Can I use all butter to make hermits even though the recipe calls for 1/2 butter and 1/2 shortening?

bjenny
  • Posted by: bjenny
  • December 8, 2012
  • 2697 views
  • 4 Comments

4 Comments

susan G. December 11, 2012
I have checked 2 sources for what should be traditional Hermit recipes. Both use only butter, not shortening. (Time-Life Foods of the World: American Cooking, New England, & Cooking with Wholegrains, Mildred Ellen Orton -- co-founder of the Vermont Country Store) Newman's makes a delicious Hermit, if you're not baking.
 
fearlessem December 8, 2012
Agreed with hardlikearmour -- and adding that taking out the shortening will make the hermits crunchier, rather than soft the way I think hermits are supposed to be...
 
hardlikearmour December 8, 2012
Yes, but it will likely affect the texture of the final product. Per Cook's Illustrated "cookies made with shortening spread less during baking than cookies made with butter".
 
drbabs December 8, 2012
I don't know what hermits are, but I substitute butter for shortening all the time. Butter has more water content, so you may have to increase your cooking time slightly.
 
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