If you have never heard of a Hermit, well you are certainly not alone. Hermits are considered a New England “thing.” But who says it has to stay a New England thing? I live in the Midwest and I love these bars! While many will tell you these bars keep well, I have found that they don’t last long enough to have to keep well. Yes they are that yummy!
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup lard (shortening)
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 cups wheat flour
- 1/2 cup molasses
- Optional – raisins, pecans, dates (basically anything you want to toss in!)
In a large bowl cream together the sugar, shortening and butter. Once those are well blended added in all of the spiced, the salt and the baking soda. Add your wheat flour a little at a time and work it in well before adding the molasses. Now at this point you can toss in things like raisins, but my hubby doesn’t like such things in his baked goods. And to be honest with you, they are just as good without all the extras added in.
In a greased 9×13 pan, press your mixture flat. Yes, it is a dry mixture, but trust me. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until it begins to slightly pull away from the sides of the pan. Once cooled, cut into bars and gobble down!
My country kids just love these and like I said, I will never know how long you can store them for because they never last more then a couple days around our home. So what are you waiting for? Get baking!
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup lard (shortening)
- ½ cup butter
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- ½ teaspoon cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 cups wheat flour
- ½ cup molasses
- Optional - raisins
- In a large bowl cream together the sugar, shortening and butter.
- Add in all of the spiced, the salt and the baking soda.
- Add wheat flour a little at a time and work it in well before adding the molasses.
- In a greased 9x13 pan, press your mixture flat.
- Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until it begins to slightly pull away from the sides of the pan.
- Cool and cut into bars.
