a baking kind of day

We didn't have everything I needed to primer my room, so that got put off till tomorrow.
But I did bake two things today. The first is...

Frosted Pan Hermits
from Heirloom Baking with the Brass Sisters

For Hermits:
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour, divided
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 cup raisins (I used Cranraisins)
1 cup chopped walnuts (I used pecans)

For Frosting:
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons butter (about 1/2 a tablespoon)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 to 3 teaspoons milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13 pan with foil, shiny side up. Grease the foil with butter or vegetable spray.
To make the hermits: sift together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, salt, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Cream butter and brown sugar in electric mixer. Add the egg. Add the sifted dry ingredients alternately with the milk. Mix the remaining 2 tablespoons flour with nuts and dried fruit and fold into batter. Pour into pan and spread evenly. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until a tester inserted in middle comes out clean.
To make frosting: sift powdered sugar and salt into a bowl. Add butter and whisk until combined. Add vanilla and milk. Whisk. Pour frosting onto warm hermits and spread. Allow to set. When completely cool, cut into squares and eat!

Next I mixed up this yummy Chocolate Cake. It's in the oven now, and smells oh. so. good. And let me tell ya, the batter is delicious.

Have you been baking anything recently? What do bake during Christmas time? I would love to know! Leave a comment, even if you don't bake. I love hearing from my readers!