Cookies have been a favorite dessert for people all over. However, there’s a special kind of cookie out there with an obscure but unique history that takes place in the heart of New England and that’s the spicy hermit cookie. If you want to know what this spicy cookie is all about and how you can make it, you can read all about it here.
History of Spicy Hermit Cookie Day
The first mention of the “hermit cookie” was in the magazine Republican, published on July 1888. The author, Anna Barrows Papers, was a public school teacher at the time and taught cookery and home economics to children. Her article mentioned the idea of what foods to bring to a picnic. Of the first two mentions, which were potted meats and acid jellies, both of which don’t sound as good, the last mention involved a cookie that’s “quite as good as a fruitcake.” As a prideful representative of domesticity, she praised the cookie’s simplicity as well as its flavor, as is the ultimate convenience cookie.
The lore behind the cookie however still remained elusive. It is believed that sailors and travelers would take this cookie with them along their journeys. From the 1890s to the 1950s, the hermit cookie was a favorite cookie among many people because of its arrangement of spices and long lasting preservability and it was most popular in the New England area of the United States. Its ingredients can be added or changed up according to preferences and be enjoyed by anyone as a childhood favorite. Generally made with allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and raisins, the hermit cookie is a cookie that can please anyone.
How to Celebrate Spicy Hermit Cookie Day
Want to know how to make a delicious hermit cookie that people will love? Start off by preheating the oven to 350°. Line a baking dish with 2 layers of parchment paper and lightly coat with nonstick spray. Whisk 1 ½ cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, ¾ teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of baking soda, ½ teaspoon of ginger, and ½ teaspoon of nutmeg in a medium bowl. Then, using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat a ¾ cup of brown sugar and 10 tablespoons of butter in a large bowl for about 4 minutes. Add one egg and continue to beat for about 2 minutes. Then add ¼ cup of molasses and one teaspoon of vanilla and beat until combined. Once it’s smooth and fluffy, add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed. If you want, add ¾ cup of walnuts and ⅓ cup of raisins and mix with a large spoon. Then once you have it in a baking dish, bake for 20 to 30 minutes. You can also make a glaze for the cookies by adding 1 tablespoon of butter in a saucepan and cook for four minutes in a saucepan on medium heat. Then whisk powdered sugar into the butter until it forms a glaze.
If you like the recipe, then share it on social media and use the hashtag #spicyhermitcookieday and let everyone know the unique history of this spicy cookie.
