Description
Empire biscuits are short, crumbly sandwich cookies made from plain butter biscuit dough, joined with jam and topped with smooth white icing and a decorative finish. They’re crisp yet tender, sweet, and beautifully eye-catching—popular at bake sales and afternoon teas.
Ingredients
For the Biscuits:
- Plain Flour (250g / 2 cups) – The base for a tender crumb.
- Butter (175g, unsalted and softened) – Adds richness and flavor.
- Caster Sugar (75g / ⅓ cup) – Sweetens and adds a slight crunch.
- Cornflour (25g / 2 tbsp, optional) – For extra melt-in-the-mouth texture.
- Vanilla Extract (½ tsp) – Adds a subtle flavor lift.
- Pinch of Salt
For the Filling & Topping:
- Raspberry Jam (about 5 tbsp) – Traditional and brightly flavored.
- Icing Sugar (150g / 1¼ cups, sifted) – For the glaze.
- Cold Water (2–3 tbsp) – To make the icing.
- Glacé Cherries, Jelly Tots, or Sprinkles – For decoration.
Instructions
Step 1: Make the Biscuit Dough
-
Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) / 350°F / Gas 4.
-
In a bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
-
Stir in the vanilla extract, then sift in the flour, cornflour, and salt.
-
Mix until a soft, smooth dough forms. If crumbly, gently knead with your hands to bring it together.
Step 2: Roll and Cut the Biscuits
-
Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the dough to about 5mm thickness.
-
Use a round cutter to stamp out pairs of biscuits. Re-roll trimmings as needed.
-
Place the biscuits on the prepared baking tray, spacing them slightly apart.
Step 3: Bake the Biscuits
-
Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, or until lightly golden at the edges.
-
Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the tray for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 4: Assemble the Biscuits
-
Once cool, spread a little raspberry jam on the underside of half the biscuits.
-
Sandwich with the remaining biscuits, pressing gently to stick.
Step 5: Ice and Decorate
-
In a bowl, mix the icing sugar with 2–3 tbsp cold water until smooth and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
-
Spoon or spread a little icing on top of each sandwiched biscuit.
-
Immediately top each one with a halved glacé cherry, jelly sweet, or sprinkles.
-
Let the icing set for at least 30 minutes before serving or storing.