This hermit cookie recipe got here to me through a buddy. I used to be having fun with dinner with my buddy Sante and some others. Sante is a enjoyable particular person to talk with as a result of he is a type of guys who by no means runs out of tales – or opinions for that matter. A few of chances are you’ll know him from his days because the chef on the Gradual Membership in San Francisco. Late within the night the subject of dialog turned to Christmas cookies.

I’m solidly a shortbread particular person, however Sante began speaking about hermits – a cookie he makes commonly for a buddy who loves them. I had no thought what he was speaking about. I would by no means heard of a hermit cookie. He went on to explain a easy, drop-style spice cookie loaded with tiny currants and chopped walnuts, completed with a little bit of icing. He promised to share his recipe with me, and right here we’re. As promise, an A-plus addition to any vacation cookie platter.

What are Hermit Cookies?

I’ve come to study that there are all kinds of theories about how these cookies got here to be named. Some say hermit cookies acquired their identify as a result of they style greatest once they’ve been hidden away like hermits for a pair days. There’s the speculation that they seemed like a hermit’s brown material. The oldest variations of the recipe are considered again to Medieval European hermitages. In order that’s one other angle. It might be a little bit of the entire above. 

There are as many approaches to creating hermits as there are bakers. The widespread components seemingly spices, raisins or dates, nuts. Some like hermits iced or frosted, others skip it. They’re easy to make. The chewy, nuttiness together with heat flavors like cinnamon, allspice, and cloves strike a pleasant steadiness. And, I hold pondering, this may also make the inspiration for a scrumptious muffin batter.

Hermit Cookies: Professional-tips

Right here are some things I’ve discovered after making Sante’s hermits over time. True to the legend, they’re actually good the day they’re baked and iced, however exponentially higher the day after. The icing develops a little bit of a crust and the spices meld collectively. Hermits are excellent with a cup of espresso within the morning. They’re nice on a vacation cookie plate. A cup of cardamom (or saffron tea) within the afternoon is one other excellent pairing. I additionally by no means skimp on the icing. In the event you’re in my camp take into account doubling up on the icing.
Above you possibly can see the cookie dough coming collectively. And beneath the ultimate consistency of the dough in any case components have been included.

Hermit Cookies: Variations

Listed below are just a few variations individuals have famous within the feedback that sound unbelievable! New Englanders undoubtedly repping for bar-shaped hermits made with molasses within the feedback.

• Kristin famous, “I added some freshly grated orange zest to the batter. It was powerful to not eat the batter and really bake the cookies, fact be informed.”
• I really like the espresso suggestion Paullett makes right here. “I used to bake them usually once I was the cook dinner on the Convent of Notre Dame in Toronto. I’ve by no means seen one iced earlier than I’ll need to strive it. One widespread addition to them is a little bit of sturdy chilly espresso and a few molasses. The genuine approach is so as to add rasins and walnut however I put candied peel, candied fruit and even pine nuts which could be very not genuine.”
• Elle went the cardamom route and shared, “I baked a batch for my colleagues the opposite day & substituted cardamom for the allspice–it was an excellent name–cardamom is unbelievable on this recipe and folks actually loved the cookies!”

And for any of you looking this web page across the holidays, here’s a little bit of further cookie inspiration.

Extra Christmas Cookie Recipes

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