Biscuit baking is one of those timeless kitchen activities that not only produces delicious treats, but also brings a sense of accomplishment and sociability. Whether you are an experienced baker or just starting out, making biscuits is a great way to express your creativity in the kitchen and indulge your sweet tooth. Let’s take a look at a basic recipe for classic biscuits, followed by some delectable variations to indulge your taste buds.
Ingredients
- 200g butter (at room temperature)
- 200g white granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 400g flour
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with baking paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy and creamy.
- Add the vanilla extract and mix well.
- Add the egg and beat until fully incorporated.
- Sift the flour and salt over the butter mixture and mix until a soft dough is formed.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface and use biscuit cutters to make the desired shapes.
- Place the biscuits on the baking tray and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until light golden brown.
- Let the biscuits cool on a wire rack before enjoying them.
Variants
- Chocolate chip cookies: add 100g of chopped chocolate to the basic dough for a classic chocolate chip biscuit. You can also use white chocolate, milk chocolate or dark chocolate, depending on your taste.
- Oat Raisin Cookies: mix 50g oatmeal and 50g sultanas into the basic dough for a delicious crunchy texture and sweet taste.
- Lemon-Verbena Cookies: add grated zest of a lemon and a teaspoon of chopped lemon verbena to the dough for a refreshing and aromatic twist.
- Nuts and Seeds Cookies: Stir 50g chopped nuts (such as almonds, walnuts or pecans) and 25g mixed seeds (such as pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or linseed) into the dough for extra crunch and nutrients.
- Speculoos Cookies: add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, half a teaspoon of ground ginger and a pinch of nutmeg to the dough for deliciously spicy biscuits that go perfectly with a cup of coffee or tea.
With these simple basic recipes and tasty variations, you can experiment endlessly. Start baking homemade biscuits that are sure to win the hearts (and stomachs) of your family and friends. So get out that griddle and start baking! Want to start baking pancakes as well? We are happy to give you some tips!