Empire Biscuits

This is my favorite Christmas cookie. These are very British and are often eaten with tea but I think they are perfect to add to your Christmas cookie list.




December 14th and 15th.


Recipe:

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 cup raspberry jam
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 tablespoon hot water
  • 1/4 cup candied cherries, chopped

Directions

  1. Cream butter. Add sugar, creaming well. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder; gradually add to creamed mixture.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into 2 inch rounds, and place on baking sheets.
  3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 minutes, or until very lightly browned at edges. Cool thoroughly.
  4. Spread half of the cookies with jam, and top with remaining cookies.
  5. Combine confectioners' sugar, almond extract, and enough hot water to make a thin icing. Frost tops of cookies. Top each with a small piece of candied cherry.

I always double the recipe because even when doubled, the recipe only makes 38 cookies.


These hold up really well too.


I layer them in plastic containers with sheets of waxed paper between them.


Then I sit the containers in a cold place.


They last for weeks.


I made the Blog Tech prep the candied cherries. He was very sticky!!!


I have been baking up a storm and will post a recipe each day. My friends can't wait to get their cookie trays this year.


Since this is really a double cookie each, one goes a long way.


Try them.....you will like them!

***Remember to enter the giveaway by clicking on the button on my sidebar.

Comments

Beautiful and tasty treats! Yay for cookies.

Blessings.

xoxo to "Teddy Snow Bunny".
Anonymous said…
They look marvelous. But isn't everything with icing marvelous? xox Corrine
brokenteepee said…
"He was very sticky"
heh

They are very pretty cookies. I am off to decorate mine today.
Lois said…
They are the prettiest I've ever seen!
Anonymous said…
They look beautiful and I bet they taste fantastic!

We almost never have frosting on our cookies over here, looking at these I think we should have more.

Have a great day now!
Christer.
TMCPhoto said…
oh next year I'll be totally baking up so many cookies that the kids will probably go dinnerless and have to exist soley on shortbread, gingerbread and thumbprint cookies. These I may hoard for myself
I learned to call these Imperial cookies and I remember buying them as an occasional treat from Eaton's bakery department at their flagship store on Portage Avenue in Winnipeg. They are SO rich! Incidentally, when the Queen came to Winnipeg last year, a local bakery made a gazillion Imperial cookies for a reception with her. Each was hand-decorated with the initials E R II (for Elizabeth Regina II, of course). I saw a little clip on CBC about it.
Mystica said…
They dont need an occasion to eat them and I do wish I lived in your neighbourhood!
I hope I don't run out of time to make these for Christmas. I love the fact they save so well. If I do, I'm make them for New Year's.
Anet said…
Such a cute cookie! Perfect for Christmas:)
Texan said…
Oh my goodness those are lovely and I bet so good! Um can I be on your cookie tray list? tee hee
Jennifer Rose said…
ooh those look good :) going to have to try to make those
Ann said…
Those are the prettiest cookies I've ever seen. They look delicious too. You give out cookie trays to all your friends every year huh? Hmmm, can I come be one of your friends....lol
those are just about the cutest cookies i ever did see....

have them on the list too....

now, where is my apron...off to bake some walnut shortbread

:- }

kary and teddy
xxx
Suzie said…
I was already writing down the recipe when Hubs walked past my computer screen and saw the photo. .

I'm going back to the grocer's tomorrow to buy the candied cherries. He hinted that it might be better to go tonight!
Anonymous said…
Jaz every time I visit your blog it's like, as a Christian friend says, it's like "A little piece of heaven....on my screen!" LOL
DIAN said…
they look like yummy bickies. I must try to make them.
Debbie said…
Hey...I have come in here a couple of times and left messages and POOF they are gone!?? Oh well...love the food as always and all the decor is fabulous. Could you bottle a bit of your enthusiasm and ENERGY and send that blog tech up to help ME?? I am just NOT feeling it this year and I love this holiday. Too much renovating I guess Joyce. Glad to come here and see something going on for Christmas though!
I made a batch of these last night, after a glass of wine, and put the dough in the refrigerator. Roll, cut and baked this morning. I used the Holiday Jam that was in my beautiful Give-A-Way Basket that I won a few weeks ago from you. It has a hint of orange liqueur, pears, cranberries and raspberries.

You will have to be someone really special to talk me out of one of these cookies. I will be making another batch. Thanks again!
Divaeva said…
what a beautiful little treat! :)
These look absolutely delicious - and SO cute! I'll definitely have to try these! Theresa
decareis said…
Joyce
Congratulations, you're an artist!
Everything should be beautiful and delicious! :))
Andrea
Nancy said…
I did not get to make them for this past Christmas but will try soon. They look positively delicious. Have you ever made Viennese swirls? Happy New Year to all. Winnie is so sweet and I am enjoying seeing her grow.