There is constantly a war in my head about whether to use the american term, “cookie” or the word “biscuit”, which is what I grew up calling the morsels of fat, flour, sugar and eggs that is a cookie/biscuit. I refuse to spell colour without the “u” and sometimes I still write a “cheque” rather than a check but since biscuits in the Southern United States where I live are something quite different from a cookie, I have relented and started using the “c” word. Shortbread, however, in my mind will always be a “biscuit”, cheifly because it is so quintessentially British.
Who doesn’t love the way shortbread melts in one’s mouth with all its buttery goodness? I found a recipe on A Spoonfull of Sugar that adds custard powder to shortbread for an even more melty-in-your-mouthy quality. I adapted this recipe into an Orange Blossom and Rosemary variety of biscuit. Now not only does the baked treat crumble gloriously in your mouth but it does so like an orange flower bomb exploding into your taste buds.
Rosemary Orange Blossom Shortbread Biscuits
125g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
40g (1/4 cup) icing sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsps orange zest
2 tbs freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tbs orange flower water
1 tbs finely chopped fresh rosemary
100g (2/3 cup) all purpose flour
40g (1/3 cup) custard powder (you can find birds custard powder at wholefoods or any store that carries british foods)
Extra icing sugar for dusting
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Using an electrix mixer, beat butter, sugar, vanilla, zest, juice and orange flower water in a bowl until light and fluffy
Mix the rosemary into the butter mixture with a large metal spoon or spatula
Combine custard powder and flour into the butter mix using a the spoon or spatula
Scoop out little balls of dough (about a tablespoon per scoop), forming a ball with each scoop, place on greased baking sheet and flatten to form a disk.
Once all your biscuits are shaped onto the sheet bake for 12 minutes and cool the cookies on a cooling rack
Dust with extra icing sugar for serving.
Bon Appetit!
You write so beautifully and you have such a grip of the English language. Magnifique! I am on the same page with you in regard to cookie/biscuit. Like you also, I can’t spell “colour” without a “u”. I always write cheque and I don’t correct it neither do I apologise for it! I shall write the Queens English… Sorry… deal!
Alex,
How kind of you to praise the prose :). I am so thankful for your support and encouragement. All hail the Queen’s!
x
Natasha