When it comes to the quintessential British tea-time treat, nothing beats a good biscuit. Whether you like them plain, chocolate-coated, or filled with cream, biscuits are a firm favourite in the UK. In this article, we'll be sharing our ultimate guide to making biscuits, including the ingredients, instructions, and nutrition information.
Ingredients
To make biscuits, you'll need the following ingredients:
225g unsalted butter, softened
110g caster sugar
275g plain flour
25g cornflour
A pinch of salt
Optional ingredients
If you want to make flavoured biscuits, you can add the following ingredients to the basic recipe:
50g cocoa powder for chocolate biscuits
1 tsp vanilla extract for vanilla biscuits
50g chopped nuts for nutty biscuits
50g dried fruit for fruity biscuits
Instructions
Now that you have all your ingredients ready, it's time to start baking. Follow these simple steps to make delicious biscuits: 1. Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4 and line a baking tray with parchment paper. 2. Cream the butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl until pale and fluffy. 3. Sift the flour, cornflour, and salt into the bowl and stir until the mixture comes together to form a dough. 4. If you're making flavoured biscuits, add your chosen ingredients at this stage and mix well. 5. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to a thickness of around 1cm. 6. Cut out your biscuits using a cookie cutter or a glass. 7. Place the biscuits on the baking tray, leaving some space between each one. 8. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden brown. 9. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack. 10. Once cooled, you can decorate your biscuits with icing, chocolate, or any other toppings you like.
Nutrition Information
If you're watching your calorie intake, you might be interested to know that each biscuit contains around 100 calories. They're also quite high in fat and sugar, so it's best to enjoy them in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the perfect biscuits every time: - Make sure your butter is at room temperature before you start, as it will be easier to cream with the sugar. - Don't overwork the dough, as this can make the biscuits tough. Just mix until it comes together, then stop. - If you're having trouble rolling out the dough, try chilling it in the fridge for 30 minutes first. - To get even-sized biscuits, use a cookie cutter or a glass with a sharp edge. - If your biscuits are spreading too much in the oven, try chilling the dough before baking.
Conclusion
We hope this article has inspired you to try making your own biscuits at home. With just a few simple ingredients and some basic baking skills, you can create delicious treats that are perfect for any occasion. Whether you prefer plain or flavoured biscuits, we're sure you'll love the results. Happy baking!
