Choc Chip Bickies ( Cookies )

I love a good biscuit to go with my cup of tea in the afternoon.  Here's the latest recipe I've been baking.

250g of butter
1 1/2 cups of brown sugar
2 eggs
3 1/2 cups of self raising flour
200g packet of choc chips

Cream the butter and sugar with electric beaters  until light and fluffy
Add the eggs and beat until well combined.
Stir in the flour  then the choc chips.
Roll level tablespoonfuls of dough into balls
Place on a greased tray and flatten.
Bake at 150 degrees / 150 degrees Celsius fan forced for 15 minutes.
Cool on trays then transfer to a wire rack
Store in an air tight container

Makes about 50 - 60 biscuits.

VARIATIONS -

*  Choc / orange.  Add grated orange zest from two oranges to the egg,  sugar and butter mix.  Choc chips can be added on top of the dough balls or added with the flour

*  Lemon / pistachio.  Add lemon zest of two lemons to the egg,  butter and sugar mix.  Add the pistachios with the flour

*  Peanuts can be added to the wet mix or pushed into the dough balls then flatten

*  Sugar biscuits.  Roll the dough balls in sugar then flatten on the tray.

*  Dried fruit.  Chop finely and add to the dough when adding the flour
 

NOTES -

*  You can omit the choc chips and flavour the dough with different ingredients.

*  Dough can be frozen for future baking.  Roll into logs then freeze on a tray.  Place in a clean bread bag or container and return to the freezer.  Can be frozen for 6 - 9 months.

ANZAC Biscuits

As a newlywed Anzac biscuits was the first  home baking I attempted and mastered.  Darren and I have always enjoyed these biscuits but my memory of Anzacs goes back even further.  As a thirteen year old in a high school Home Economics class,  I baked a similar version.  The teacher scored our ANZAC slice on color and neatness and I came out top of the class with a 10 out of 10.

The Australian history of Anzacs dates back to  World War 1.  Although it is unlikely these biscuits were sent to the front lines for the soldiers to eat,  they were commonly eaten at galas,  fetes and other public events.  This is where they were sold to raise money to support the war effort.

1 cup of rolled oats
1 cup of brown sugar
1 cup of plain flour
1/2 cup of desiccated coconut

125 g of butter
2 tablespoons of honey
1 tablespoon of water
1/2 teaspoon of bi carb of soda

Combine oats,  flour,  sugar and coconut in a large bowl ( or a stand mixer ).
Place the butter,  honey and water into a glass jug and microwave on high for one minute until the butter has melted.
Add the bi carb of soda and stir until well combined. Add this to the dry mixture and combine well.
Place rounded teaspoons of mixture onto a greased baking tray and flatten with your fingers
Bake at 160 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes until golden
Lift from the trays when cool

Makes approximately 36 biscuits

NOTES -

*  I quite often double this mixture and freeze some dough for future baking.

*  The biscuits keep quite well in an airtight container for up to two weeks.  They will last longer but loose their freshness.

*  For chewy biscuits cook for 15 - 18 minutes.

*  A durable biscuit for travelling.

Biscuits For Presents

I just love homemade biscuits.  They are delicious,  decadent and absolutely yummy with a cup of tea.  More importantly,  they are very frugal to make.

Whenever I'm stuck for a present,  homemade baking comes to the rescue.  My favourite biscuits to give are Cranberry Hootycreek biscuits, Anzac biscuits and Peanut Butter Choc Chip Biscuits.

For hungry teenage boys I've made giant Peanut Butter Choc Chip Biscuits.  I place a large amount of dough on a lined baking tray,  flatten out with the palm of my hand then neaten the edges with my fingers to give a lovely round shape.  They do need a few extra minutes for baking.  I place 2 or 3 in a large cellophane bag tied with a tartan ribbon  Placed in a gift bag with a can of Lynx deodorant,  it makes a great male birthday present. for about $5  Let me tell you,  birthday boys have gratefully received these giant biscuits.  One of Jessica's friends bought one to school in his lunchbox and woofed it down at recess.  His friends were drooling.

Sometimes when I get a present out to wrap,  it looks like it needs something extra.  That's when I whip out a log of biscuit dough from the freezer and do some baking.  Neatly placing 8 - 10 medium sized biscuits in a large cellophane bag and tying a bow with ribbon,  lace or netting  achieves an elegant present worth $10 - $15 retail.  Realistically it costs less than $1 to make.

For a family present or Kris Kringle,  I buy glass jars from the $2 shop and fill with homemade biscuits.  I print out the recipe and place it in an envelope and tie it to the lid.  You can add a small decoration or garland to the bow to add extra style.    

Here are some photos of biscuit presents I've made -

A male Christmas present.

.A jar of biscuits from the Christmas story I filmed last year.  Total cost of this present was about $3 - $3.50

 

Presents tied with homemade gift tags and ribbon made from netting -

Here is a link to a blog post I wrote on making gift tags.

  

Peanut Butter Choc Chip Biscuits

Once upon a time I loved to buy biscuits from a certain American biscuit ( cookie ) store.  Yes,  those were the days when I had money and no family to feed  From memory those bought biscuits came at a premium price of around $2.50 each. 

Times have changed and so have my tastes.  I just love homemade biscuits and along with Cranberry Hootycreek Biscuits,  these Peanut Butter Choc Chip Biscuits are my all time favourite.  Whether you make them big or small,  crunchy or soft,  they are divine.   Made into giant biscuits, they make a great present for a hungry teenage boy.

1 cup of butter or margarine ( 250 grams )

¾ cup of white sugar

¾ cup of brown sugar

½ cup of peanut butter – crunchy or smooth

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of baking soda ( bi carb )

2 ½ cups of plain flour

½ cup of chocolate choc chips

½ cup of crushed peanuts

Cream the butter / margarine and sugars together with electric beaters.

Add the peanut butter,  baking powders and baking soda and mix well.

Add the flour,  chocolate choc chips and crushed peanuts and mix well.

Drop teaspoonful’s of compacted dough onto greased baking trays and flatten with your hand.

Bake for 10 – 15 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius until slightly golden around the edges.

Remove from the tray when cool.

HANDY HINTS –

*  Biscuit dough can be frozen.  Wrap the dough in log sizes with cling wrap.  To defrost allow 15 – 30 minutes and slice into biscuit size pieces.  Alternatively you can put the dough in the microwave for about 20 seconds to defrost..

*  Providing you have a big enough bowl,  this recipe can be easily doubled.  When I'm on a roll I make two double batches and freeze most of it for future baking.

*  Biscuits stay fresh for about 5 – 7 days in an airtight container.

These biscuits are great to give as presents.