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    Home » Recipes » Baking

    Easy Empire Biscuits

    Published: May 22, 2024 · Modified: Mar 19, 2025 by Beth Sachs · 6 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    Empire biscuits pin image.

    Perfect for afternoon tea or a sweet after-school snack, these easy Empire Biscuits are a lot of fun to make!

    Buttery vanilla biscuits are sandwiched together with sweet raspberry jam, decorated with a simple white icing glaze, and finished with a halved glacé cherry! They are truly irresistible, and ever so moreish!

    Empire biscuits on a wire cooling rack.

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    Originating in Scotland, this jammy Empire biscuit recipe (also known as Imperial cookies) are still a popular bakery treat north of the border.

    👩‍🍳 Love cookies? Try my easy Ginger Cookies or Vanilla Fork Biscuits next!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
    • 🛒 Ingredient notes
    • 🔪 How to make classic Empire biscuits
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ Frequently asked questions
    • 😋 More easy cookies and biscuits
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!

    1. An easy biscuit recipe to make with kids.
    2. Uses simple store-cupboard ingredients.
    3. It makes a large batch (around 22 biscuits in total).

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    Ingredients for Empire biscuits.

    Butter - unsalted and softened.

    Caster Sugar - I like to use golden caster sugar, but white caster sugar can also be used.

    Egg - 1 large free-range egg which has been stored at room temperature.

    Vanilla Extract - use a good quality extract and not vanilla essence.

    Flour - plain flour (without a raising agent).

    Jam - I like to use raspberry jam to sandwich the biscuits together, but you could use strawberry jam, or even cherry jam if you like.

    Icing Sugar - mixed with warm water to create the spreadable thick white icing for the tops of the biscuits.

    Glace Cherry - halved, or use jelly tots instead!

    A stack of Empire biscuits on a wire rack.

    🔪 How to make classic Empire biscuits

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Cream together the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy.

    Two: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.

    Three: Sift in the flour and mix together with a wooden spoon.

    Four: Use your hands to bring the dough together, kneading it in the bowl until you get a smooth biscuit dough. Take it out of the bowl and place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Form the dough into a large disc (about 3cm thick). Cut the dough disc in half with a knife and wrap each half in cling film. Chill the dough for 20 minutes in the fridge.

    💡 Top Tip: If the dough seems a bit crumbly and dry, add a tablespoon of cold water and knead again. Continue until you get a smooth biscuit dough.

    Making the shortbread biscuit dough.

    Five: Remove the dough from the fridge and cut each half-disc of dough in half again to make 4 quarters of dough. Roll each piece of biscuit dough out with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface (don't forget to flour the rolling pin too!). Keep turning the dough a quarter of a turn after each roll to prevent it from sticking to the worktop (add a little more flour if necessary). The dough needs to be rolled to a thickness of around 2.5mm.

    Six: Use a 5-6cm fluted biscuit cutter and stamp out as many biscuits as you can (you'll get roughly 44). Bring the offcuts of dough back together with your hands and re-roll until you have used all of the dough up. Carefully place the biscuits on a lined baking sheet (you'll need 2 large ones) using a palette knife. Bake in a preheated oven for 14-16 minutes until very lightly golden. Cool on a wire cooling rack.

    Seven: Once the biscuits have cooled, spread the jam evenly over the underside of half of the biscuits (about half a teaspoon on each biscuit), before placing another biscuit on top. Gently press the biscuits together (some of the jam might ooze out but don't worry).

    Eight: Make the white icing by adding recently boiled warm water to the sieved icing sugar, ½ tablespoon at a time, and mixing with a small whisk. You won't need much water, 2 tablespoons should give you a nice spreadable consistency. Spread the top of each biscuit with the white icing (I use a teaspoon to carefully spread it on, which helps prevent too many drips) and top with a halved glace cherry.

    Baking and icing the shortbread biscuits.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    Serve the Empire biscuits for afternoon tea, with mini sausage rolls, cucumber sandwiches, and Malteser tiffin.

    They're also great for birthday parties, picnics, and after-school snacks!

    📖 Variations

    • Use almond extract instead of vanilla extract and top the icing with flaked almonds.
    • Use strawberry or cherry jam instead of raspberry jam.
    • Make a chocolate version and sandwich the biscuits together with chocolate spread or Nutella.
    • Top the Empire biscuits with jelly tots, other jelly sweets, or maraschino cherries instead of glace cherries.
    Iced Empire cookies on a cooling rack.

    🥡 Storage

    Store - The biscuits can be stored in an airtight container or biscuit tin for up to 3 days.

    Freeze - The uniced biscuits can be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost fully before sandwiching them together with jam and icing the tops.

    ❓ Frequently asked questions

    Why is it called an empire biscuit?

    The empire biscuit was a popular snack, especially in Scotland, since at least the early 1900s. During WW1 Britain was at war with both Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so the original names of Deutsch biscuits, German biscuits, and Linzer Biscuits all suddenly felt very unpatriotic. Because of this, the more patriotic British name of Empire Biscuit was born!

    Are Empire biscuits Scottish?

    Yes, Empire biscuits are an iconic Scottish treat and are found in all good Scottish bakeries (and they're even the regional Scottish Greggs menu!).

    Can you make these empire biscuits vegan?

    Unfortunately, as they contain both egg and butter it is not possible to make these biscuits vegan.

    Empire cookies (German Biscuits) on a cooling rack.

    😋 More easy cookies and biscuits

    • Oatmeal Cinnamon Cookies
    • Soul Cakes
    • Melting Moments
    • Golden Syrup Cookies
    • Chocolate Biscoff Cookies
    • Ginger Cookies
    • Lemon Biscuits
    • Banana Cookies

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    Recipe

    Empire biscuits topped with glace cherry.
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    5 from 6 votes

    Easy Empire Biscuits

    An easy Empire biscuit recipe. These classic Scottish treats feature buttery biscuits, fruity jam, and sweet icing, perfect for any occasion.
    Course Baking, Cookie
    Cuisine British
    Prep Time 8 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 14 minutes minutes
    Chilling Time 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time 42 minutes minutes
    Servings 22
    Calories 216kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
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    Equipment

    • Kitchen Scales
    • Mixing Bowl
    • Wooden Spoon
    • Cling Film
    • Rolling Pin
    • Baking Sheets
    • Baking Paper

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 125 g Golden Caster Sugar
    • 225 g Butter softened
    • 1 Egg
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
    • 450 g Plain Flour
    • 6 tablespoon Raspberry Jam
    • 200 g Icing Sugar sifted
    • 12 Glace Cherries halved

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 180°c (160 fan/ Gas 4/ 350F) and line two large baking sheets with non stick baking paper or parchment.
    • Cream together the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy.
      125 g Golden Caster Sugar, 225 g Butter
    • Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
      1 Egg, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
    • Sift in the flour and mix together with a wooden spoon.
      450 g Plain Flour
    • Use your hands to bring the dough together, kneading it in the bowl until you get a smooth biscuit dough. Take it out of the bowl and place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Form the dough into a large disc (about 3cm thick). Cut the dough disc in half with a knife and wrap each half in cling film. Chill the dough for 20 minutes in the fridge.
      Top Tip: If the dough seems a bit crumbly and dry, add a tablespoon of cold water and knead again. Continue until you get a smooth biscuit dough.
    • Remove the dough from the fridge and cut each half-disc of dough in half again to make 4 quarters of dough. Roll each piece of biscuit dough out with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface (don't forget to flour the rolling pin too!). Keep turning the dough a quarter of a turn after each roll to prevent it from sticking to the worktop (add a little more flour if necessary). The dough needs to be rolled to a thickness of around 2.5mm.
    • Use a 5-6cm fluted biscuit cutter and stamp out as many biscuits as you can (you'll get roughly 44). Bring the offcuts of dough back together with your hands and re-roll until you have used all of the dough up. Carefully place the biscuits on a lined baking sheet (you'll need 2 large ones) using a palette knife. Bake in a preheated oven for 14-16 minutes until very lightly golden (dark golden and you've baked them too long!). Cool on a wire cooling rack.
    • Once the biscuits have cooled, spread the jam evenly over the underside of half of the biscuits (about half a teaspoon on each biscuit), before placing another biscuit on top. Gently press the biscuits together (some of the jam might ooze out but don't worry).
      6 tablespoon Raspberry Jam
    • Make the white icing by adding recently boiled warm water to the sieved icing sugar, ½ tablespoon at a time, and mixing with a small whisk. You won't need much water, 2 tablespoons should give you a nice spreadable consistency. Spread the top of each biscuit with the white icing (I use a teaspoon to carefully spread it on, which helps prevent too many drips) and top with a halved glace cherry.
      200 g Icing Sugar, 12 Glace Cherries

    Notes

    Variations:
    • Use almond extract instead of vanilla extract and top the icing with flaked almonds.
    • Use strawberry or cherry jam instead of raspberry jam.
    • Make a chocolate version and sandwich the biscuits together with chocolate spread or Nutella.
    • Top the Empire biscuits with jelly tots, other jelly sweets, or maraschino cherries instead of glace cherries.
     
    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Empire Biscuits
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    216
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    5
    g
    8
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    6
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    1
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    7
    mg
    2
    %
    Sodium
     
    6
    mg
    0
    %
    Potassium
     
    37
    mg
    1
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    39
    g
    13
    %
    Fiber
     
    1
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    18
    g
    20
    %
    Protein
     
    4
    g
    8
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    16
    IU
    0
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    1
    mg
    1
    %
    Calcium
     
    18
    mg
    2
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @effortlessf00d on Instagram or Twitter

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      Easy Madeira Cake Recipe
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anjali

      April 29, 2022 at 5:21 pm

      5 stars
      These biscuits are so adorable!! I can't wait to make them with my kids this weekend - I know they will love them!

      Reply
    2. April

      April 29, 2022 at 5:46 pm

      5 stars
      As a huge fan of cute cookies to serve with tea, these will be amazing for our mothers day tea party.

      Reply
    3. Sharon

      April 29, 2022 at 6:25 pm

      5 stars
      These totally brought me back to my childhood birthday parties. My mom used to make these for birthday parties growing up. This recipe tasted delicious! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    4. Mirlene

      April 29, 2022 at 6:38 pm

      5 stars
      These biscuits sounds delicious with the raspberry jam. They would be great for my kids to have as a treat right after school!

      Reply
    5. Nicole

      July 09, 2022 at 6:20 pm

      What is golden caster sugar? Is that the same as white granular sugar?

      Reply
      • Beth Sachs

        July 11, 2022 at 6:57 am

        Hi Nicole. It's white caster sugar with added molasses. Swap for ordinary white caster sugar or granulated sugar if you can't find any. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    5 from 6 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Beth!

    Mum of three (and two crazy dogs), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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