Hermits
Many varieties of dried fruit and nut cookies filled the farm pantries. Chewy and substantial, they also retained their moisture longer because of the presence of the fruit.
Here are hermits, those old-fashioned cousins of jumbies, ice box cookies, date and nut, and mincemeat cookies.
Ingredients
- 1 cup shortening
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 4 eggs
- ½ cup molasses
- 1 tsp. baking soda dissolved in ½ cup warm water
- 4½ cups flour
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. ground cloves
- 1 cup chopped nuts
- 1 cup chopped dates
Instructions
- Cream shortening and sugars.
- Add eggs and beat until light and fluffy.
- Sift dry ingredients and add alternately with water and molasses.
- Beat after each addition.
- Stir in chopped nuts and dates.
- Drop by round teaspoons onto greased cookie sheet.
- Bake at 350° for 10–12 minutes.
- Variation:
- Use ½ cup cooled black coffee instead of water.
- Add 1 cup raisins and 1 cup chopped dried apricots in place of nuts and dates.