Classic British biscuit recipes (2024)

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There’s no denying that a good cup of tea and a biscuit is a British institution. Whether crumbly, chewy, super-sweet or rich and buttery, there is a classic biscuit to suit every taste. Have a go at making some of our favourite biscuit recipes below, from custard creams to sticky coconut macaroons.

  1. Custard creams

    A bright yellow custard cream is sure to brighten up any tea break. This classic bake is made with two shortbread-style biscuits sandwiched together with a rich buttercream filling, both flavoured with sweet vanilla and custard powder for that nostalgic taste. Have a go at making your own homemade custard creams and decorate as you like: keep things simple with plain biscuits or stamp out patterns and words before baking.

    Classic British biscuit recipes (2)

  2. Ginger nuts

    With their crackled tops and fiery heat, a good ginger nut biscuit is hard to beat. Unlike traditional chewy Christmas gingerbread, ginger nuts are characterised by their crisp texture, which probably explains why they are often also called ‘ginger snaps’. It also makes them excellent choices for dunking! For a twist, try adding a sweet cream cheese filling for these extra special ginger snap sandwich biscuits.

    Classic British biscuit recipes (3)

  3. Jammy dodgers

    Crumbly, buttery shortbread stuck together with sticky, sweet jam – what’s not to like? The classic dodger is a round biscuit with a shape cut out of the top layer to show the jam peeping through the middle. Ring the changes by making your own and filling with your favourite flavour of jam or trying different designs on top, such as these personalised alphabet jazzy jammy dodgers.

    Classic British biscuit recipes (4)

  4. Shortbread

    Made simply with just flour, butter and sugar, traditional Scottish shortbread may seem like a deceptively plain recipe, but in fact is wonderfully rich with a delicate crumb. The secrets to this crumbly texture are the high butter content and in not working the dough too much when mixing and rolling. Although delicious on its own (cut into petticoat tails, fingers or rounds), shortbread makes a great base for other flavours – you could add chocolate chips, chopped nuts or dried fruits, or have a go at this unusual sweet-and-savoury combination of lemon and rosemary shortbread.

    Classic British biscuit recipes (5)

  5. Viennese whirls

    Although they might sound a bit exotic, Viennese whirls are in fact one of Britain’s favourite biscuits, often sandwiched with buttercream and jam or dipped in dark chocolate. The melt-in-the-mouth texture comes from using icing sugar and cornflour in the rich, buttery shortbread, which is whipped together and piped into decorative swirls. For an all-out retro recipe, we love the cherry and chocolate combination of these Black Forest Viennese whirls.

    Classic British biscuit recipes (6)

  6. Coconut macaroons

    Definitely one for those with a sweet tooth, a chewy coconut macaroon may well conjure up childhood memories of these simple treats. Originally from France (although very different from delicate, almond-based macarons), these snowy mounds are usually made with sweetened coconut, which is bound together with whisked egg whites, and can be dipped in chocolate or even topped with jam, as in this strawberry and coconut macaroons recipe.

    Classic British biscuit recipes (7)

  7. Malted milks

    A hot, malty bedtime drink is a true British comfort classic, and our love of malted flavours extends to popular biscuits flavoured with it too. Malted milks are usually plain biscuits but with a distinctive tangy malt flavour and crumbly texture that makes them good for dunking. Malt flavouring also works particularly well with chocolate as in these clever chocolate chip malted-milk cookies.

    Classic British biscuit recipes (8)

  8. Iced party rings

    A party just wouldn’t be a party without a stack of vibrant ring biscuits to nibble on. Definitely the most colourful of our favourite biscuits, these crisp vanilla bakes are topped with bright, feathered icing designs, making them stand out from the crowd. If making your own at home, just be sure to let the icing dry to a crisp, sugary crust before serving. For a bit of added flavour and texture, try these tasty coconut party rings.

    Classic British biscuit recipes (9)

  9. Jaffa cakes

    One of the biscuit world’s most hotly debated subjects, is it a biscuit or a cake? Whichever side you follow, it can’t be denied that the sponge, jelly and chocolate combination of a jaffa cake is one of the nation’s favourite snacks with a cuppa. Why not super-size this treat with a giant jaffa cake for an impressive pud, or a simple chocolate-orange traybake for afternoon tea.

    Classic British biscuit recipes (10)

  10. Savoury oatcakes

    We do love a savoury biscuit as well, whether plain as a snack, dunked in dips or served with cheese, and a true British classic is the Scottish oatcake. Hearty and robust, oatcakes have a distinct texture from the knobbly oats and wholemeal flour used, and can be plain or flavoured with herbs and spices such as in these fragrant thyme oatcakes.

    Classic British biscuit recipes (11)

  11. Chocolate bourbons

    Chocolate bourbons are an all-round favourite for those with a sweet tooth. Despite their name, bourbons have nothing to do with whisky and are the perfect afternoon treat for dunking in your tea. Sandwich together two chocolate biscuits with rich chocolate buttercream for a double-decker treat that's so easy to make from scratch. Have a go with thissimple recipe– you'll never want store-bought again!

    Classic British biscuit recipes (12)

More recipe inspiration

Chocolate crinkle cookies

Lemon and elderflower shortbread sandwiches

3-ingredient oaty banana choc chip cookies

Salted caramel lava cookies

Classic British biscuit recipes (17)
Classic British biscuit recipes (2024)

FAQs

What exactly is a British biscuit? ›

In Britain, what Americans refer to as “biscuits” are known as “scones.” British biscuits are actually what Americans call “cookies.” The term “biscuits” in the United Kingdom typically refers to sweet, crumbly, and sometimes buttery bakes treats, distinct from the soft, bread-like biscuits found in the United States.

What are the oldest UK biscuits? ›

It's called the Aberffraw biscuit (sometimes Aberffraw cake or Teisen Berffro) and is said to originate from 13th Century Anglesey.

What is the difference between a British biscuit and an American cookie? ›

A British biscuit is what Americans know as a cookie or a cracker. In the United Kingdom, the word biscuit refers to any hard, thin, bread-like product. A distinguishing factor between an American cookie and a British biscuit is that a British biscuit must always have a “snap” because it is crispy.

What is the number 1 biscuit in the world? ›

As the world's leading biscuit brand, Parle-G has become more than just a product; it represents cherished memories and a taste that transcends generations.

What do Americans call a UK biscuit? ›

A Biscuit (U.K.) is a Cookie (U.S.) A Biscuit (U.S.) Is a Scone (U.K.) An English Muffin (U.S.) is a Muffin (U.K.)

What do Brits call biscuits and gravy? ›

Scones and Gravy: The English Equivalent.

What do they call gravy in England? ›

Onion Gravy or Traditional British Gravy is what British people call gravy. Americans call it Brown Gravy, White Gravy (sawmill gravy or Breakfast Gravy), which is topped on biscuits.

Why are American and British biscuits different? ›

As the English language developed, different baked goods ended up sharing the same name. The soft bread is called a biscuit in North America, and the hard baked goods are called biscuits in the UK.

Does the UK have American biscuits? ›

What is an American biscuit in the UK? The last piece of the puzzle, an American biscuit is a crumbly leavened quick bread similar to what we call a scone in the UK.

What are the 4 types of biscuits? ›

Types of Biscuits
  • Rolled Biscuits. Rolled biscuits are one of the most popular baking-powder leavened quick breads. ...
  • Drop Biscuits. Drop biscuits have more milk or other liquid added to the dough than rolled biscuits. ...
  • Scones. ...
  • Shortcakes.

What is the most popular biscuit brand in the UK? ›

Leading 'Sweet Biscuits (Excluding Breakfast Biscuits)' brands in GB 2022, by number of consumers. Considering the 41 different brands presented in this statistic, 'McVities Chocolate Digestives' leads the British ranking for the most frequently selected brand with 9.6 million people.

What do they call cookies in England? ›

Hard or crisp cookies are called biscuits in the U.K. while the chewier dessert can be identified as a cookie.

Is a Jaffa cake a biscuit? ›

The Verdict: Jaffa Cakes are Cakes

So, in conclusion, while the Jaffa Cake may share some characteristics with biscuits, such as being small and sweet, it is actually a cake. Its sponge-like texture and method of production put it firmly in the cake category.

Is a US biscuit a UK scone? ›

"The ingredients for British scones and the American biscuit are very similar," says Holly Snyder, senior culinary product developer at Amazon Fresh. "The proportions of those ingredients are the key difference; scones usually have less butter and more liquid than American biscuits."

What kind of biscuits do English eat? ›

Malted milk biscuits have been popular for a very long time, getting their name from the malt flavoring and abundance of milk in their recipe. These biscuits have a very unique flavor, making them a popular choice for people across England. These biscuits can soften quite quickly so you need to be careful when dunking.

Are English scones like American biscuits? ›

"The ingredients for British scones and the American biscuit are very similar," says Holly Snyder, senior culinary product developer at Amazon Fresh. "The proportions of those ingredients are the key difference; scones usually have less butter and more liquid than American biscuits."

Are US biscuits like UK scones? ›

What's the Main Difference? The biscuit and scone share British heritage, quick bread status, and the basic foundation of flour, fat, and liquid. But as they evolved to what they are today, scone recipes use eggs, and biscuit recipes do not.

What is the most popular biscuit in Scotland? ›

As we celebrate National Biscuit Day today, we take a look at some of the most popular biscuits in Scotland and their history.
  • Shortbread. An iconic Scottish treat, shortbread began with the medieval “biscuit bread”. ...
  • Tunnock's Tea Cake. ...
  • Jaffa Cakes. ...
  • Digestives.
May 29, 2020

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