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.

Jump to: History of hermit cookies:

Frequently asked questions:

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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.

Frequently asked questions:

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 do you cut hermits? Use a pizza cutter or knife and cut them into squares (or any shape you prefer).

No forks required.

📖 Recipe