Saturday, March 2, 2013

Ms. Moffatt's Hermits





 Ms Moffatt's Hermits
Inspired by my Grammy's moist spicy bars

1. 1/3 Cup Butter
2. 1/3 Cup Margarine
3. 1 Cup Sugar
4. 2 Eggs
5. ¼ Cup cold strong coffee
6. 1 Cup Molasses

7. 4 Cups Flour
8. 2 Tsp. Baking Powder
9. ½ Tsp. Baking Soda
10.¾ Tsp. Salt

11. ½ Tsp. Clove
12. ½ Tsp. Mace
13. 1 ½ Tsp. Ginger
14. 1 ½ Tsp. Nutmeg
15. 1 ½ Tsp. Cinnamon

16. 2 Cups Raisins

Directions:  Oven Temp. 350   Cook time: 30-35 min.  Pan: 11x17 cookie sheet with sides

Mix first 6 ingredients together. Beat Butter, Margarine and Sugar until mixed. Beat in eggs.  Beat in the coffee, milk, and Molasses.

In separate bowl mix all dry the ingredients (numbers 7-15).

Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix well.

Add 2 Cups of Raisins.

I mix everything but the raisins in a mixer. Fold in the raisins by hand.

Dump thick mixture onto a greased cookie sheet 11x 17 with 1” sides. Spread out and bake. Bars are done when toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Do not over cook, they get too dry. Cool on a rack in pan. Cut into squares.

Suggestions: Store in an airtight container. If stacking, place a sheet of waxed paper between the layers so they don’t stick to each other.

History: My Grandmother made the tastiest Hermits, moist, spicy and soft, not crunchy. I spent years trying to replicate the taste and texture without success. As luck would have it, I met a stranger at a party who told me she had her Grammy’s original recipe. She sent it to me and it was very close to just what I’d been searching for. With a few alterations, I came up with this recipe.  Enjoy!