

5. 5

   Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the strips comes out dry.

   Oven
6. 6

   Allow to cool slightly then remove the hermits (on their parchment) to cooling racks to cool completely; be sure the bottoms have cooled (just reach under and feel—if its more than a little warmer than room temperature its not there yet).

7. 7

   Move the hermits (still on their parchment) to a counter for portioning and removal from parchment. Cut hermits into 1.5 in wide strips (a pizza cutter should work well) then carefully scrape them away from the parchment with a good thin spatula.

8. 8

   Enjoy with a glass of milk or a nice cup of tea.