British Spice Biscuits Cookies Food

SPICED BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, 1 tablespoon of the za'atar, the sugar and salt in a medium bowl using a whisk. Using a bowl scraper or your fingers, mix in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal; using your fingers will create a more cake-like texture. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk. Stir until just combined.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead 5 or 6 times. Roll the dough into a 1-inch-thick disc and cut out biscuits using a 3-inch biscuit cutter. Make sure you don't twist the cutter otherwise you'll squish the sides and the biscuit won't rise. Knead the scraps together, re-roll and cut out biscuits until all the dough has been used.
• Place the biscuits bottom-side up on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Whisk together the vegetable oil with the remaining 1 tablespoon za'atar and brush the mixture on each biscuit. Bake until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes.

SPICE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease 2 baking sheets.
• Combine sugar, butter, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a bowl; beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Combine flour, currants, and baking soda in a separate bowl. Stir into the butter mixture alternately with tablespoons of milk until the flour is fully incorporated.
• Drop spoonfuls of batter onto the prepared baking sheets. Press down lightly with a fork. Dip fork in sugar or water if it sticks.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Let stand on the baking sheets for 1 minute before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

BRITISH SPICE BISCUITS (COOKIES)

Steps:

• Sift the flour, baking powder, spices and a pinch of salt together.
• Cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, then gradually beat in the egg.
• Add the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Add a tsp of cold water to bring the dough together if you need to.
• Press into a disc, wrap in clear wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Heat the oven to 356°F (180°C / gas mark 4).
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to the thickness of a coin and using cookie cutters, cut-out shapes. Prick tops lightly with a fork. Lift onto parchment-lined baking sheets or well-greased baking sheets.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until pale golden in color.
• Leave to stand for a few minutes, then cool on a wire rack.
• If desired when cold, sandwich 2 biscuits together with jam, and drizzle light icing/glaze over tops.

SPICE BISCUITS (COOKIES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180C (170C for fan ovens), 350F, gas mark 4 and grease a baking sheet or cookie sheet.
• Beat the softened butter with the caster sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add egg yolks and beat to combine.
• In a separate bowl, combine the flour, mixed spice and cinnamon and whisk (or sieve).
• Stir the spiced flour into the egg, butter and sugar mixture and knead lightly on a floured board to bring the dough together.
• Roll out dough to 0.5cm (quarter of an inch) thickness on a floured board or surface and cut out into 2 inch rounds or whatever shapes you desire; Do not reroll dough too many times or biscuits will be tough.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until very lightly browned at the edges then use a spatula to transfer biscuits to a wire rack to cool.
• Store in an airtight container to retain crispness.