Basic biscuit dough

Basic biscuit dough

This simple recipe for cookie dough can be adapted to suit your tastes- experiment with different shapes and flavours

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes about 30 cookies

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 5 mins

Cook time

Cook 15 mins

Vegetarian Freezable

Vegetarian

Method

  1. Mix 250g softened butter and 140g caster sugar in a large bowl with a wooden spoon, then add 1 egg yolk and 2 tsp vanilla extract and briefly beat to combine. Sift over 300g plain flour and stir until the mixture is well combined - you might need to get your hands in at the end to give everything a really good mix and press the dough together.
Try

Little lemony fingers

Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Make the Basic biscuit dough, adding zest 2 lemons to the sugar and butter mixture. 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 tbsp lemon juice and the zest 1 lemon. When biscuits are cool, half dip them into the icing, then dry on a rack.

Triple chocolate treats - American-style biscuits

Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Make a batch of Basic biscuit dough, substituting 50g cocoa powder for 50g plain flour. 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.

Crushed almond rounds

Prepare the Basic biscuit dough, substituting 2 tsp almond extract for the vanilla. Shape the dough into a large oval log, about 8-10cm in diameter, then roll in 100g finely chopped whole blanched almonds, pressing the nuts onto all sides. Carefully wrap in cling film, then chill or freeze. To cook, heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4, then slice off 1cm thick ovals with a sharp knife. Bake on a non-stick baking tray for 12 mins until pale gold, then transfer to a cooling rack to firm up.

Per serving

118 kcalories, protein 1g, carbohydrate 13g, fat 7 g, saturated fat 4g, fibre 0g, sugar 5g, salt 0.13 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, March 2007.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • Binder photo Danielle

    2008-01-15 10:00:36.631548

    Danielle rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • Binder photo virginia

    2008-02-01 13:20:32.576512

    virginia rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This is a super, versatile recipe that has never let me down! It's also very easy to make.

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  • Binder photo spacecowboy1159

    2008-02-13 10:48:04.574234

    spacecowboy1159 commented on this recipe

    Anyone who's keen on baking should have this fantastic stock-recipe in their recipes. Produces really good, buttery biscuits - perfect!

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  • Binder photo spacecowboy1159

    2008-02-13 10:48:43.850382

    spacecowboy1159 rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • Binder photo Vicki

    2008-02-25 07:02:38.494927

    Vicki commented on this recipe

    Well these are really yummy. And they must be easy, because I left my 10 year old in the kitchen and she made a batch of each flavour. The almond ones were the favourites, myself finding the chocolate ones a bit too dry, but then that could of been something Mandy did bless her. So easy and yummy biscuits, shame the clearing up couldn't be as easy

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  • Binder photo ilovefood

    2008-04-04 19:51:13.181669

    ilovefood commented on this recipe

    i have never made biscuits before and am keen to try the basic version but i'm not to sure how long to put them in for, any help?

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  • Binder photo sablenat

    2008-04-27 23:38:39.083839

    sablenat rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    it is fun to make such varieties with simple and easy way. would suit people who never made biscuit before. Very tasty biscuit and you can even improvise a bit!

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  • Binder photo silarwen

    2008-05-04 23:09:43.133763

    silarwen rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    I must say that, for me it is too much butter. I am going to try reducing the quantity, because it seems as if they were not well-done. Nevertheless, it is a tasty recipe and very quick

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  • Binder photo wj cooking

    2008-07-28 17:50:30.64988

    wj cooking rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I made the chocolate American cookies they were yummy, very easy to make

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  • Binder photo Moley

    2008-08-07 11:10:01.322117

    Moley rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    These are FANTASTIC!!! last time i made them I made more dough than i needed and put the rest in the freezer in a rollingpin shaped lump. Then, the next time I needed some biscuits I took it out of the freezer and cut it into biscuits (already round) and shoved on a tray and put in the over - AMAZING biscuits in about 12 mins flat!!! it was great!! Everyone LOVED the lemon ones (although I did mine without the icing)

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  • Binder photo skaboonded

    2008-08-25 10:09:34.998515

    skaboonded commented on this recipe

    A friend of mine has made these for work, he left out the vanilla extract but they were really nice i couldnt taste the difference. I am later today going to make the chocolate biscuits.

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  • Binder photo Girl Flower

    2008-08-27 09:46:59.732101

    Girl Flower rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Really easy to make with very yummy results! I made the chocolate version and this is definately a winner although I will try the other flavours too!

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  • Binder photo Jay

    2008-10-05 13:01:44.024821

    Jay rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    Im using this recipe as a school coursework piece so heres hoping!!!!!!

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  • Binder photo helen

    2008-10-13 21:44:12.982475

    helen commented on this recipe

    i think im going to make these nearer xmas and put a seasonal twist on them by adding a few spices

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  • Binder photo Angii

    2008-11-11 18:20:52.149456

    Angii commented on this recipe

    I made these with chopped glace cherries and white chocolate chips, they were absolutely delicious, this is now my number one cookie recipe!!!

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  • Binder photo fay

    2008-12-30 13:08:37.419517

    fay rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Really easy to make. We made just the basic mixture and used a Christmas tree cutter, them decorated them with melted chocolate.

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  • Binder photo kirstyjolly

    2009-01-18 14:06:18.520826

    kirstyjolly rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Great recipe, biscuits turned out really buttery and held together well. I used the basic recipe and subbed some of the flour with ground almonds.

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  • Binder photo Shiggo

    2009-01-19 21:34:55.34594

    Shiggo rated and commented on this recipe

    1 stars

    I think there was too much butter, not sweet enough and could have done with bicarbonate of soda. I'm not following this one again

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  • Binder photo Natty

    2009-01-31 10:05:52.356173

    Natty rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    great recipe, everyone loves it when i bake these cookies. i add cocoa powder and lots of mixed peel to make chocolate and orange cookies.

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  • Binder photo Michelle

    2009-02-02 10:48:12.058933

    Michelle rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Great recipe! Just made plain ones but they turned out great everyone loved them.

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes about 30 cookies

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 5 mins

Cook time

Cook 15 mins

Vegetarian Freezable

Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 250g butter , softened
  • 140g caster sugar
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 300g plain flour
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Per serving

118 kcalories, protein 1g, carbohydrate 13g, fat 7 g, saturated fat 4g, fibre 0g, sugar 5g, salt 0.13 g

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