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    Home > Bars & Brownies

    Published: Jan 19, 2017 · Modified: Sep 19, 2022 by Helen S Fletcher · This post may contain affiliate links · 10 Comments

    Hermit Bars with Lemon Glaze

    Hermit BarsI am a sucker for spiced cookies and these Hermit Bars are one more example.  You need only look at the Honey Diamonds, Pfeffernusse, Triple Ginger Crisps, and Plantation Spice Cookies.

    This is one of the most addictive cookies I have ever eaten. The original recipes, which seems to be the norm in books and on the internet made a rather sodden, heavy cookie with no icing. Changing a few of the ingredients made one of the most moist, spicy cookies that last forever in a closed tin. The Lemon Glaze, which is the perfect foil for the spicy cookie and sprinkles are optional but add another dimension to the bars.

    The bar on the left is the traditional bar, the one on the right is the updated version which is higher, lighter and more moist.

    how to bake better custard
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    Baking gets better when you subscribe to receive this PDF on getting the most out of baking including information on equipment, ingredients and baking equipment.

    Difference between two Hermit Bars

    Making them even more attractive is the ease with which it is prepared.  This has to be one of the easiest, most rewarding cookies ever.  It can be cut into bars or cut those in half for a smaller cookie.

    The key to these Hermit Bars is the molasses which  I love.  There are different strengths of molasses (sort of like rum, another favorite).  There is mild or light which is the the least strong and the one I favor in most recipes.  There is a dark molasses which is stronger and more pronounced and Blackstrap which really packs a kick.  There is also sulphured and unsulphured.  For a great article explaining molasses see this article by Kitchn.

    I also made these with gluten free flour and, although they didn't rise quite as high they were equally delicious.  I sent them to my gluten free son and he approved so need I say more?

    Just keep theses Hermit Bars away from me.  I ate at least half of these by myself in a couple of days.  I would have done it in one day but Mike was watching!

    Hermit Bars Ingredients for Hermit Bars½ cup butter, softened (114 grams, 1 stick or 4 ounces)
    2 cups flour (280 grams or 10 ounces)*
    ¾ teaspoon baking soda
    ¾ teaspoon baking powder
    1 teaspoon ginger
    1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
    1 teaspoon cinnamon
    ½ teaspoon cloves
    ½ teaspoon nutmeg
    ¼ teaspoon salt
    1 cup brown sugar (200 grams or 7 ounces)
    2 eggs
    ⅓ cup light molasses

    *For the gluten free variety, I used King Arthur's Measure for Measure Gluten Free Flour.  One cup of this flour weighs 125 grams so 2 ¼ cups of the Measure for Measure equals the 280 grams or 10 ounces of all purpose flour.

    Line the bottom of a 9x13 pan or a quarter sheet pan with parchment. Spray the parchment and the sides of the pan.  Preheat the oven to 350°F.

    Whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, salt, cloves and nutmeg. Set aside.Spices and flour for the Hermit BarsSpices and flour whisked for the Hermit Bars

    Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.Butter and sugar for the Hermit BarsButter and sugar creamed for the Hermit Bars Add the eggs and mix in completely. Eggs added to the Hermit BarsEggs beaten in for the Hermit BarsAdd the molasses andMolasses in for Hermit Bars beat until combined. Molasses beaten in for Hermit BarsAdd the flour and beat until combined, scraping often.Beating in flour for Hermit BarsBatter finished for Hermit Bars

    Scrape into the prepared pan Batter in pan for Hermit barsand smooth with an offset spatula. Because this is a sticky batter, it is easiest if you use a damp spatula. I take my pan over to the sink area and run cold water on the spatula. I shake off the spatula to remove excess water and spread the batter. Repeat the wetting of the spatula as often as it takes to smooth and even out the batter.Wet spatula for Hermit BarsSpreading batter for the Hermit BarsBatter in pan for the Hermit Bars

    Bake for 15 to 18 minutes. Immediately upon removing them from the oven flatten the edges which will be higher with an offset spatula. Cool completely.Baked Hermit Bars

    Go around the edges with a spatula to release them and turn the Hermits out. Leave them upside down.Upside down Hermit Bars

    Lemon Glaze
    1 ½ cups powdered sugar (200 grams or 7 ounces)
    4 to 5 tablespoons lemon juice
    Multi colored sprinkles, optional

    Starting with 4 tablespoons of lemon juice, stir the powdered sugar and lemon juice together to create a glaze. Pouring lemon juice into powdered sugar If the glaze is too thick, add the remaining lemon juice a little at a time. Glaze whisked for Hermit BarsSpread over the Hermits.   Spreading glaze for Hermit BarsGlaze on for Hermit BarsSprinkle with the sprinkles if using. Let the glaze dry – this may take 4 to 5 hours or longer if it is humid.Sprinkles added to Hermit Bars

    Trim the edges. Cut into 5 or 6 across and 4 down making 20 to 24 bars. The bars can be cut in half for petit four size.

    Hermit Bars are about 1" tallHermit Bars

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. SallyBR says

      May 24, 2023 at 2:54 pm

      Just made them! I know it is an old post but better late than never - smells amazing

      I am waiting for the glaze to set, might cut them later tonight, I just know these will be a hit when I donate on Friday!!!!

      Reply
      • Helen S Fletcher says

        May 25, 2023 at 12:46 pm

        Hi Sally - These are one of our favs. If you were selling your house, this would be the thing to bake to make it smell good. Love that you donate to good causes. They must love you!.

        Reply
    2. Paule-Marie says

      January 30, 2017 at 7:29 pm

      I made your Hermit Bars. Loved them. Everyone (including my husband) liked them. The only problem I had was that they ended up about 1/2 inch tall when they finished cooling even though they were nice and high when I took them out of the oven. I am going to try them again but lower the amount of baking powder and soda more than I did this time. My house is at about 6800 feet, so it is always a wild guess how anything I bake turns out.

      Reply
      • hfletcher says

        January 30, 2017 at 9:09 pm

        One of the keys is to beat the butter sugar until very, very light. You will be using the air as a leavener as well as the soda and powder. I am sorry to say I know nothing about high altitude baking but I do know it is different. The other thing is to make sure you bake them enough. Sometimes something will look done but will not be quite baked enough. Try beatng and baking a bit longer. Let me know what happens.

        Reply
    3. Karen B says

      January 21, 2017 at 10:40 pm

      Helen, I made these tonight. Mine were only about 1/2" tall. We loved them; they taste like Gingerbread! Is there any way these can be made into a crunchier version?

      THANKS for the tip about wetting the spatula to spread the batter. It was very sticky and difficult to spread evenly.

      Reply
      • hfletcher says

        January 22, 2017 at 12:08 am

        Not that I know of. Try the Triple Ginger Crisps at https://pastrieslikeapro.com/2016/10/triple-ginger-crisps/#.WIRME2X6cXc. They are crunchy.

        Reply
    4. Karenb says

      January 19, 2017 at 7:45 pm

      Helen, these look delicious!! Are they crunchy like a cookie or soft like gingerbread?

      Reply
      • hfletcher says

        January 21, 2017 at 11:07 am

        Soft.

        Reply
    5. Rose Mueller says

      January 19, 2017 at 7:38 pm

      Helen,
      Thank you for the Pfeffernuse cookie recipe. My husband is very picky and he absolutely loved your recipe. I may have to make another batch soon. It is the best tasting Pfeffernuse we have ever eaten!
      Thanks for Sharing!

      Rose M.

      Reply
      • hfletcher says

        January 21, 2017 at 11:09 am

        Hi Rose - Thank you so much for your kind words. If he likes the Pfeffernuse, try the Hermits. I couldn't stop eating them, You can make them with or without the lemon glaze.

        Reply

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