Hermits (Boston Globe)

By zircon50

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cups shortening
• 3/4 cups granulated sugar
• 3/4 cups dark brown sugar
• 3 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a large cookie sheet pan.

Beat eggs, and set aside.

Cream shortening, add both sugars, add most of beaten egg reserving a small amount for brushing over top of hermits.

Sift flour, baking soda, salt, cloves, cinnamon and ginger.

In a separate bowl, mix together water and molasses.

Add flour mixture alternately to the molasses and water liquid, egg and shortening mixture.

Fold in raisins and nuts, and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes.

On a greased cookie sheet pan, make 4 dough logs, and place them across the width of the sheet pan.

Flatten logs slightly, and brush tops with reserved egg.

Bake for 15 minutes, cool slightly, cut into bars.

Makes 24 Hermits.