If you have a soft spot for cookies with a delicate, custardy twist, you’re going to adore this Custard Biscuits Recipe. These biscuits are light, buttery, and beautifully tender, thanks to custard powder giving them a uniquely smooth flavor that stands out from your usual biscuit. Perfect for sharing or enjoying with a cup of tea, this recipe strikes that ideal balance between comforting and delightfully different, making your baking moments truly memorable.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Custard Biscuits Recipe calls for simple yet essential ingredients that come together to create that perfect texture and flavor. Each item plays a crucial role, from the richness of butter to the subtle vanilla aroma, ensuring your biscuits are soft, fragrant, and irresistibly tasty.
- Butter (250 g, softened): Provides the creamy richness and tender crumb every biscuit needs.
- Icing sugar (3/4 cup, sifted): Adds sweetness without graininess, keeping the biscuits smooth.
- Custard powder (1/2 cup): Infuses a subtle, nostalgic custard flavor that defines these biscuits.
- Vanilla essence (1 tsp): Enhances the flavor profile with warm, sweet notes.
- Cake flour (2 cups, sifted): Creates a soft, light texture that’s perfect for delicate biscuits.
How to Make Custard Biscuits Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Baking Tray
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (180°C) and lining a baking tray with parchment paper. This ensures even baking and easy clean-up, making your biscuit-making journey smooth right from the get-go.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and sifted icing sugar until the mixture turns light and fluffy. This step is key to creating a tender biscuit base with a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Step 3: Add Vanilla Essence
Next, mix in the vanilla essence. This small addition brings a fragrant sweetness that complements the custard flavor beautifully.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, sift custard powder and cake flour together. Gradually add these dry ingredients into your butter mixture, folding them in to form a soft, pliable dough. Taking your time here ensures even mixing and a biscuit that bakes evenly.
Step 5: Shape the Biscuits
Roll the dough into small balls and place them spaced apart on your prepared tray. Gently flatten each ball with a fork in a crisscross pattern. Not only does this give your biscuits a charming classic look, but it also helps them bake evenly.
Step 6: Bake to Perfection
Bake your custard biscuits for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges just turn a lovely golden color. Keep an eye on them as they can go from perfectly baked to overdone quickly.
Step 7: Cool Before Serving
Once baked, transfer your biscuits to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling is essential for them to set properly, providing that delightful crispness on the outside and softness inside.
How to Serve Custard Biscuits Recipe
Garnishes
Adding a light dusting of extra icing sugar or a sprinkle of finely grated lemon zest can elevate your custard biscuits, giving them an extra touch of freshness and sparkle that’s lovely for presentation.
Side Dishes
These biscuits are fantastic with a warm cup of tea or coffee. For a more indulgent treat, serve alongside whipped cream or a small pot of lemon curd for dipping—this contrast enhances the biscuits’ subtle sweetness wonderfully.
Creative Ways to Present
Try sandwiching two biscuits with a dollop of vanilla buttercream or custard cream in the middle. Alternatively, arrange them on a decorative platter with fresh berries for a charming tea party display that is sure to impress.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover custard biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh and delicious for up to a week, maintaining that perfect soft yet crisp texture you love.
Freezing
If you want to keep the biscuits longer, freezing is a great option. Place them in a freezer-safe container layered with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They can be frozen for up to two months without losing their delightful custard flavor.
Reheating
To bring your custard biscuits back to their freshly baked goodness, warm them in a low oven (around 300°F / 150°C) for 5 minutes. This reawakens their buttery aroma and soft texture, making them taste like they just came out of the oven.
FAQs
Can I substitute custard powder with something else?
While custard powder is central to this recipe’s unique flavor, you can experiment with cornstarch and vanilla extract as a close alternative, but the distinct custard taste may be less pronounced.
What type of butter is best for this recipe?
Use unsalted butter that’s softened to room temperature; it gives you control over salt levels and blends beautifully with the sugar and custard powder for a rich yet balanced flavor.
Why do I need to sift the dry ingredients?
Sifting aerates the custard powder and cake flour, which helps prevent lumps and results in a lighter, more tender biscuit texture.
Can I make these biscuits gluten-free?
Yes, by replacing the cake flour with a gluten-free flour blend suitable for baking, you can still achieve a delicious custard biscuit, though the texture may be slightly different.
How should the dough feel before baking?
The dough should be soft and slightly sticky but manageable to roll into balls. If it’s too dry, you can add a teaspoon of milk; if too sticky, a little extra cake flour works wonders.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, this Custard Biscuits Recipe has a way of turning a simple biscuit into something truly special. Whether you’re baking for yourself, friends, or family, the delicate custard flavor and buttery texture make every bite a small celebration. Give it a try—you might just find your new favorite biscuit to bake and share!
Print
Custard Biscuits Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 20 servings
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Western
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Custard Biscuits are soft, buttery, and infused with the delicate flavor of custard powder and vanilla essence. Perfectly baked to a golden edge, these biscuits offer a light, melt-in-your-mouth texture that pairs beautifully with tea or coffee. With a simple ingredient list and straightforward preparation, this recipe yields a large batch of 20 delicious biscuits ideal for sharing or enjoying over several days.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1/2 cup custard powder
- 2 cups cake flour (sifted)
- 3/4 cup icing sugar (sifted)
Wet Ingredients
- 250 g butter (softened)
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and prepare a baking tray by lining it with parchment paper to prevent sticking during baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or wooden spoon to cream the softened butter and sifted icing sugar together until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, indicating the incorporation of air for a tender biscuit texture.
- Add Vanilla Essence: Mix in the vanilla essence thoroughly to infuse the dough with aromatic flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the custard powder and cake flour to ensure even distribution and prevent lumps.
- Form the Dough: Gradually add the dry mixture to the butter mixture, mixing gently but completely until a soft, workable dough forms without over-mixing, which could toughen the biscuits.
- Shape Biscuits: Roll the dough into small, uniform balls and place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking tray. Flatten each ball slightly with a fork, creating a crisscross pattern on top for traditional biscuit aesthetics and even baking.
- Bake: Bake the biscuits in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges turn a delicate golden brown, indicating doneness.
- Cool: Remove the biscuits from the oven and transfer them onto a wire rack to cool completely, allowing them to set and firm up before serving.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened at room temperature for easy creaming.
- Sifting the dry ingredients will help achieve a finer, lighter biscuit texture.
- Do not overbake to maintain a soft center—edges should just turn golden.
- Store biscuits in an airtight container to keep them fresh and crisp.
- These biscuits pair wonderfully with tea or coffee as a classic snack.
