Hermit Cookies

White Hermit Cookies are filled with spices and so aromatic while baking.  Top with an easy homemade icing for a beautiful old-fashioned cookie that’s wonderful to enjoy during the Christmas season.

white hermit cookies with icing on cooling rack

Old Fashioned Hermit Cookies

We have been blessed with several recipes boxes that are decades old and packed with handwritten recipes.  Chocolate Hermits were the first traditional cookie that we made and we love them, so it just made sense to try out these White Hermits.

Hermit Cookies are unique because of the cloves, allspice, cinnamon, raisins and nuts.  Nuts can easily be omitted, but they add a nice crunch when included.

A layer of homemade icing makes these cookies special.  I find it easiest to make a double or triple batch of icing, keep it covered so it doesn’t dry out and ice several batches of cookies on a big holiday baking day.

Sometimes we bake the cookies in the evening and mix up the icing the following day.  Breaking up tasks and dishes makes baking homemade cookies easier.

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old fashioned hermit cookies with homemade icing on baking rack

Tips for Making Hermit Cookies

  • Chopping raisins is optional if small raisins are used
  • Using a quality medium-sized (1.5 tablespoons) cookie scoop for uniform cookies
  • Homemade or store-bought vanilla icing works fine
  • Let cookies cool completely before icing
  • Add a dash of allspice to the icing for an even more aromatic flavor
  • Store in an airtight container
  • Keep airtight container in the refrigerator to extend shelf life
  • Wait to ice cookies within 1 day of use for maximum quality

How to Make Hermit Cookies

  1. Cream butter, sugar and eggs, then add vanilla.
  2. Mix flour, baking powder, salt and spices.
  3. Alternate adding dry ingredients and a little bit of milk to creamed mixture.  Mix well.
  4. Stir in raisins and nuts.
  5. Chill for up to an hour until the dough becomes cold and easier to work with.
  6. Drop by teaspoon full 2 to 3 inches apart onto a well-greased baking sheet.
  7. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in a 350° oven.
  8. Mix up icing and frost cookies.
collage of old fashioned hermit cookies

Other Old Fashioned Dessert Recipes:

Printable White Hermit Cookies Recipe

Homemade hermit cookies with icing

Hermit Cookies

Servings 30 cookies
Author: Jennifer
White Hermit Cookies are filled with spice and so aromatic while baking.  Top with an easy homemade icing for a beautiful old-fashioned cookie that's easy to make.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes

Ingredients
  

Cookies

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cloves
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 cup raisins chopped
  • 1 cup nuts chopped

Icing

  • 2 cups confectioners sugar
  • 1/4 cup Crisco
  • Dash salt
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • Dash allspice optional

Instructions
 

  • In a mixing bowl cream together butter, sugar and eggs. Add vanilla.
  • In a separate bowl mix flour, baking powder, salt and spices.
  • Alternate adding dry ingredients and a little bit of milk. Mix well.
  • Stir in raisins and nuts.
  • Chill for up to an hour until the dough becomes cold and easier to work with.
  • Drop by teaspoon full 2 to 3 inches apart onto a well greased baking sheet.
  • Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in a 350° oven.
  • Mix up icing and frost cookies.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Enter your email and I’ll send this recipe right to your inbox! Plus, I’ll send you new recipes every week!

Notes

  • Chopping raisins is optional if small raisins are used
  • Using a quality medium-sized (1.5 tablespoons) cookie scoop for uniform cookies
  • Homemade or store-bought vanilla icing works fine
  • Let cookies cool completely before icing
  • Add a dash of allspice to the icing for an even more aromatic flavor
  • Store in an airtight container
  • Keep airtight container in the refrigerator to extend shelf life
  • Wait to ice cookies within 1 day of use for maximum quality

Nutrition

Calories: 173kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 75mgPotassium: 108mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 117IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

“Plowing Through Life” is not a dietitian or nutrition professional. Any nutritional information shared is an estimate and can vary greatly depending on specific products are used. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator of your choice.

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