spiced orange and honey biscuits

These are rather delicious and simple biscuits/cookies that make the perfect Christmas gift. That said, it is perfectly acceptable to not give them away, you probably won’t want to! They marry some gently warming spices with orange, making the most delicious combination. Use any cookie cutter shape you have to make them - stars would be very pretty.

Bake them 12 minutes if you like a softer biscuit and 15 - 16 minutes if you would like that crunch. The recipe is based on one on the Giallo Zafferano website.

spiced honey and orange biscuits

300g plain flour
130g sugar
1 scant tsp baking powder plus a good pinch of salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp each cloves and allspice
zest of 1/2 orange
2 eggs 100g unsalted butter at room temperature
50g runny honey

For the icing:
30ml freshly squeezed orange juice
150g icing sugar approximately, sifted

Place all dry ingredients in a bowl of a stationary mixer and whisk to combine. Add one egg at a time, the butter in chunks and lastly the honey with the mixer on slow speed until well incorporated. Roll out on a well floured surface to form a large disc, about 6mm thick. Add a bit more flour if the mix is too soft to handle. Wrap and chill for about 20 minutes.

Cut the dough into Christmassy shapes using your favourite cookie cutters, re-rolling scraps. Place in a pre-heated 180C conventional oven. Bake for 12 – 16 minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool.

Whisk icing sugar and juice vigorously until smooth to make the icing. Dip the top of the biscuits in the icing and place on a wire rack until the icing firms up. 

(makes 30 - 35 depending on size of shape)