One of the problems, which has reared its ugly head as a result of my unannounced Christmas hiatus, is that there is a pile of holiday related recipes which have been, just as the resolutions will be, shut out in the cold. One cannot legitimately post a recipe for nut roast after Christmas Eve – it simply will not do. Still, this means that my stock of Christmas themed recipes will be more than healthy come December. However, with the change of year does not come a change of season; it is still winter. As such, these biscuits are an ideal way to satiate one’s Christmas hangover. After all, there is nothing quite like the hair of the dog.
This recipe is the first in what I expect shall be a fairly long, but disjointed, line of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall recipes. Ironically, these biscuits have not come from his newest recipe book which found its way into my Christmas stocking; instead, they come to you from the lifestyle section of the Guardian’s website. As usual, the recipe has been altered slightly; they were not winter-spiced before I came along.
In the article prefixed to the recipe, Hugh gives a rather lucid and scathing account of the downfall of the British biscuit. He complains about the American coffee chains (Starbucks) and about ‘cookies the size of hubcaps’; and do you know what? I agree with him. Now, don’t get me wrong, I like cookies as much as the next Westerner, but what has become of the humble biscuit, devoid of chocolate, sweets and excess sugar. Of course, these biscuits have plenty of sugar in them, but it is nothing in comparison to the vast quantity which finds itself piled into those which have become the standard. What I suggest, is that we stem the tide of ridiculous cookie cooking and bring back the humble British biscuit. That goes for you too, America!
More than anything, I adore the way these thumbprint biscuits look. They are so rustic and varied, yet they work so well. Biscuit baking shouldn’t be about what is perceived to be perfect, but the joy and ultimately the taste of the result. In this particular case, the ultimate taste sensation is provided by the slightly tangy edge of the damson jelly. It cuts perfectly across the sweet butteryness of the biscuit itself to bring one’s tongue a little zing. Enjoy!
Winter Spice Biscuits with Homemade Plum Jam
Makes roughly 20
Ingredients:
• 225g butter, at room temperature
• 225g caster sugar
• The zest of 1 lemon
• The zest of 1 orange
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 tbsp milk
• 280g of plain flour
• 1 heaped tsp of mixed spice
• A little salt
• Around 6 tbsp homemade damson jelly, raspberry would also do
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 180C. Line two or three baking trays with butter and greaseproof paper. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until creamed. Add the lemon and orange zest, as well as the vanilla extract, and mix thoroughly. Next, beat in the egg yolks, one at a time, before stirring in the milk until combined.
2. Fold in half of the flour, gently stir, then add the rest, along with the salt and mixed spice. Do not overwork the dough, otherwise it will become tough. Gather together the soft dough and work it gently into a ball. Wrap it in cling film and leave it to chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
3. Roll the dough into as many balls, of a 2.5cm diameter, as possible. Place them on the grease baking trays roughly an inch apart. Press into each with your thumb and add a splodge of jelly to each well. Bake for around 15 minutes. By this point they should have browned around the edges and be firm to the touch. Leave to cool for 5 minutes, before transferring to a wire rack.
Cost: As you can see, these biscuits are extremely humble, both in look and in ingredients. As such, the entire confection should set one back £1.80. Not too bad, especially when one could envisage them being sold for at least £1 each in certain American coffee chains.
44 replies on “Winter Spice Biscuits with Homemade Damson Jelly”
My husband likes cookies the size of hubcaps. He’d eat yours too 🙂
I should think so too 😀
Those look delicious! Thats awesome that the entire batch cost about 1.80!
Thanks! Yes, I sometimes surprise even myself 😀
That damson jelly sounds amazing. Lovely recipe!
Oh, it was so good. Sweet and sharp at the same time, just how it should be.
These look great.
Thanks!
Nurturing the food hangover. It is so true.
It must be done 😀
As a person living in the land of Starbucks (Seattle) I wholeheartedly agree on the shocking increase of biscuit sizes. J
Whoops! Hit the send button to soon.
Just as cookies should be small bites of joy, so should lattes and americanos be smaller than a bucket. Preferably 8 oz or less.
Love the photos. Will have to make this!
Exactly. I don’t understand why people would want to drink a bucket of coffee, especially the dish water starbucks serves!
These are beautiful! I agree whole heartily about the Christmas hangover. Now that I’m back in Brooklyn and attempting to get back on track, there’s still a big part of me itching for the cookies and chocolate for my nighttime snack. These look like they would be a nice in between for steering yourself away from the holiday indulgence mode!
Thanks! I’ve still got snacks everywhere and am trying my hardest to avoid them 😀
These look good no matter the month.
Thumbprint cookies are some of my favorites and these look delicious. I really like your use of homemade jam.
Please don’t use Starbucks as a gauge for American sweets (or coffee for that matter) 😉 They are too sickly-sweet for my taste and the beans always taste burnt or over-roasted.
What spices are in your spice mix?
These were the first I ever made :d. I had to use homemade jam really :D. I don’t use it as a gauge really, but I think it gives America a bad name :D. The spice mix is just known as mixed spice. It could be substituted for a little nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice.
Love the sound of these, I agree… An 8″ round chocolate chip cookie does leave quite a dent 🙂
Thanks for sharing them!
OH yes, it does – too big. I want a cookie, not a pizza.
I have gotten onto using citrus zest lately – I love the idea of using two different kinds in a cookie (biscuit) recipe. I may try it with blood orange marmalade instead of jelly and really go citrus crazy ….
I adore citrus zest entirely. It adds such a subtle flavour to things like this. Blood orange marmalade sounds incredible!
I’m with you on steming the tide of ridiculous cookie cooking. The biggest annoyance is that when ordering a coffee at some lovely coffee shop I would often like a cookies, but as it would happen I don’t want to eat one with size of my head. These ones look just perfect.
Jolly good, my first ally :D. I always have to take someone to share one with 😛
Beautiful – love these, and the relaxing, spiritual aspect of the post. Happy New Year!
Thanks, Dusty. Oh and thanks for the mention too, I’m just getting up to speed with twitter!
The huge amercian style cookies really takes the biscuit…..
Sorry couldn’t resist…
These look delicious and I’m all for biscuits too.
Cheers
Marcus
Hah! Thanks, Marcus!
These look amazing! I’m so gonna try this
Thanks! They tasted great too 🙂
These look very good – my type – no icing! – just a lovely jelly!
Icing is totally overrated on things like this anyway!
Delicious!
I just love eating homemade biscuits and these Spice Biscuits with the homemade jam just looks so decadent and delicious. I can’t wait to share this recipe with my mom
They were delicious – I hope your mum likes them.
These look lovely. I have a jar of homemade bramble jam that my boyfriend’s mum gave me over Christmas…might just have to give these a go and dollop some of that on. Yum.
Thanks, Loaf! That jam sounds awesome. Definitely give these a go.
I adore the way these thumbprint cookies look as well! Goodness, you and all your fancy jams. Ship me a jar, will ya? 🙂
Thanks, Cara! I’m afraid there is only a little left 🙁
I love that you made the plum jam. It’s my favorite and looks delicious! I could sit down right now with those and a hot cup of tea!
The plum jam was delicious. They are really nice with a cuppa – sooooo buttery.
Oh man, you’re speaking my language with this one! I love jam cookies.
I feel that these have been under appreciated – they were amazing.
[…] there’s one time of the year at which biscuits should be made and eaten in prodigious quantity, it is at Christmas. There’s something clean and […]