Empire biscuits – an idea for a Red Nose Day bake sale.

Empire biscuits.

Cake sales are brilliant, they always raise money and you just HAVE to buy something from them as it would be uncharitable not to! So everyone wins. Red nose day is just around the corner, and I am sure there will be many, many trestle tables groaning under the weight of baked goods.

If you are joining in, don’t forget you can download details of the fundraising kits from the Red Nose Day website.

Empire biscuits (Linzer biscuits) are ideal for the Red Nose Day bake sale. A simple sandwich biscuit, joined by jam. The white water icing is tracitionally topped with a glace cherry, but as no one in this house except me likes them I use a dot of red icing. You could use smarties, jelly tots or even red glitter dusted maltesers!

Empire biscuits, makes 8

150g plain flour

100g butter

50g caster sugar.

How to

• Preheat the oven to 160c
• Beat together the butter and sugar until well combined.
• Work in the flour, first with a wooden spoon and then with your hands.
• Knead together until the dough becomes uniform and pliable.
• Leave to rest on the side for 30 minutes.
• Using fluted cutters, cut out 16 circles.
• Place on a baking tray and pop into the fridge for 10 minutes to set up a little before baking. This makes the imprint stay sharp when baked.
• Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until just beginning to darken slightly.
• Place on a wire rack to cool.
• Once cool join together with jam.
• Mix the water icing to a fairly stiff consistency. Top the biscuits with a spoonful of icing.
• Add a glace cherry, red smartie, red jelly tot or a dab or red water icing.
• Make several batches and get together with friends to raise money for Comic Relief.

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