The ultimate guide to making biscuits
If you’re as fond of delving into a biscuit tin as we are, we recommend you have a go at baking your own treats. We have recipes for all skill levels, from basic child-friendly cookies, to elaborate decorative gingerbread.
Of the many baking options, biscuit-making is perhaps one of the least intimidating. The potential pitfalls of using yeast are avoided, and those with a more ‘rustic’ creative approach can get away with jagged edges and uneven mounds of dough. Maybe we’re romanticising childhood memories of running rampant with cookie cutters, but we’re extremely fond of these sweet treats. After all, a chat over tea and biscuits on a rainy day is about as British as you get.
That’s not to say there’s not an art to making biscuits. For every basic cookie recipe there’s a grandiose, show-stopping gingerbread house, and we have it all covered. Read on to find the right biscuit recipe for you…
Want some tips from the experts? Watch our video and learn how to make biscuits with our super simple recipe.
Essential biscuit making kit
Cutters
Achieve an easy picture-perfect finish by investing in a fun cutter. Everything from cats, hearts and initials are available online, and it beats trying to carve out shapes using a butter knife.
Piping bags
Whether you want to top your cookies with a chocolate drizzle, or flood ice your biscuits in an intricate design, piping bags will help you achieve the neatest finish.
Sieve
Smooth-topped biscuits such as shortbread can be spruced up with a light dusting of icing sugar. Make your own template, or utilise the often-overlooked doily to make a ‘petticoat’ pattern.
The ultimate biscuit recipe
Follow this one recipe for basic dough, employ the following three techniques and you'll have yourself 10 different biscuits...
1. The roll and cut out technique
This is the best way to make different shaped biscuits. Once you’ve made your batch of dough, divide it in two, wrap in cling film and chill for half an hour until firm. Roll it out onto a lightly floured surface to the thickness of a £1 coin, then use a cutter to stamp out biscuits. Any trimmings can be gathered up and re-rolled.
Use this technique for…
Vanilla biscuits (30)
Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Make a batch of the basic biscuit dough, then chill until firm, roll out and cut out shapes as above. Bake on a non-stick baking tray for 10-12 minutes until pale golden. Carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool and crisp up.
Squiggle hearts (30)
Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Prepare the basic biscuit dough, then chill. After rolling out the dough, use a 7cm heart-shaped cookie cutter to stamp out your biscuits, then bake as above and transfer to a wire rack. As the biscuits are cooling, melt 100g each of white and milk chocolate in small heatproof bowls in a microwave for 2 minutes on medium heat. While the biscuits are still on the rack, use the prongs of a fork to ‘squiggle’ the melted chocolate over the top. Leave to set until hard.
Lemony fingers (40)
Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Make the basic biscuit dough, adding the zest of two lemons to the dough. After chilling, roll out the dough to a rough rectangle, then use a pizza cutter or knife to divide the dough into long strips, about 10 x 2cm. Bake as above. For the icing, mix 140g sifted icing sugar with 4-5 tablespoons of lemon juice and the zest of 1 lemon. When the biscuits are cool, half dip them into the icing, then leave on a rack to set.
2. The shape and slice technique
Make the biscuit dough and roll it into a log. Chill it for half an hour, or wrap in cling film and freeze it. If you do opt for freezing the dough for a rainy day, take it out to soften for around 15 minutes before baking.
Use this technique for…
Crushed almond rounds (20)
Prepare the basic biscuit dough, substituting 2 teaspoons of almond extract for the vanilla. Shape the dough into a large oval log, about 8-10cm in diameter, then roll in 100g of finely chopped, whole blanched almonds, pressing the nuts onto all sides. Carefully wrap in cling film, then chill or freeze. To cook, heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4, then slice into 1cm thick ovals with a sharp knife. Bake on a non-stick baking tray for 12 minutes until pale gold, then carefully transfer to a cooling rack to firm up.
Cranberry & orange polka dots (30)
Add 100g dried cranberries and the zest of 2 oranges to the basic biscuit dough when mixing in the flour. Roll into a thin log, wrap in cling film, then chill or freeze. To make the biscuts, slice the log into 5mm slices and bake in the same way as the crushed almond rounds, but for just 8-10 mins.
Caramel pinwheels (30)
Make a batch of the basic biscuit dough, then chill for 20 mins. Roll into a 30 x 30cm square on floured baking parchment, then spread with 4 tablespoons of dulce de leche caramel toffee you should find this near the tinned fruit in most supermarkets). Roll up from one end,
3. The scoop and bake technique
These cookies can be ready in less than half an hour – there’s no need for chilling or rolling. Simply make your dough then add flavours, before dolloping scoops of dough onto the baking sheet. Press them out with the palm of your hand then bake – simple!
Use this technique for…
Triple chocolate treats (12)
Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Make a batch of basic biscuit dough, substituting 50g plain flour for 50g cocoa powder. Add 85g white chocolate chunks and 85g milk chocolate chunks, then mix well. Scoop the mixture into 12 large balls onto a non-stick baking sheet. Space well apart, as they will spread. Flatten slightly, bake for 12-15 mins, then transfer the soft, warm cookies to a cooling rack to firm up.
Cherry & coconut thumbprints (28)
Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Make a batch of basic biscuit dough, adding 100g desiccated coconut to the mixture with the flour. Scoop out spoonfuls and roll into around 28 balls the size of golf balls in your hands, then spread out over a baking tray. With your thumb, gently press a dip in the centre of each cookie, then fill the thumbprints with a little jam (we used cherry). Bake for 12-15 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Peanut butter cookies (20)
Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Make the basic biscuit dough, stirring in 100g crunchy peanut butter with the egg yolk and vanilla extract. Spoon heaped tablespoons of the dough onto a baking tray, flatten slightly and top each with a whole roasted peanut. Bake for 12-15 mins, as per the triple chocolate treats, until the cookies are golden.
Watch our video for making easy peanut butter cookies, using just three ingredients.
More classic biscuit recipes...
Shortbread
Master the art of classic shortbread or try our twists on the traditional. Check out all our favourite shortbread recipes, from chunky chocolate and caramel slabs, to pretty floral biscuits for a spring celebration.
Classic shortbread
Apricot shortbread
Peppermint petticoat shortbread
More shortbread...
Cookies
Make a batch of biscuits for your next bake sale or casual cuppa with friends, from our best ever cookie recipes. Whether you're a chocolate chunk devotee or can't resist a chewy oatmeal cookie, we have a recipe for you.
Oatmeal & raisin cookies
Mango crunch cookies
Blueberry pretzel cookies
Chilli chocolate cookies
Butterscotch cookies
More cookies...
Snaps, thins and crisps
Thins, crisps and snaps are the perfect pairing with a bowl of ice cream, a morning cup of coffee or a creamy dessert that needs an extra dose of crunchy texture. Once you've tried the classic brandy snap, get to grips with our other favourite flavours like our nutty hazelnut crisps.
Salted almond snaps
Hazelnut crisps
Brandy snaps
Almond florentines
Biscuits to bake with kids
Basic biscuit recipes are the perfect way to get kids in the kitchen, practicing their baking skills. Start off with our simple iced biscuits, they'll have fun decorating them and devour them as soon as they're cool. Need more colourful inspiration? Take a look at our top kids' biscuit recipes for more tasty treats.
Jammy heart drops
Peppermint candy biscuits
Cookie sandwiches
More child-friendly biscuit recipes...
Savoury biscuits
In need of a savoury snack? Bake up a batch of savoury biscuits for a simple homemade gift or a lunch-time treat.
Cheese wheatmeal biscuits
Hannukah biscuits
Fennel & poppy seed crackers
DIY favourites
No need to miss out on your favourite biccie, try making a homemade batch of classic chocolate bourbon biscuits, pretty pastel party rings or even a plateful of zingy lemon sherbet jammy dodgers.
Custard creams
Jammie dodgers
Party rings
Do you love biscuits too? We’d love to hear your recipe suggestions…
Comments, questions and tips
