Recipe: Hermits (slice and bake)

Hermits (slice and bake)
Source: Elizabeth Powell

These are the best homemade slice and serve cookies. The dough freezes beautifully in logs that can be kept on hand for fresh cookies baked in minutes. They may be sliced thinly and baked quickly for elegant, crisp tea cookies, or sliced 1/4-inch or more thick and baked in a slower oven until just set for a rich, chewy, New England Hermit.

1 1/4 cups seedless raisins
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk

Chop raisins finely in food processor with 1/4 cup flour.

Sift 2 cups flour with soda, cream of tartar, and spices.

Cream butter with sugar. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk until well blended. Stir in raisins and enough additional flour, up to 3/4 cup, to make a stiff dough.

Shape into two logs, about 1-1/2-inches diameter. Chill overnight or freeze.

When ready to make, slice to desired thickness and bake at 375-400 degrees until done (15-20 minutes).