Ye Olde Tavern Life

Basic Butter Tea Biscuits

1/2 lb (225 g) butter

1 cup (250 ml) confectioner's sugar

1/2 tsp (2 ml) salt

1 egg plus 1 yolk

2 tsp (10 ml) vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups (625 ml) all-purpose flour

Cream the butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy. Add the egg, yolk, and vanilla and mix thoroughly. Add the flour and beat just until the flour is incorporated. rap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. (The dough may be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.) Roll to a thickness of 1/8 inch (3 mm) on a floured surface and cut into desired shapes. Transfer to a lightly greased baking sheet - you may have to use a metal spatula to lift the cut dough from the work surface. Bake in a preheated 375F (190C) oven for 6 to 8 minutes, until evenly golden brown. Transfer immediately to a wire rack to cool. Makes from 5 to 8 dozen biscuits, depending on size.

Variations

Butterscotch Biscuits - Substitute 1 cup (250 ml) packed brown sugar for the confectioner's sugar.

Chinese Five-Spice Butter Biscuits - Add 1 tsp (5 ml) Chinese five-spice powder to the flour.

Chocolate Butter Biscuits - Add 1 oz (28 g, 1 square) melted chocolate to the butter and substitute 1/4 cup (60 ml) of the flour with 1/4 cup (60 ml) cocoa.

Cinnamon Butter Biscuits - Add 1 tsp (5 ml) ground cinnamon to the flour.

Coconut Butter Biscuits - Stir 1 cup (250 ml) toasted sweetened flaked coconut to the finished batter.

Ginger Butter Biscuits - Add 1 tsp (5 ml) ground ginger to the flour and stir 1/4 cup (60 ml) finely chopped crystallized ginger into the finished dough.

Lemon Butter Biscuits - Add 2 tsp (10 ml) grated lemon peel to the butter mixture.

Lemon Poppy Seed Butter Biscuits - Add 2 tsp (10 ml) grated lemon peel to the butter mixture and 2 Tbs (30 ml) poppy seeds to the finished batter.

Nutty Butter Biscuits - Add 1 cup (250 ml) finely chopped walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, or almonds to the butter mixture.

Orange Butter Biscuits - Add 2 tsp (10 ml) grated orange peel to the butter mixture.

Spice Butter Biscuits - Add 1 tsp (5 ml) ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp (2 ml) ground ginger, and 1/4 tsp (1 ml) each of nutmeg and allspice, and a pinch of ground cloves to the flour.

Worldwide Recipes