Classic Hermit Cookies

5 from 32 votes
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Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?! Ummmm… me. Again…All the way from 1800s New England, this classic hermit cookie recipe is an old fashioned favorite of mine. These soft and chewy cookies are full of warm spices that will make you feel like you’re a little kid sat in Grandma’s kitchen! And what makes them taste even better is how little effort it takes to bake them.

Classic Hermit Cookies in a jade blue plate
Classic Hermit Cookies

How To Make Classic Hermit Cookies

  • Boil your raisins in some water to plump them up. Then drain them and set them aside.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 F.
  • Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
  • Cream together the butter and the sugar. Beat in the egg completely, then add the sour milk and the vanilla. Mix until combined.
  • Combine and whisk together the dry ingredients.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, combine completely.
  • Stir in the raisins and dates.
  • Drop by tablespoon onto a cookie sheet. If you want them flatter, slightly press them down. I like mine cakey.
  • Bake at 350 degrees until browned. Remove and cool.

stack of Classic Hermit Cookies in a jade blue plate

These Cookies Last FOREVER

A lot of people say that these cookies actually improve with age (like the rest of us, right?!). These mouthwatering munchies will last for weeks if you can resist eating them all at once! In fact, in the olden days they were given to sailors on clipper ships when they were sent on their voyages. The sailors would stow their cookie tins away like “hermits” on their travels and a lot of people think that’s where the name came from!

And They Have Their Own Special Holiday

National Spicy Hermit Cookie Day is a very real event. Every year on November 15th, cookie fans all over the world celebrate this old fashioned wonder. I don’t know about you, but in my book that’s basically a license to eat hermit cookies all day long! Then again, who needs an excuse?!

A Guaranteed Hit With Everyone In Your Family

These classic hermit cookies will appeal to everyone in your household, young and old! They’re perfect with a cup of tea in the evening or a with a glass of milk at lunch. Personally, I love having a few with a delicious warm mug of hot chocolate! Don’t forget that you can change up the ingredients by adjusting the spices, so you can go easy on the cinnamon or add more on it depending on your preference. Don’t forget to have your cookie jar ready too!

jade blue plate with some pieces of Classic Hermit Cookies

More Easy Dessert Recipes For You To Try

Chocolate Banana Bread: a guilt-free chocolate treat! Why? Because there are bananas in it, silly!

Lighter Lemon Blackberry Muffins: these tasty muffins are bursting with flavour!

Australian Lumberjack Cake: after baking 6 of these cakes this year, I’m koalafied to say this is the best secret cake recipe around!

These spicy, raisin and date filled hermit cookies are an old-fashioned favourite for a reason! #cookies #raisin #dessert #hermits

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Hermit Cookies

These spicy, raisin and date filled hermit cookies are an old-fashioned favourite for a reason! 
5 from 32 votes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
10 minutes
Total Time
20 minutes
Course
Dessert
Cuisine
American
Servings
24
Author
Karlynn Johnston

Ingredients
 

  • 1/2 cup of butter or margarine
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup sour milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1 cup chopped dates

Instructions
 

  • Boil your raisins in some water to plump them up, then drain Set aside.
  • Pre-heat the oven to 350 F.
  • Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
  • Cream together the butter and the sugar. Beat in the egg completely, then add the sour milk and the vanilla. Mix until combined.
  • Combine and whisk together the dry ingredients.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, combine completely.
  • Stir in the raisins and dates.
  • Drop by tablespoonful onto a cookie sheet. If you want them flatter, slightly press them down. I like mine cakey little drops.
  • Bake at 350 degrees until browned. Remove and cool.

All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

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Karlynn Johnston

I’m a busy mom of two, wife & cookbook author who loves creating fast, fresh meals for my little family on the Canadian prairies. Karlynn Facts: I'm allergic to broccoli. I've never met a cocktail that I didn't like. I would rather burn down my house than clean it. Most of all, I love helping YOU get dinner ready because there's nothing more important than connecting with our loved ones around the dinner table!

Learn more about me

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Reader Interactions

Comments & Recipe Tips Share a tip or comment!

  1. Darlene says

    Do you just chop the dates or cook them as you do for matrimonial cake ..thank you

  2. Laurie Eagle says

    Don’t hermit cookies have molasses in them?

  3. Lois Popp says

    I omitted the dates.
    We made these when young and this recipe is identical. So good5 stars

  4. Garry J. Applelgate says

    My Mother made these for me all through my childhood. I can remember standing in the kitchen watching her make them and she added a “cup of cold black coffee” when she made them. Does anyone else know of this change in the recipe?

    • Janet Wetmore says

      My grandmother made them all the time for us. Her cookie jar always had them and we loved them. It was always straight to the cookie jar when we went to Grandmas! She used about 1 cup to 1-1/2 cups of STRONG black cold coffee.

    • Eileen Bedwell says

      What changes would you have to make to add a cup of coffee to this recipe? Asking for a friend!

  5. Jackie says

    These turned out great for my first time making hermit cookies. In my oven it took 14 minutes to bake on a good quality cookie sheet. I did add walnuts and used cranberries instead of dates and a sprinkle of allspice.

  6. Angel says

    These were yummy. I didn’t have dates on hand so just used double the raisins. However, I really wish you had given a suggestion for the number of minutes to bake. I know ovens vary, but it was obnoxious to have to keep such an insanely close eye on the timing since I was unsure what would be a minimum “safe” baking time.5 stars

  7. Earlyne Wiebe says

    Hi! Just wanted to let you know that I just made the Hermit Cookies. Oh my! I’m trying not to eat them all at once. So delicious. Instead of sour milk I used sour cream. FYI to anyone. I love your recipes! Mmmgood ??5 stars

  8. Mark says

    Hi there, Australia commenting…..what is sour milk? Buttermilk?

    • Mr. Kitchen Magpie says

      You can sour milk by adding in a tsp of vinegar. Buttermilk is quite thick compared to just a plain soured milk.5 stars

  9. Eileen says

    Hi there, you might want to change the instructions where you say to add the sour egg and vanilla. I think you mean sour milk. Love your blog!

  10. Kim says

    Karlynn;
    Hi,your hermit cookies look so good and tasty but the raisons raise my blood sugar and i was wondering if i can just leave them out of your recipe or if i can add mini chocolate chips in this cookie recipe.Can this hermit cookie recipe be frozen after i make the cookies?
    Kim5 stars

    • Karlynn Johnston says

      They are great frozen and you can sub in mini chocolate chips, they won’t be as chewy but the spices would be delicious with chocolate!5 stars

      • Kathleen Falls says

        Very tasty hermit recipe…I will be making them again!😊

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