Hermit cookies or hermit bars are a New England cookie made with raisins, molasses, and spice. They are sometimes made as a bar cookie, which is cut into individual serving slices after baking.
A historical recipe from 1921:
HERMITS
Source: The Modern Club Book of Recipes, c. 1921; pub. The John C. Winston Company
2 cups sugar
1/2 lb. English walnuts
1 cup butter
1 teacup seedless raisins
3 eggs, well beaten
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup sour milk
1/2 tsp. cloves
1 level tsp. soda
3 cups flour
1/2 1b. figs
3 tsp. vanilla
Cream sugar and butter, add eggs.
Add soda to sour milk.
Now chop figs, walnuts and raisins, mix cinnamon, cloves, flour and vanilla with this.
Drop this batter, using a teaspoonful at a time, on well-larded baking-tins, 2 inches or so apart, and bake until light brown only.