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Mary Berry Empire Biscuits Recipe

Mary Berry Empire Biscuits
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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.

Find it online: https://britishbakingrecipes.co.uk/mary-berry-empire-biscuits-recipe/