Empire Biscuits
A Patriotic Teatime Treat

Empire biscuits - cheerful little biscuits, all red and white and sandwiched with jam, make a good offering at a children's party.

They also look tasty served alongside some freshly baked scones and plum bread at a traditional afternoon tea.

Originally called German biscuits, they were patriotically renamed after the First World War.

Obviously, we were already struggling to be PC even in those long gone days.

That said they're a tasty little treat and very easy to make. So they're great when baking with the kids.



Ingredients


This quantity makes about 12-16 biscuits, but it's easily doubled or even trebled if you are baking for a crowd.

  • 50g / 2oz butter
  • 40g / 1 3/4oz granulated sugar
  • 100g / 4oz plain flour
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1 medium egg

You will also need raspberry jam, glace icing made with 75g icing sugar and glace cherries.


Preparation


Heat your oven to 350°F / 180°C / Gas 4 and grease a baking tray.

Cream the butter and sugar together until almost white.

Mix in sugar, flour and spices. Add just enough egg to make a stiff mixture.

Roll the dough out thinly on a floured board and cut into 5cm / 2in rounds with a fluted cookie cutter.

Place on greased baking tray and bake for 20mins.

Remove biscuits and leave to cool on a wire rack.

When completely cool, sandwich biscuits with jam, then spread with icing and decorate with a quarter of glace cherry.



For more teatime treats return from Empire Biscuits to the recipes page.