November 4

I actually have no idea when I first heard of hermit cookies. I’m not even sure I have tasted them before making this batch, so I can’t vouch for their authenticity (but I can vouch for their deliciousness). From what I have read, hermit cookies are characterized by the spices and dried fruit that are included in the cookie, reminding me very much of these scones, which I can’t get enough of. When I think of hermit cookies, I always imagine a little hermit-like creature snuggled away somewhere in a snow-blanketed, enchanted forest eating these warming cookies. However, take note that there is absolutely no indication that this image has anything to do with the name of the cookie. It’s just my imagination running wild.


Of course when I was researching these cookies they were notably chocolate-less. I obviously had to right this horrible wrong and added some semisweet chocolate to some of the cookies. While the chocolate definitely isn’t a bad addition (can chocolate ever be a bad addition?), it’s not really necessary. I actually prefer them without chocolate (who am I?) if I had to choose.


These cookies are super soft, filled to the brim with raisins, walnuts and dates and perfectly sweet. The coconut sugar (or brown sugar if it’s what you have on hand) gives it a depth of flavour and the spices aren’t overpowering but are definitely there. They are completely different from the other spiced cookies that have been shared on this blog before but they are the same in the sense that they are both perfect dunked in milk or eaten with a mugful of hot chocolate on a cool, crisp day.