By Krista Teigen
Updated Dec 9, 2025
Hermit Cookies are an old-fashioned spiced cookie with a soft and chewy texture that’s unbeatable. I’ve added warm spices like cinnamon and cloves, along with raisins and molasses, to fill up these rich and delicious cookie bars.
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5-Star Review
“I love this spicy cookie recipe. I added a variety of dried fruit to jazz it up. Love how easy it is to make. Just mix, form two logs and bake!” -Shan
Easy Hermit Cookies Recipe
These cookies are everything I want in a holiday treat—chewy, gooey, and packed with warm spices—and the best part is they stay delicious for days . Honestly, what more could I ask for in a Christmas cookie?
I always bake the dough as bars instead of individual cookies because it guarantees that perfect, soft-and-chewy texture I grew up expecting from classic hermit cookies. And trust me, the molasses isn’t optional. It’s the secret that gives these bars their deep, rich sweetness that keeps me coming back for just one more every single time.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ ½ cup unsalted butter 113g, room temperature (1 stick)
- ▢ 1 cup granulated sugar 200g
- ▢ ⅓ cup unsulphured molasses 113g
- ▢ 2 large eggs 100g, room temperature
- ▢ 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 4g
- ▢ 2½ cups all-purpose flour 300g
- ▢ 1 tsp baking powder 4g
- ▢ ½ tsp kosher salt
- ▢ ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ▢ ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ▢ ⅛ tsp ground cloves
- ▢ 1 cup raisins 150g
- ▢ 1 cup powdered sugar for glaze
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Use a hand mixer to cream the butter, sugar, and molasses together. ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, ⅓ cup unsulphured molasses
- Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract. 2 large eggs, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves together. 2½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, ⅛ tsp ground cloves
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients as you beat the mixture on low.
- Mix in the raisins. 1 cup raisins
- Divide the dough into 2 sections (about 494 grams each), and form each section into a log about 12 inches long.
- Place the logs lengthwise on a large baking sheet. Then, flatten the logs to about ¾-inch thickness.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the logs are puffed up and have slight cracks in the middle.
- Let cool before slicing into rectangles on the diagonal.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Hand Mixer
- Baking Sheet
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Hermit Cookies Step by Step
Prep the oven and combine the wet ingredients: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cream ½ cup room temperature unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, and ⅓ cup unsulphured molasses using a hand mixer. Then beat in 2 large eggs and 1 tsp pure vanilla extract.
Make the dough: Whisk 2½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, and ⅛ tsp ground cloves in a different bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, beating the mixture on low. Finally, fold in 1 cup raisins.
Shape the dough: Divide the dough into 2 sections (about 494 grams each), and form each one into a log about 12 inches long. Place the logs lengthwise on a large baking sheet. Then, flatten to about ¾-inch thickness.
Bake, cool, and slice: Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the logs are puffed up and have slight cracks in the middle. Let cool before slicing into rectangles on the diagonal.
Frost and serve: Drizzle them with a simple glaze made from 1 cup powdered sugar and 2-4 tbsp of water and serve. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations
- Get even more molasses flavor. Swap out the granulated sugar for dark brown sugar.
- Swap raisins for dried fruit. If I don’t have any raisins on hand, I’ll throw in any dried fruit I can find in the pantry, like apricots, cherries, or even crystallized ginger.
- Get more texture. Sometimes I’ll mix in chopped nuts, like pecans or walnuts to add more crunch.
How to Store
Store leftover hermit cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Let them come to room temperature or gently microwave to soften before enjoying.
Freeze hermit cookie bars in a single layer on a lined baking sheet until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 1 month. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying.
Serving Suggestions
Come holiday time, I like to serve these spiced hermit cookies with a warm and comforting drink, like a classic holiday crockpot eggnog or a cozy spiked chai . For the kids, I like to prepare a batch of warm and inviting Instant Pot apple cider .
more molasses cookie recipes
Molasses Cookies
Ginger Cookies
Gingerbread Cookies (Gingerbread Family)
Oatmeal Cream Pies
Hermit Cookies Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Hand Mixer
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter 113g, room temperature (1 stick)
- 1 cup granulated sugar 200g
- ⅓ cup unsulphured molasses 113g
- 2 large eggs 100g, room temperature
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 4g
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour 300g
- 1 tsp baking powder 4g
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ⅛ tsp ground cloves
- 1 cup raisins 150g
- 1 cup powdered sugar for glaze
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Use a hand mixer to cream the butter, sugar, and molasses together. ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, ⅓ cup unsulphured molasses
- Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract. 2 large eggs, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves together. 2½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, ⅛ tsp ground cloves
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients as you beat the mixture on low.
- Mix in the raisins. 1 cup raisins
- Divide the dough into 2 sections (about 494 grams each), and form each section into a log about 12 inches long.
- Place the logs lengthwise on a large baking sheet. Then, flatten the logs to about ¾-inch thickness.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the logs are puffed up and have slight cracks in the middle.
- Let cool before slicing into rectangles on the diagonal.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
