Down East Hermits Recipes

DOWN EAST HERMITS

Steps:

• Mix together thoroughly--shortening, brown sugar, and eggs.
• Blend in the cold coffee.
• Mix in the flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
• Add in the raisins and walnuts--mix well.
• Chill 1 hour.
• Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto a lightly greased baking sheet.
• Bake at 400 degrees for about 8-10 minutes or until set--just until when touched lightly with fingertip, almost no print remains.
• Do not overbake.

SPICY HERMIT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Place the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, until light and fluffy. With the mixer on low, add the egg, scrape down the bowl, then mix in the molasses.
• Sift together the flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing just until combined. Mix in the raisins and crystallized ginger. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Turn the dough out onto a very lightly floured board, form it into a disk with lightly floured hands, and cut it in half. Roll each half into a log 12 inches long and place them 3 inches apart on the prepared sheet pan. Bake for 20 minutes; the logs will still be soft in the center.
• Meanwhile, whisk the confectioners' sugar with 5 to 6 teaspoons rum to make a pourable glaze. While the logs are still warm, drizzle the glaze back and forth across the logs with a teaspoon and sprinkle them with the lemon zest. Allow to cool. Cut each log crosswise into 1 1/2-inch-wide bars.

MINCEMEAT HERMITS

Steps:

• Sift flour, soda, salt, and spices.
• Cream butter and sugar.
• Add egg and beat until light.
• Add dry ingredients, mincemeat, and cream- mix well.
• Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets.
• Bake in 400 degree oven, 10-12 minutes.
• Remove to racks to cool.