Biscuits (in the UK, at least) should be snappy and crunchy. They should also be tasty with a great texture. However, the main defining feature is that they must be “dunkable”. A good biscuit will maintain its structure for some time while being dunked in hot tea or coffee. Please feel free to time these three and test their “dunkability”.
Here are three equally excellent biscuits:
- Orange Digestives
- Healthy Oaties
- White Chocolate Chippers
ALL THREE….
… are easy & quick.
… only require basic equipment – “bowl and wooden spoon technology”.
… require 2 – 3 baking sheets lined with parchment and dusted lightly with flour.
… can be baked in a pre-heated oven at 180C/ Fan 160C/ 350F/ Gas 4 or slightly lower.
… will need to be baked for 13 – 18 minutes.
… will need to be left on the baking sheets for five minutes before being transferred to a wire rack to cool fully.
No. 1: Orange Digestives
Ingredients
- 60g/2oz Wholemeal flour
- 40g/1.25oz Plain white flour
- 100g/3.5oz Oat bran or oatmeal
- 60g/2oz Golden caster sugar
- 1 Teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 100g/3.5oz butter or margarine
- Orange zest
- ½ tspn orange flower water (optional)
- 1-2 tablespoons milk (or orange juice)
Method
1. Mix together all of the dry ingredients and rub in the butter to a breadcrumb texture.
2. Add the orange zest and the orange flower water (if using)
3. Now add a small amount of milk or orange juice to create a moist pastry consistency. Flatten the dough between two sheets of cling-film and refrigerate for 15 minutes to firm the mix.
4. Flour your hands before shaping dough into balls then gently fatten them on the baking tray. (Or use medium cutter if dough is firm enough)
5. You guessed it …….. Bake.
No. 2: Healthy Oaties
Ingredients
- 225g/8oz oats
- 225g/8oz plain flour
- 250g/9oz mixed dried fruits, larger ones halved
- 140g/5oz unsalted butter
- 225g/8oz light soft brown sugar
- 90ml/3fl oz maple syrup or golden syrup or corn Syrup (in US)
- 2 tbsp boiling water
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Method
1. In a bowl, mix the oats, flour and dried fruit with a pinch of salt, then set aside.
2. Heat the butter, sugar and syrup in a medium saucepan. Once melted, remove from the heat. Boil a kettle then mix the boiling water and bicarbonate of soda in a small bowl. Pour this into the butter and sugar mix. It will froth up, so stir to combine. Mix this into the oat mixture and stir until combined.
3. Make balls of the mixture and put on the lined trays, leaving lots of space between them. Flatten each ball slightly.
4. Bake, cool, eat!
No. 3: White Chocolate Chippers
Ingredients
- 125g/4.5oz butter
- 125g/4.5oz Light brown sugar
- 30ml/1oz golden syrup or corn syrup
- 125g/4.5oz self-raising flour
- ½ tsp bicarb soda
- 125g/4.5oz porridge oats
- 50g/1.75oz oat bran or oatmeal (can be replaced with oats if necessary)
- 100g/3.5oz white chocolate chips
Method
1. Gently heat together the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a small saucepan until the butter has melted, but the ingredients are not boiling.
2. Turn into a bowl and leave to cool slightly. Add the flour, Bicarbonate of Soda, oats, bran and half the Chocolate Chips. Stir until well mixed.
3. Place spoonfuls of the mixture slightly apart on the baking sheets and use your hands to flatten them. Press the remaining chocolate chips on top.
4. Bake until slightly risen and pale golden.
Retired Bloke on Food n stuff 