One biscuit, a bazillion ways

OK, so maybe not technically quite a bazillion, but pretty close…

You may or may not have seen my post about my fave ever biscuit recipe-it is from Nigella Christmas and is her Chocolate Shortbread Cookies.
What I LOVE about the recipe is a) it is super easy-bung it all the mixer and done; b) I can normally be guaranteed to have all the ingredients in the house; c) they taste delicious; d) they freeze really well; and e) as I am about to show you, they are infinitely adaptable. What’s not to love?!

Just to recap, this is the basic recipe:

250g butter at room temperature (try to ignore the fact that this is a whole packet of butter…)
150g caster sugar
300g plain flour
40g cocoa
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1tsp baking powder

Pre-heat the oven to 170C
Line 2 baking trays with baking paper or re-usable liners
Put all the ingredients into a Magimix type food processor and whiz until it forms a dough
Place tablespoons of the dough onto the trays, and roll them into balls. I get 20-30 from this mix. I flatten them down a bit with a fork as I like the ridges that it leaves
Bake for about 15 minutes, remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10-15minutes before removing to cool completely on a cooling rack

And here are some ideas for some variations:

Add white chocolate chips or chunks to the recipe above
Use a little less cocoa powder, and add in some espresso coffee powder, for mochachino biscuits
Omit the cocoa and add:
-milk or dark chocolate chunks/chips-these are melt in the mouth scrum my
-raisins
-raisins and chocolate!
-white chocolate and cranberry
-orange zest or lemon zest
-chunks of crystallised ginger
-chunks of ginger with dark chocolate chunks
-a tsp of mixed spice for a festive version-with or without cranberries etc
-I have thought about rolling the balls of dough in a mix of cinnamon and sugar (like snickerdoodles for those of you who have made these) but not yet tried it
-have also contemplated a pinch of dried lavender (maybe with lemon zest?)-lavender shortbread is ‘a thing’ I think

Any other suggestions of flavour combos for me to try?

19 thoughts on “One biscuit, a bazillion ways”

Wow these combos look great (as do the biccies), shame Im the only one in our house that would eat them and am trying to loose weight. Might have to bake some to giveaway as pressies tho. Btw have looked at your original post and love the origami style packaging you used. :O)

Jen says:

January 20, 2014 at 12:09 pm

Thanks Jo. They do make lovely pressies 🙂

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I used the nigella recipe and made 3 batches. One with chunky thick cut marmalade ( don’t dismiss it till you tried it), glacé cherries and dark choc chunks, and finally lemon curd and white choc chips! …..all very nice xx

Jen says:

January 20, 2014 at 12:09 pm

Oh wow! What awesome suggestions-will add them to the post if that is ok Sue?
With the lemon curd-do you just try and dollop it in so it stays in big bits, or mix it in completely?

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- Sue says:
  
  January 20, 2014 at 1:13 pm
  
  Just a good old dollop and hope for the best, I have since added dark choc chips to the lemon curd instead of white, and it takes on a whole new taste! Feel free to add to your post, hope everyone likes them xx
- Jen says:
  
  January 20, 2014 at 2:32 pm
  
  Great! Thankyou 🙂

Nuts!! take out cocoa and put in choc chips and hazelnuts. yummmm!!

Jen says:

January 20, 2014 at 12:13 pm

Oooh, yes-good combo!

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ok so now I’m hungry …….love the idea of the thick cut marmalade…. mmm. Also lovely idea for presents – homemade biscuits in a pretty jar – better than taking a bottle or wine to a dinner party.

Jen says:

January 20, 2014 at 12:14 pm

I took some round to a friends the other day in a large jam jar, and tied a bit of pretty fabric on to the top-low cat, super easy present!

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