Description
Hermit bars invite warm spice lovers into a comforting New England classic that balances molasses depth with zesty ginger and cinnamon notes. Sweet, chewy squares promise delightful moments when shared with cherished companions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 extra-large egg (room temperature)
- ¼ pound (1 stick) unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 2 cups plus 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 1 cup light or dark brown sugar (lightly packed)
- 2 tsps baking soda
- 2 tsps ground ginger
- 1.5 tsps ground cinnamon
- 1.5 tsps ground cloves
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ cup unsulphured molasses
- ½ cup golden raisins
- ⅓ cup minced crystallized ginger (not in syrup)
- 1 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar
- Lemon zest
- Dark rum (such as Mount Gay)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Creaming: Blend brown sugar and butter using electric mixer with paddle attachment until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes.
- Wet Ingredient Integration: Incorporate egg and molasses on low speed, scraping bowl sides to ensure uniform mixture.
- Dry Ingredient Combination: Sift flour, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves, and baking soda together in a separate bowl.
- Dough Formation: Gradually merge dry ingredients into butter mixture on low speed until just combined, then gently fold in crystallized ginger and raisins.
- Chilling: Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes to enhance texture and firmness.
- Shaping: On floured surface, divide chilled dough into two equal logs, approximately 12 inches long, and place on prepared baking sheet with adequate spacing.
- Baking: Roast logs for 20 minutes, understanding they will remain soft in the center.
- Glazing: Whisk confectioners’ sugar and rum into smooth, pourable glaze.
- Finishing: While logs are warm, drizzle glaze diagonally and sprinkle with fresh lemon zest, then cool completely before slicing into 1½-inch bars.
Notes
- Chill for Success: Refrigerating the dough for 30 minutes helps prevent spreading and creates a more cohesive texture, ensuring perfectly shaped hermit bars.
- Gentle Mixing Matters: Mix dry ingredients slowly and minimally to prevent tough, dense bars – just combine until ingredients are incorporated.
- Spacing is Key: Leave enough room between logs on the baking sheet to allow even baking and prevent potential merging during the baking process.
- Glaze While Warm: Apply the rum glaze immediately after baking while logs are still warm to help the glaze absorb and create a smooth, glossy finish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg