Empire Biscuits Baking with Granny from bakingwithgranny.co.uk
Introduction
Empire biscuits are a classic Scottish treat that are perfect for any occasion. They consist of two shortbread cookies sandwiched together with jam and topped with icing and a cherry. They are easy to make and taste absolutely delicious. In this article, we will go through the ingredients, instructions, and nutrition of this traditional recipe.
Ingredients
To make empire biscuits, you will need the following ingredients:
225g unsalted butter, softened
100g caster sugar
225g plain flour
100g cornflour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Strawberry jam
Icing sugar
Water
Cherries
Butter
Butter is a crucial ingredient in this recipe as it provides the rich and buttery flavor that is characteristic of empire biscuits. It is important to use unsalted butter in this recipe to avoid adding too much salt to the dough.
Sugar
Caster sugar is used in this recipe to sweeten the shortbread cookies. It is finer than granulated sugar and dissolves more easily, resulting in a smoother dough.
Flour
Plain flour and cornflour are used in this recipe to create a tender and crumbly shortbread cookie. Cornflour is added to the dough to create a lighter texture.
Salt
A small amount of salt is added to the dough to enhance the flavor of the shortbread cookies.
Jam
Strawberry jam is used as a filling in this recipe. You can use any type of jam you prefer, but strawberry is a classic choice.
Icing Sugar
Icing sugar is used to make the icing that is spread on top of the empire biscuits. It is a finely ground sugar that dissolves easily and creates a smooth icing.
Water
Water is added to the icing sugar to create the right consistency for spreading on top of the biscuits.
Cherries
Finally, a cherry is placed on top of the icing for decoration. You can use fresh or glace cherries for this.
Instructions
Follow these steps to make empire biscuits:
Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy.
Sift in the plain flour, cornflour, and salt, and mix until a dough forms.
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 5mm thick.
Using a cookie cutter, cut out rounds of dough and place them on the prepared baking tray.
Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies start to turn golden brown.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
Once the cookies are cool, spread a generous amount of strawberry jam on one half of each cookie.
Sandwich the cookies together with the jam in the middle.
In a small bowl, mix together the icing sugar and water until smooth and runny.
Spoon the icing over the top of each sandwiched cookie, spreading it out to the edges.
Top each biscuit with a cherry.
Allow the icing to set before serving.
Nutrition
One empire biscuit (without the cherry) contains approximately:
Calories: 225
Fat: 13g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Carbohydrates: 24g
Sugar: 10g
Protein: 2g
Sodium: 50mg
Calories
Empire biscuits are quite high in calories due to their buttery shortbread cookies and sweet icing.
Fat
The majority of the calories in empire biscuits come from fat, so they should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
Carbohydrates
Empire biscuits are also relatively high in carbohydrates due to the flour, sugar, and jam used in the recipe.
Sugar
The sugar content of empire biscuits is moderate, but it is important to note that this is added sugar and not from a natural source.
Protein
Empire biscuits are not a significant source of protein.
Sodium
The sodium content of empire biscuits is relatively low, but it is still important to monitor sodium intake as part of a healthy diet.
Conclusion
Empire biscuits are a delightful Scottish treat that are perfect for any occasion. They are easy to make and taste absolutely delicious. By following the recipe and using high-quality ingredients, you can create a batch of empire biscuits that are sure to impress your friends and family. Enjoy!
