Spicy Hermit Bars

7 years ago

I've been on a "hermit" kick lately. Made Wolferman's Hermits last week and this week made Ina Garten's Spicy Hermit Bars. The Wolferman ones were more traditional while Ina's have a "kick" being chock full of spices. I did not add the candied ginger nor did I find a lemon to zest over the top. But they were good anyway!

And perfect for tea yesterday afternoon

¼ pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup light or dark brown sugar, lightly packed
1 extra-large egg, at room temperature
¼ cup unsulphured molasses
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1½ teaspoons ground cloves
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ cup golden raisins
1/3 cup minced crystallized ginger (not in syrup)
1 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar
Dark rum, such as Mount Gay
Grated lemon zest

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper

Place the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, until light and fluffy. With the mixer on low, add the egg, scrape down the bowl, then mix in the molasses.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing just until combined. Mix in the raisins and crystallized ginger. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Turn the dough out onto a very lightly floured board, form it into a disk with lightly floured hands, and cut it in half. Roll each half into a log 12 inches long and place them 3 inches apart on the prepared sheet pan. Bake for 20 minutes; the logs will still be soft in the center.

Meanwhile, whisk the confectioners’ sugar with 5 to 6 teaspoons rum to make a pourable glaze. While the logs are still warm, drizzle the glaze back and forth across the logs with a teaspoon and sprinkle them with the lemon zest. Allow to cool. Cut each log crosswise into 1½-inch-wide bars.

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